Akama is an artist I’ve had the privilege of meeting recently, just as he was preparing the release of his latest EP 24 Summers Ago. Uprooted from Honolulu, Justin Akama has made quite a leap in the Seattle music scene over the last few years. Aside from graduating with a double major, he has also helped in curating The Unnatural Art Collective, opened on stage for respected names such as Zed’s Dead, GG Magree, Ganja White Night, and Sharps, and holds a DJ residency at Stage Nightclub.
24 Summers Ago is an expansive melodic wonderland that carries a varied silhouette of emotions, tied together with a solid baseline that gives it a deserving and fresh edge. Don’t be too quick to label this artist, as his diverse methods will often leave you surprised. Despite that, there’s a universal touch to Akama’s style that will draw anyone in and leave them immersed in the musical ether, something all too needed in a music scene that can often express backlash between different electronic styles and genres. Continue below to read our interview and listen to Akama’s new EP.
24 Summers Ago EP
RMR Interviews Akama
RMR: How did your early life growing up in Honolulu affect you as a person or artist?
Akama: It was hard. Hawaii seems like the ideal place to grow up, but I never fit in there. From age zero to twenty-one, I was pretty much just the weird one. Weird ideas, weird music, weird clothes… then there was everyone else. There was no EDM scene when I lived there, either. It was all reggae music, which is cool, but it never spoke to me the same way as electronic music does. I knew from a pretty young age that I was going to leave.
RMR: What brought you to Seattle and how do you feel about the music scene here?
Akama: Originally, I came here for college. I graduated from the University of Washington last year with a double major. I feel like the music scene here is both open and closed at the same time. Being from Hawaii, networking was one of my biggest challenges. Seattle has been the home of so many talented people that, in part, the game plan for people like myself is already laid out. On the other hand, artists here still have to work very hard to make connections in the industry, or else their music will never be heard.
RMR: You describe 24 Summers Ago as a project that bends the rules of melodic EDM with a unique and powerful bassline, while also drawing concepts from indie rock, cinema scores, and hip-hop. You also mention that the founding ideals of the EP were eclecticism, innovation, and ethereal sounds. What drew you to the creation of this sound, and how do you want your listeners to feel when they hear this EP?
Akama: What drew me to this sound is the idea of being different. I live and work amongst people in every different genre. Personally, I hate genre labeling. When I set out to create this EP I wanted something that was easy to listen to, could inspire emotion, and yet have just enough bass to bring it all home. EDM is obviously music from a computer, and sometimes that can be a bit limiting. I set out trying to breathe new life into EDM so that I could go beyond standard genre expectations. I want my listeners to feel the individual theme of each song. Each one is meant to convey an organic aspect of life; sunshine, the curiosity of meeting a stranger, and the self-realization that the world is yours if you want it.
RMR: You’ve opened for well-known artists such as Zed’s Dead, GG Magree, Ganja White Night, and Sharps. How did it feel when you first started opening for these larger artists? Do you have any memorable experiences you could share?
Akama: It really is something to get up there and look out at a large room full of people that you’re performing for. The first time I played a big show was when I opened for Sharps, who’s out there right now doing big things. I played one of my original tracks that night and the crowd didn’t even realize it was an original. That might seem like a weird thing to be proud of, but for me to take an original track from the studio and play it up there on the big speakers to a crowd, and hear the quality fit with all the other music, and see the crowd really dig it; That’s an amazing feeling.
RMR: Was there any one moment in your life when you realized that music was the path you wanted to follow? Have you ever had any big epiphanies about your dream of becoming a successful producer? Or was it a realization that slowly built up over time?
Akama: One night I was sitting in my room tinkering with a track, and I looked up at the time. I realized I’d been sitting in my room working on a melody for fourteen hours straight. My only thought was that I wanted to freeze time and keep working on that song until it was absolutely finished. That’s when I realized that music was my path. I set out to learn everything I could and study those who I admired in order to truly be able to call myself a producer.
RMR: Who are your heroes?
Akama: Characters in comic books. The DC character Shazam in particular. In the comics, this kid is only twelve years old, and yet a wizard still grants him superpowers because he knows that the kid has a pure heart. That’s really cool. Shazam then goes out and uses his powers to save people. That’s a fearless hero in my eyes.
RMR: What is it really like being in your shoes? What are you missing out on and what has it taken for you to achieve everything you’ve done so far?
Akama: A lot of people say that music is their life, but only a few of those people will rise to the level of commitment that it takes to get ahead. It takes real sacrifice and real belief. Music is my leap of faith. I hold that faith in my work ethic, my drive, my friends, and the people who take the time to listen and appreciate my artform. I’ve given up on a lot of things to get here. I gave up getting a job in my field after finishing college and doing a few internships. I have a real fear that if I give in and get a desk job, I’ll never actually reach my goals. I sacrifice time with my loved ones and friends. I gave up going back to Hawaii regularly, even though my family isn’t getting any younger. I’ve practically given up on sleep. I feel that I’ve sacrificed an incredible amount to get to where I’m going.
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