By Agnes Valdimarsdottir October 2010 She's mostly recognized for being a part of the a cappella group Three Voices; he for being the American Basketball player. Together they make beautiful music and; together, Kenya Emil and Jay Nemor become Kenya & Nemor. "We've been working together for six years now, almost to the date, or since October 2004", says Jay, referring to their initial meeting at Hotel Broadway during a Motown tribute show back in 2003. "What attracted me to working with Kenya was her voice and special vibe." Kenya agrees. "There was a vibe about Jay, an instant connection. There was an old piano at Broadway where we'd practice our vocals for the show, and Jay would sit there sometimes and play, and while he'd play I'd hum along with the notes. That's actually how an earlier single, 'Stir me up' came about." Kenya and Jay form a strong songwriting team despite artistic differences. 'Wanna Let U Know' is Kenya & Nemor's first real single and produced by New York producer Pismo. "We'd like to do different things with different people", says Jay. "We learn more like that". While Kenya & Nemor is R&B and soul, Jay's music hasn't always been in that genre. "When I was living in Iceland, I did all sorts of music ranging from pop, house and soul but mostly I collaborated with hip hop artists," he says. Kenya has been doing work without Jay as well, specifically with Three Voices and Pismo. "I want to write for other people. I'm sitting on a lot of ideas that I can't use, but would love for other people to," she says. During the time of the interview, both Kenya and Jay were in Oslo. Kenya's a cappella group, Three Voices, has been touring Europe, performing in Norway, Switzerland and Italy. Jay packed up his life in Iceland in the summer of 2009 and moved to Oslo, mostly for a change of scenery and to try something new. "I love Iceland and I miss it, but I have no clue whether I'll be coming back," he says. Although Jay has no blood-related family in Iceland, he spent roughly twenty-five percent of his life there and feels that the country and its people have had an influence in shaping the man he has become. "I have people in Iceland I consider to be my family, but I'm not sure that it's enough for me to move back. Where I'll go next is undecided, but I know I'll be leaving Norway at some point." Kenya's route is more concrete and she's due to be back in Iceland in November. "I have to be back because Three Voices are booked solid in November and December. I'd like to come back to Norway though, or go anywhere the music takes me," she says. Then what's next? Where does Kenya & Nemor want to be five years from now? "Ideally, I'd like to be doing everything in five years," says Kenya. "There are days when I prefer one over the other, but in the end I just want it to be music: It has to be fun, challenging, and inventing. If all those are present, I'm good." With today's technology, being in different countries doesn't have a big effect on Kenya and Jay. "Technology is wonderful. In the end, everything is just a flight or a boat-ride away, so being apart doesn't affect our music collaboration," she says. After working together for six years, their debut album is finally in sight. "The writing part was done a while ago," says Kenya, "that was the easy part. Feeling that the songs were ready to be heard, that has been tricky. We were new at this and let other people's opinions affect our own judgment." Jay adds that having a record label behind you makes things easier on the music scene. "When the money is there, you make things happen; when it isn't, it slows you down a bit." Still, Jay is confident that their release is happening at the right time. They have a dedicated band of musicians backing them up ready to deliver the feeling and sound of Kenya & Nemor. "I may not have the best voice or be the best at the saxophone, but I touch people. People will remember because they feel me. And with Kenya's voice ... it simply gets inside people." For those who have heard Kenya sing, it comes as no surprise that Jay refers to his partner-in-crime as 'The Voice'. Jay believes that when it comes to music, the performance weighs more heavily than any album. "When you perform and people feel you, that's when people invest in you. I don't think we had that a few years ago, but we do today." Kenya further explains that she used to be much more reserved a few years back. "I'm still shy but more confident now. Iceland is a small place and people tend to criticize things that are different. On top of that, I'm very self-critical." With greater confidence, it is never too soon to start thinking of the next album. "We don't have anything ready for the next album," Kenya explains, "but if we had to have something done for Christmas 2011, consider it done." Jay adds that "there's at least another twelve songs that are ready but not on the album we're releasing right now." Both agree that keeping a select few songs on their first album was always the plan. "We didn't want to put too many songs on our first album." They also agree that their next album will have a different vibe to it. "These songs are our firstborns", says Kenya. "This album is about man and woman; boy and girl; loving relationships. From the beginning you follow a love-story which grows and grows until it falls apart," says Jay. As the conversation turns to touring and concerts, Kenya admits that she is excited about performing in Iceland and Norway before heading to the United States. "A piece of my heart resides back home in Houston, Texas", says Jay. "I made myself a goal last year that I'd tour every continent in the world as Kenya & Nemor. Technically, two have been covered with our performances in Europe and Kenya's performance in New York. We may not be able to do Antarctica, but if we get big enough, I'd like to do that." And Kenya adds that "Penguins need music too!" She is adamant that Kenya & Nemor will be performing in Iceland in due time. "We should have a release concert in Iceland when we're ready. Iceland is where it started, but it won't be where it ends."