The 5th album, simply called “A Couple Friends” was released in 2014. It was a rare recording of the group live in London performing every song on the the then, just released album.
They also continued to produce the web series for 3 more seasons.Ģ013 Kindred digitally released a live album to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the release of their debut album Surrender To Love. The group also founded a media company, The Media Shack and produced and directed 5 music videos for the album. The album featured single “Magic” and “You Got Love” a surprising collaboration with Snoop Dogg offering a sixteen bar verse about his love for his wife. Critically acclaimed and compared in intent to the classic, “What's Going On?”. An album about triumph over adversity and the enduring power of love. In 2011 they released their first album with Purpose/Shanachie records, “Love Has No Recession”. Kindred The Family Soul began documenting their journey through this climate of change in a web series called “Six Is It!”, named jokingly about expecting their sixth and final child, a boy. The country was in a financial slump and the group found itself without a label deal. The first black president was in the midst of his first term. The title,“The Arrival” was a nod to the birth of the couples set of twin girls, Lanaa and Ain. Both were mainstays on VH1 Soul and Centric.
Kindred began producing their own music videos and both songs were known for their touching visual stories. Singles like “House of Love” and “Just the Way You Are” continued the tradition of celebrating love and fortitude. The 3rd album,The Arrival, was released in 2008. Just prior to its release they would welcome their 3rd child, Nina. Presenting a needed image of “Black Love” in an industry that rarely highlights it. The second album solidifies Kindred The Family Soul as a voice for families and couples. The project's lead Single “Where Would I Be (The Question)” was a wonderful follow up hitting top 10 on urban AC radio and boasted crowd favorite, “Woman First”, an anthem addressing the sacrifices of women for their family and relationships. Their second album, “In this Life Together” was released in 2005. All after welcoming their 2nd child Diya into the world. One such event was “The Upper Room” featuring a then unknown, John Legend and Jazmine Sullivan. The group began producing events and showcasing new talent as well. The album received a Soul Train Award and a BET Award nomination. “ Far Away” and “Stars” both became top ten urban adult contemporary hits and anthems for lovers everywhere. In 2003 Kindred The Family Soul released their debut album Surrender to Love. This introduction would change everything. She was close to releasing her classic first album and decided to introduce the president of her then label, Hidden Beach, to her friends Aja and Fatin.
A regular patron/performer at the Lily was Jill Scott. This amazing event would, along with Kindred, foster careers from the likes of Jazmine Sullivan, Floetry, Jaguar Wright, Musiq Soulchild and a host of others. Hustling parents of a toddler by day and ripping stages by night. Performing weekly at the famed “Black Lily” showcase at a small club called The Five Spot, Kindred developed a reputation for electric live performances featuring a 10 piece band. They'd developed a strong creative chemistry for Aja’s solo project so they decided to try performing as a team and Kindred The Family Soul was born. After being unexpectedly let go from his job the couple contemplated the future. By the fall of 1998 they became husband and wife and while assuming the roles of a new couple and new parents, Fatin took a job selling appliances and Aja became a homemaker caring for their first born, Aquil. Fatin was a hired gun to write songs for Aja’s solo project at the time. In 1997 they were introduced via hip hop band, The Roots, production camp.
Fatin producing his first released material with Bell Biv Devoe at 17 and Aja receiving her first recording contract from Delicious Vinyl at 14, these two “grew up” in the record business. Kindred The Family Soul is simply Aja Graydon and Fatin Dantzler artists, songwriters, lovers, family.