KID AKIMBO follows his dreams
It’s not every day that musicians crack our minds with creativity and inspiration, when it happens, it is a great feeling. The EDGESanFrancisco.com team happened to see KID AKIMBO at a performance in San Francisco recently and got some 1:1 time with the new global sensation for our monthly Community Q&A series.
It was refreshing to not only hear how passionate he is about music and performing but also about life and grasping opportunity and living completely in the moment. In addition to his sexy presence, KID AKIMBO is a singer and dancer, writing new urban pop and electronica with original choreography. His music video for "Fun Boyz" releases on February 14th at the Hugs N’ Hearts party in San Francisco.
Gay music artist?
EDGE: Let’s start with the basics: "gay music artist," does that describe you? Why or why not?
KID AKIMBO: Well, I think it’s a good start, but it’s really just the beginning. I’m excited about the universal appeal of my work, which musically has elements of pop, electro, Brazilian samba and latin rhythms like reggaeton, and lyrically deals with issues of social evolution, consumerism, and self-realization.
In terms of the dance there’s strong hip hop influence as well as folkloric dances of Brazil and Cuba. And I’m in collaboration with various local designers on styling and design. So I think there’s really something for everyone in what I’m doing -- well, everyone who likes to have a little fun and stimulation in the process, that is! It’s a message that has really come from my audiences since the beginning. Fans and fellow artists have always pushed me to have a greater vision, especially lately, and now industry people seem to be jumping on the bandwagon. Story continues on following page.
Kid Akimbo performs at Club 8 for the WET AND WILD:
An eclectic mix
EDGE: Tell us your about your recent album.
KA: I wanted my debut release to showcase my different sides, so it has an urban pop tune: (my single, "Fun Boyz", a throwback to nineties electronica with some added flair ("Moody,"), and a traditional samba remade as a disco ("Disco Berimbau") which showcases my Brazilian roots. Now that I feel that people have a sense of my versatility I’m going back into the studio to refine my sound.
The EP’s been doing well so far. It’s now on iTunes and an independent retailer, DigStation, which is great for me as I get all the proceeds there. Folks in San Francisco can find the cd at Medium Rare and Streetlight Records.
I’m beyond thrilled as the release party for both the EP and my upcoming music video for "Fun Boyz," will coincide with Hugs n Hearts, which is a party that producer extraordinaire, Jasper James, is throwing at Club 8 on February 14th. The reason I’m so excited about the event (besides it being my release party!) is that I’ll be sharing the stage with Amanda Lepore and Cazwell. So we’re bringing a bit of that New York flavor to the bay. And I think that’s really a big deal, and not to be missed.
EDGE: Show off a little, tell us about traveling the world.
KA: Why thanks. The highlight for me thus far was working with one of Michael Jackson’s principal dancers and last year’s director of the OUTMusic Awards, Ken Still. I went to New York to choreograph and perform in a piece with Jasper James, who won an award in the Outstanding Hip Hop/Rap category. Ken came to one of our rehearsals and was able to meet with me regarding my choreography and solo work as well. He is incredibly gifted and insightful, and it was an honor to hear his encouragement and feedback.
In terms of my work abroad, things are really starting to pick up, especially in Austria and Germany. I had the privilege of being the coverboy for XTRA!, Austria’s largest gay magazine, in September, which was a great way to kick off my most recent tour across the pond. They have a very different conception of rhythm there from in Brazil, where I’m from. So i think they appreciate my work on a different level. I’ve got some big things cooking for this coming year, and can’t wait to make the official announcements. But you know, til then a girl’s gotta have her secrets. You can find the details on my website soon.
EDGE: Michael Jackson was one of your biggest influences. Who are some of your influences besides? How did you get to where you are now?
KA: MIA, Ledisi, The-Dream, Caetano Veloso, Tracy Chapman.
How did i get here?? Well, I think I’d have to ask where am I now? I’m a self-produced independent recording and performing artist who’s just made his debut release, with an upcoming music video. I’ve done various national and international tours, drawing press and award-winning collaborators along the way... I’d say focus and determination, and clarity along with those two, and that you have to love what you do.
My teachers and mentors, and especially my fans, have been a huge support for me, but at the end of the day you have to go out there and get it yourself. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter what people say, what matters is what you believe, and what you do. At a certain point, I had to stop relying on the words of others, even if they told me I was going to be a huge success. That’s when I took that big leap out into outerspace. And that’s what I do everyday, take a big leap into the world, into nothingness. Story continues on following page.
Kid Akimbo performs at Cleveland Transpride @ Bounce 6/21/09:
Outsider status?
EDGE: What makes an artist "sexy"? How important is that to a career or success in the gay community?
KA: There’s the formulaic elements like a six-pack, or big arms or whatever and then there’s the personal level of someone just loving blondes, etc., etc., but I think what will always win out on all those prepackaged or personal preferences is charisma, which is a facet of originality. I think we could use more originality in the gay entertainment world, more of an open mind; but at the same time gay culture is historically desire-driven. So it’s a blessing and a curse, what we’ve inherited. I talk about "outside status," in my single, "Fun Boyz." I think it’s a territory that comes with a lot of responsibility and also opportunity. But we don’t seem to be very interested as a community in examining those issues anymore. And that’s what the song is about, not losing our consciousness around these issues.
EDGE: If you could have any artist in the world open a concert for you, who would it be and why?
KA: Wow, what a question. I’d say Ledisi). She’s quadruple Grammy-nominated, so she’d probably fill any empty seats so I could actually afford some food to fill my belly after the tour. Haha, but seriously, Ledisi was one of my first teachers, and the first one to really tell me to go for it in terms of singing. I came to her workshop and she was giving folks all these insightful comments and after my turn all she said was, "I have nothing to say to you. Next!" So that really set it off. We started working together on a regular basis.
And her energy is, well, I guess I should say "divine." When I’m at her show I feel like I’m being eaten alive by light, and am pretty much exploding by the end, so if she opened my show, you’d have a little KID AKIMBO-shaped nuclear blast going off right on stage when I hit it.
EDGE: Why should "pain be visible"?
KA: Ah, you’ve done your homework. Well, beyond any one entry in my blog), the purpose of that medium is for me to have a place to express the more contemplative aspects of my work, which is primarily externally driven at this point.
In terms of your question, I believe the words should be, "why should pain be public"? There’s so much isolation in this world, I often contemplate what it would be like if we felt comfortable or, God forbid, encouraged, to express ourselves to each other. Currently, vulnerable expression is seen as a weakness, that you can’t handle yourself and you need someone to talk to or you’ll go to pieces. Well, what if we switched the emphasis towards self-expression as self-exposure, something that is courageous and requires fearlessness, and therefore, admiration? As I ended the blog entry, I think this would eliminate the concept of "stranger," and tear down a lot of barriers. But there’s a reason why these barriers exist. They’re systemic. And that’s really what’s worth contemplating.
EDGE: If you could give one piece of advice to those who aspire to be creative and live their dream like you, what would you say?
KA: Oh man, this is what i live for: GO FOR IT. You have to follow your dreams, you have to live your life like you want it. Get out there and do your thing. Don’t waste your time; don’t waste your life; Don’t listen to other people’s opinions or those who tell you you can’t do it. If you hate your job, quit it; if you don’t like your relationship, leave it, or shift it. I know people don’t want to hear that, but I never thought it did anyone any help to be small. I’m not going to hold your hand and wait for you, but I will be there on the other side with a smile.
KID AKIMBO’s CD and MUSIC VIDEO RELEASE PARTY, Sunday, February 14, 2010 at 1151 Folsom/8th, San Francisco, CA. For more details visit KID AKIMBO’s website.
Kid Akimbo performs at KID AKIMBO @ San Francisco Pride’s Latin Stage 6/28/09:
