Propulsive rhythms, intriguing melodic inventions and a voice connected to a soul. As a recording artist, songwriter and inspired creator, Akarri appears as an emissary of an intriguing artistry. Not so much defined as experienced, the sensation is both familiar and clandestine, revealed in auras of dazzling light and shrouded in silhouettes of deep shadow. Decidedly modern, Akarri creates a sound that is both electronic and organic. It is underscored by rich layers of synths and sequencers, reverb-soaked guitars, dance floor-worthy electronic pulses and arena-rock drums. Spotlighted within these sparkling soundscapes glows the signature contralto of Akarri, candid and commanding. “I am deeply rooted in who I am,” says Akarri. “Music is it.” Growing up in a traditional Christian household in Toronto, Akarri recalls being steered away from the entertainment industry. Her mom, afraid of corruption and unwanted influences, kept her sheltered from most things. It was songs from movies that formed her earliest connection to music beyond gospel. Shielded from the outside world, songwriting was a portal to a liberated reality, where destinies were freely followed. “When I began writing my own songs, I discovered my own voice,” she says. Unfulfilled by the cast of local collaborators, she scoured the Internet and discovered a collective of talented producers worldwide. Akarri says she didn’t know exactly what types of tracks she was listening for, but she was certain when she heard them. “I wanted something that didn’t sound like anything else,” she confirms, “something special; sounds that echoed my themes of longing and liberation.” These tracks that she collected provided the source of inspiration for her lyricism. “When I hear production I’m not hearing the kick and snare. I hear the melodies underneath. I hear the emotion.” With her words, Akarri sets scenes, invents characters, and employs a sweeping sense of scale echoed in epic production and impassioned vocals. “I have ideas, but once the track plays it will give me a whole other mood.” The songs on Akarri’s EP debut evoke sensations of motion, movement, and escape. “For me the musical journey is like a trip across country, encountering all of these obstacles but pushing through and seeing the new adventures on the other side. Becoming yourself, but a stronger self.” As an ascending solo artist, Akarri is determined to walk her own path. The philosophy she imparts through her songs is of freedom and self-empowerment. “Just because your life is this way doesn’t mean it has to be. Do what you want to do. Reclaim the lost dream.”