Today we’d like to introduce you to Akil Sanders.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up as a kid in South Dallas, I’ve always been creative as well as an art enthusiast. My enthrallment with the creative process galvanized me to seek different ways to express myself in the best way I saw fit. In my adolescence, I dabbled in various art forms, including poetry, spoken word, rapping, acting, drawing, painting, photography, and film. I got fairly decent at most of them and realized that God blessed me with many talents. Growing up with a father thats also a professional photographer, it was no surprise that once I got older, I choose to pursue photography primarily. However, it wasn’t until I got to college that I really started taking myself seriously and began to develop as an artist. I initially began shooting locally at Tuskegee University, where I was able to work with a multitude influencers, hip hop artists, brands, and organizations in the region.
From there, I branched out more into film and began shooting and directing music videos, promos and short films. While constantly working hand and hand with a lot of these artists, some of which became friends & ultimately family, I would occasionally join in on freestyle sessions until one day I was encouraged to start making music on of my own. With the help of other artist such as Scuzzo, Qu1$, Noby and Jaé, as well as countless others, I was able to develop my own unique sound and started to grow as an artist. I discovered that making music was very unique way to express parts of myself that I wouldn’t know how to express otherwise, all of which culminated in the creation of my first project, HueMan!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The road has definitely not been easy. One the most challenging things for me has been learning to balance everything by prioritizing mental health and well-being without sacrificing my productivity. It was a struggle in the beginning and at times, it still proves to be but over the years, I’ve learned how to do it effectively. From being a full-time engineering student and doing photography to years later graduating and being a full-time engineer while making music and hosting a podcast, there’s always something for me to be doing. Between that and the everyday pressures of life and family, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Thankfully I was blessed with a great support system to help me as well.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I think was sets me apart is my authenticity and intentionality. Take my first project for example, HueMan is essentially about the nature of relationship. It came about as way for me to reflect on and process not only my own relationship experiences but that of some of those closest to me. It was crafted in such way to mirror the dichotomy in relationship that we all face, which inherently make us all “Human.” Nobody’s relationship or life is perfect. We all have our good days and our bad days; we all experience heartbreak, heartache, pain as well joy, passion and pleasure; we all have our red and blue moments as a result of our relationships with others and ourselves.
Red representing passion, pleasure, excitement or maybe even anger. Blue represents sadness but also calmness. As we go through life, we find ourselves in a constant influx of emotion shifting between realities, whereas you experience something in on moment yet the polar opposite is waiting for you in the next day. That juxtaposition was the basis of how I placed my songs, alternating between red and blue, highs and lows. Each song tells its own story and speaks to a specific moment in time, referencing a unique encounter. I’m sure no matter who you are, there is some piece of this project that anyone can identify with, as long as you’re a human being.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
I never thought in a million years that I would be making music. God truly works in mysterious way and I give Him all the credit for blessing me with the gifts that I possess and orchestrating my steps from the very beginning! I want use my voice to tell my story and change the world through more than just my music. My goal remains to make the most of every opportunity I’m afforded by maximizing my talents through hard work, dedication and trusting the process to become all that I was created to be.
Contact Info:
- Email: akilkamaalmusic@gmail.com
- Website: https://linktr.ee/akilxkamaal https://linktr.ee/akilxkamaal
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/akilxkamaal
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/akilxkamaal
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjoNq0EVzBo
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-256154899/sets/hueman
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/against-the-grain/id1473833039?uo=4
Image Credits:
IG: @uvlifestyle IG: @_kaci_marie
