• photography Pierre Crosby

    Interview with Dream Pop Star Akira Galaxy

    Written by Yasmine M

    Let us introduce Akira Galaxy, a new star on the sky of indie pop. Having grown up in an artistically family, the singer draws inspiration from touchstones like Radiohead, Cocteau Twins and Fleetwood Mac. With a her rich alto vocals, it creates what she desribes as genre, dream pop. As Odalisque Magazine get's the opportunity to talk with the singer, she is prepering for her summer tour with Winnetka Bowling League with stops such as San Diego, New York, and Chicago.

    Can you share the story of how your journey in music began?
    Yeah! I went to an art centric grade school where I played half a dozen instruments  and when I was 10 I got my first guitar and wrote my first song. Then in high school  I started taking it seriously and playing with different groups around Seattle. I  remember at one point, jamming with some friends in a closet and recording  drums and guitar off my laptop speakers on Garageband. A week or so later, I got  an interface and recorded some distorted, reverbed out vox. I was continuously  writing and experimenting the years following and at 19 decided to move to LA to  get serious. But funny enough, it wasn't until I came back to Seattle that I really  discovered my sound and “What's Inside You” was written.

    When creating music, what specific emotions do you aim to evoke in your  audience?
    I’d like people to feel validation and one-ness in the innate desire for human  connection and the love and loss that coexists. I’d also hope that some people  could take parts of the music as creative fuel for something of their own.
    What are some of your primary inspirations when making music? Poetry, short stories, mythology, record stores, used musical instrument shops…

    What are your aspirations for the upcoming year? 
    Definitely working on a new album and touring overseas.

    Could you share three noteworthy or amusing facts about yourself?
    1. I’ve taken 60+ hrs of mime class for my stage performance. Intention in  performance is really important to me. Whether that’s in the way you  stand, look at the audience, move your hands.. It all makes a difference  and helps convey the intended message to the audience.
    2. Akira Galaxy is my legal first and middle name.
    3. I played a munchkin in 50+ performances of the Wizard of Oz play in  Seattle when I was 3 years old.

    Reflecting on the start of your career, how has the experience been so far? And what are some of the things you are most proud of?
    Man, it’s been extremely rewarding. Since the EP came out, I’ve gotten to play a  ton of shows and am now starting to play festivals. The bands gotten super tight  and comfortable through this which is something I'm proud of.

    Additionally, do you have any aspirations or advice for aspiring artists?
    Put in the hours. Sit down consistently and do the work. A quote that an old friend  once said to me and has always stuck with me, “the more you fish, the more likely  you are to reel in a good one.” the same goes for writing. You’re gonna write a lot  of throwaways and then you hit gold and sometimes the throwaways are gold but  you just weren't in the place to see the vision. Everyday you're a new kind of artist;  your voice may sound different, your emotional state may be different, etc.. work  with that current version of yourself. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. My best music comes when in a state of  childlike curiosity. Experiment. Let the song guide you and when you hit the gold,  stay there for as long as possible.

    What aspect of your artistic side do you wish to improve upon? 
    It’s hard to choose one thing, but I'd love to get to a place where I can fully  produce and mix my songs. Slowly but surely..

    Could you give us some insights about the making of your latest EP? How was the process of writing and producing it?
    Yes! I wrote the record in Seattle in my childhood bedroom. It was a perfect  combination of things–my first stack of poetry books, a reverend guitar I was lent, the time to reflect, and the limitation of virtual human connection. I also was  getting really experimental with some reverb pedals (specifically the oceans 11) at  the time which I think took a big part in shaping the feeling of the songs.
     

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