AKila K shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
AKila K, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
To be honest, it’s really not anything special. I wake up, take a shower, meditate and find gratitude in the day, say my morning prayers, get dressed, and then I’m off! I try not to go on my phone in the first 15 minutes of me being up because I’m really trying to limit my screen time across all of my devices haha.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I go by AKila K, Kila YEEEERRRRnescu, AK, all that. I’m a Music Artist based in NY. Part time Hip Hop nerd, full time dreamer. I live by my own acronym, DWYLFEE which stands for, Do What You Love, Forget Everything Else. I’ve got several projects on just about every music streaming platform that exists. My brand is all about self-expression and empowerment, reaching for the highest heights possible, regardless of how far it is. Music is really in me, with Hip Hop being my heart and soul.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
That I was limited with the things I could achieve. For example, for a long time, I thought I had to be signed to a major label in order to release an album. So that was really the driving force for my dream in my early years; get signed so I could release an album about everything I’ve ever wanted to say. But, as you can see, I released my first album 3 years ago and I was very much so NOT signed to a label lmao. But that goes to show you how big my dreams got the more knowledgable I got of my goals and what it would take.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Hell yes! If I’m being honest, I almost give up every day. Being an independent artist IS NOT EASY. I feel like I sound like a broken record at this point. Between filtering through fake/scammer labels and managers, to having to compete with AI and the algorithm, the art of being an artist and being properly recognized/compensated for it has been destroyed. At times, it does seem like everything I’m doing is in vain. But then I remember why I do everything that I do. Why I take this so seriously. Why I put everything into this; it’s because I genuinely love this shit. This is what I want to do with my life. I feel, if you have a dream that strong, it’s your purpose to pursue it. No matter what.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
There are too many to talk about, we’d literally be here all day. But I think the one worth mentioning is that the industry still likes to entertain the idea that they want authenticity with new artists. If you go on any social media platform or any streaming service editorial playlist, you will see that that is NOT the case. But that’s why I feel it’s so important for artists like myself to keep going. We have to be the standard.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. Because, in the end, I know I gave it my all, and that is all that matters for real. Everything else is cool, but for me to know I can do whatever I put my mind to, makes me extraordinary, and I think that’s special regardless of who knows.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.akilakmusic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akilakmusic/
- Twitter: https://x.com/AKilaKMusic
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AKilaKMusic
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/user/AKilaKOfficial
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/akila-k
Image Credits
Roe Visions
Createstudios718
IAmPhotoSaint
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