We recently connected with Akila K and have shared our conversation below.

AKila K, appreciate you joining us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

I grew up around music. My mother was born and raised in Trinidad & Tobago while my father is Brooklyn bred. So I was able to hear the best of both worlds when it came to music and how it was done. The Soca, from my mom, showed me you could have fun with music, make it entertaining, make it enjoyable, all of that! From my dad, he gave me Hip Hop, which showed me the art of storytelling and being honest with yourself. So I studied both art forms and used it to cultivate my own musical styling. Over the years, both genres have changed significantly, as with most things in life, but I always go back to what I felt when I first heard them. With Hip Hop, I feel it’s a lost art form right now, but I studied all of the great lyricists I’ve ever come across, in hopes that we as a culture, or at the very least, ME, can maintain the basis of what Hip Hop stood for. I paid attention to how they told their stories, their cadences, how they switched the flows in between verses and hooks. Then, I attempted to do it myself. I continued until I got good at it, then great, then outstanding, until there was no doubt from any and everyone that heard me, that I knew what I was doing with words and rhythms. Once I had that down pact, I focused on making it fun and relatable, like how Soca and Dancehall is. Those were my foundations and lesson plans.

AKila K, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As I said before, I’ve been around music since legit birth. I was at my grandfather’s panyard (what we call steel orchestras’ practice grounds) at 3 years old bothering my mom, grandfather, and uncle to let me play. Several years later, I’m in after school writing in my notebook because I was mad that I lost a game of connect 4. Both times, I was reaching for an outlet to air out my feelings or my excitement, and thus, I discovered what could be done if I merged the 2. From there, I was writing any and everything. Whatever came to mind, as long as I could put a rhythm behind it so it could sound like all of my favorite artists. Music has not only given me something to feel good about, but it’s taught me about life, about relationships, about business, the importance of staying authentic. All of those things brought me in and has kept me in. Once I saw how people reacted to it, I knew I had to keep doing this. Now, I’m 2 albums in, several projects, a plethora of freestyles, performances at some dope ass venues, connected with some dope artists and creatives……I could keep going! But I’m more proud of the fact that I’ve been able to accomplish that by just being me, trusting myself, staying true to myself, and not stopping. Now, since I know I can get this far, I know I can go even farther. Trust, I ain’t done yet!

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

BUY FROM THEM DIRECTLY! Period. That’s it. That’s my answer.

Actually, let me elaborate. We live in a society where everything is sold through someone/where else. Sometimes, the degree of separation is so far apart, it’s as if we’re getting it for free. But what people don’t realize is, the larger the degree of separation (and sometimes the higher the social class) is, the less the original artist sees of their hard work and expression. If you think about it, music is the only art form in which people are okay not paying the artist/brand directly [in some cases]. You wouldn’t get a photoshoot done for free. Actors and actresses don’t act for free. Why is it that people don’t treat music the same? Not to mention, independent music artists need the financial support to continue doing their music. People forget the INDEPENDENT part of “independent artist” We have to fund this ourselves. So although people are not obligated to support financially, an artist is a business, and businesses are not free.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being an artist is finishing the creation haha. Us artists always have ideas running around in our heads, so I could be working on 2 songs and a freestyle at once and finish not 1 of them Lmao. But once I do finish, all I wanna do is polish it. I lowkey take a while to finish songs/freestyles because the fun is in writing them. “How witty can I get with this line? Oh nah people gonna love this line. I wonder if anyone will get the double entendre here” It’s like a game at that point. Then, once it finally comes together……. *chef’s kiss* a work of art

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.akilakmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akilakmusic
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AKilaKMusic
• Twitter: https://www.x.com/akilakmusic
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/AKilaKOfficial
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/akila-k
• Other: AKila K Merch – https://www.akilakmusic.com/shop

  Book AKila K! – https://www.akilakmusic.com/booking

Image Credits

Createstudios718

Skyvis Media

A-List Media Group

Inwayne Sight