Ako shares more about his second single Visions, his process and much more from his journey so far.

AKO captivated audiences with his super impressive production and style as heard on music instrumentals such as BETTER, Worst, Do Not Disturb and Violet. The British music producer and artist made solid contributions to the work of other artists like North London singer, songwriter and producer Ray Alex and American singer Sydney Jane which can be heard on productions from Ray's EP Disbelief on songs such as Grey Rock Shuffle and more. Now Ako returns from his lab and from his debut single Honest which released last year in November. Ako unleashes his follow up second single VISIONS. He commented on the song saying:

" VISIONS delves into the disconnection that arises from poor communication in a relationship, where distance grows with every unresolved issue. Ako, in his signature honest and vulnerable style, opens up about how avoidance of confrontation can lead to emotional detachment. Instead of addressing conflict head-on, he finds himself envisioning the argument that could follow, opting instead to withdraw. The result is a cycle of silence and tension, with no resolution in sight. Through VISIONS, Ako gives listeners a glimpse into his personal emotional landscape, painting a picture of how unresolved issues can cloud clarity and connection. VISIONS continues the themes explored in HONEST, building on the foundation of emotional vulnerability while exploring the burden of unspoken words. With both songs, Ako has made it clear that his art is rooted in personal experiences and honest reflections on human connection "

With a promising future ahead of him Ako shares the secret behind the making of his second single, his creative process, what he hopes listeners take from his music and his upcoming projects and more.

Listen to VISIONS on Spotify, Apple Music, ITunes and Deezer

1. Congrats on the release of your second single Visions . How does it feel to finally put this sound out there ?

AKO : It feels good but, I know there's still alot more work to do, so I can't relax too much. However, alot less weight on my shoulders for sure.

2. You've developed quite a unique sound and touch on deep topics on his record, could you explain how this song came about ?

AKO : I’m still developing my sound, but I appreciate you recognising it. It’s weird—because it’s me, it doesn’t feel that deep. But for people who can relate, I’m sure it hits differently. I had made the foundation of the beat but had no intention of singing on it. I showed it to my boy "Jaydon Daley" (aka Ky-Jad, cold writer, by the way), and we were just writing based on situations we’d been through in the past. We weren’t planning to sing it ourselves—we were actually looking for someone else to do it. That’s how the topics came about.

I held onto the song for a while. After I wrote “HONEST,” it just worked perfectly with the draft recordings we’d done for “VISIONS.” So it made sense to include it in the “INTRODUCING AKO” saga I’m doing.

3. What was the creative process like for this track, did you write the song first or produce the beat first and why?

AKO: This particular song and majority of my songs I usually start with the production. I don't need the production to be completed. I just need the one sound or a basic structure to be able to think of melodies and write to it. Otherwise if the beat is complete I generally struggle to figure out where the vocal should sit. Pretty much why alot of my beats don't have too much going on. I like subtle details + subtle moments in a song.

("Jaydon") told me he wanted to get into writing again, so I showed him the first version of "VISIONS". Linked up with him and wrote to it. Had it for sometime. Linked up with my engineer ("Cristian Perugino") and anytime I go to him I know I want to develop a song properly. So I spent alot of time making alterations, changes of verses, adding production that fit around those verses + choruses. Then whilst all of that was going on, shot the visualiser for it and the rest is history really.

4. Compared to your debut single , how would you describe your growth as a songwriter and artist ?

AKO: I've only been singing for about half a year now, so I'd say there's definitely been a lot of vocal growth—I'm much more confident with it. With this whole "INTRODUCING AKO." saga, I want to show my range, both in production and writing, so there's clear development there too. Another big thing has been learning how to navigate the business side as an artist rather than just a producer. I’ve realised I avoid the same things I didn’t like when working with artists as a producer, especially when it comes to collaborating.

5. You've produced some amazing work over the years, what do you hope fans take from your music ? 

AKO: Thank you, I appreciate that! I’d say the main three things are:

1. Showing my versatility – I’m using “INTRODUCING AKO.” to really show different sides of my artistry, and just let people get a better feel for who I am.

2. Whatever you wanna do—creatively or not—just go for it. Don’t overthink it, just start.

3. Be selfish (in a nice way!) – I know it sounds kinda cliché, but spending time alone is super important. Learning how to say no. Figure out what you actually like, who you are, what you're into. Go outside, log off the internet for a bit. A lot of people don’t really know themselves—they’re just following what’s trending or whatever their fave celeb is saying, instead of really learning how to deal with stuff their own way.

6. What can we and your fans expect from you coming soon, will there be more collaborations, live shows or music videos ?

Definitely more songs coming after this release—expect versatility. Hopefully, some live shows too. I’m gonna see what concepts I can come up with (visually) for the other songs, especially for the music videos, but it’s gotta make sense for the story I’m telling and fit the budget, lol.  

I’m hoping to do this “INTRODUCING AKO” series with no features. I want it to just be me. That said, the music always comes first, so I’m not too prideful about it. If adding another artist makes the song better, I’m not gonna say no. And of course, I’ll still be working with other writers and producers wherever I can.

Be sure to follow Ako online on Instagram and Twitter