Q&A: Unveiling the Transcendent Fusion with AKTHESAVIOR and sagun on 'u r not alone'
THE INTERSECTION OF RAP AND LO-FI PRODUCTION creates a fascinating terrain where words and beats interlace, shaping a narrative that transcends boundaries. In a recent interview with Luna, AKTHESAVIOR and sagun, the masterminds behind the collaborative project u r not alone, shed light on the genesis of their partnership and the thematic depths explored in their upcoming album.
The journey of u r not alone began with a serendipitous exchange of beats and verses between AK and sagun's manager, Jordan. What started as a casual collaboration evolved into a full-fledged project fueled by shared creative energies and a mutual desire to explore uncharted musical territories. As AK recounts the genesis, "The vibes were so perfect that we decided to make it a full project instead of just a couple of songs."
The album's title, "u r not alone," serves as a beacon of solidarity and connection, resonating deeply with the human experience. For AK, it's a reminder that "I am another you," emphasizing the interconnectedness of individuals navigating life's trials and tribulations. Meanwhile, sagun reflects on the album's inception during the isolation of the COVID era, where the inherent human dependency on others became palpable.
Diversity reigns supreme in the tracklist of "u r not alone," featuring collaborations with esteemed artists like Pink Siifu, Mick Jenkins, and A$AP Twelvyy. Each guest brings a unique flavor to the album, enriching its sonic tapestry with their distinctive voices and perspectives. AK and sagun express their gratitude for the seamless collaboration, with AK envisioning each artist's voice on the beats from the moment of creation.
LUNA: The collaboration between a rapper and a lo-fi producer is intriguing. How did the idea of working together on u r not alone come about?
AK: This collaboration first started with back-and-forth emails, trading beats and verses to sagun’s manager Jordan. I think the vibes were so perfect that we decided to make it a full project instead of just a couple of songs.
SAGUN: I always wanted to make a rap album and was searching for someone to make it with. Jordan said he knew AK and then we started by sharing few beats back and forth. And those went really well so we began to make a complete album together.
LUNA: The album title, 'u r not alone', suggests themes of solidarity and connection. Can you delve into the inspiration behind this message and how it resonates with your music?
AK: The title ‘u r not alone’ basically is a message to the listeners, which means I am another you. As humans, we go through trials and tribulations and may feel like we’re alone when experiencing them, but the reality is we’re going through similar things. As long as we remember the fundamentals of life like community, knowing our self-worth, and staying humble yet still confident, we can grow and make the world a better place. Sharing our experiences helps aid the next person and can prevent them from going down the wrong path.
SAGUN: I think we are never alone throughout our lifetime. We have always directly or indirectly been dependent on someone else, which is not a bad thing at all. Even at times when you feel alone, there will always be your close ones with you. We made this during COVID when we were isolated, so that feeling was at the forefront of our thoughts.
LUNA: The tracklist for 'u r not alone' is diverse, featuring collaborations with artists like Pink Siifu, Mick Jenkins, and A$AP Twelvyy. How did these collaborations come to fruition, and what unique elements do these artists bring to the album?
AK: Shoutouts to everyone who was a part of creating this album; we all killed it! When it comes to the collaborations on this project, each artist is a friend of mine and I envisioned each of their voices on the beats when I heard them. Sometimes depending on how the production sounds, I can almost hear other artists on the beat and know if they would kill it or not.
SAGUN: Every feature on this album was possible because of AKs friendship with them. And they all have different ways of delivering the story. They all brought something different to each of the beats and they all killed it.
LUNA: "Humble feat. Pink Siifu" is a standout single from the album. Can you share the creative process behind this track and what it represents within the context of the album?
AK: Humble is the third single from our album ‘u r not alone’, and the title says it all. It’s about staying true to yourself, and not being discouraged by the obstacles life places in your way. People might copy your style, ask for hand outs etc, but all that matters is you staying focused and on your path.
SAGUN: While making the ‘Humble’ beat, I was looking outside my window and I could see the mountains and the last sun rays of the day. So I was searching for the vibe that suited that. When I heard the sample I was like “this is it”. I sent it to AK, and he gave new life to it.
LUNA: Your music seems to blend elements of rap and lo-fi seamlessly. How do you navigate merging these distinct styles while maintaining cohesion throughout the album?
AK: Thank you. I agree with you 100 percent that my raps blend nicely with the lofi beats. But I think the key to my process while creating this album was honesty and letting whatever thoughts come to me while writing just flow, not forcing or trying to sound like anything in particular.
SAGUN: I always grew up listening to rap. Adding the hip-hop elements to my beats came natural to me. I’ve also noticed that old school hip-hop tracks often have a lo-fi quality, even if they weren’t specifically labeled that way.
LUNA: AKTHESAVIOR, you've been known for your self-reflective lyricism, while sagun, your production style is deeply atmospheric. How do your individual artistic approaches complement each other in this collaborative project?
AK: Where I do start? I feel like my self-reflective lyrics go perfectly with the atmospheric beats sagun makes. It’s like they are made for each other in a sense. When I heard every beat on the album, words were just falling from the sky because the production would hit my soul so deeply. I feel like sagun and I have the understanding without too much communicating that what ever he sends that resonates with me imma body that shit haha.
SAGUN: I’m always inspired by the environmental around me. Most of the time, I just take in the nature around me and try to create my music out of it. And I’ve always been doing that. AK and I both have this connection to nature. think he connected to the things I made and he delivered what he wanted to deliver in those instrumentals.
LUNA: 'u r not alone' touches on themes of self-worth, community, and introspection. How do you hope listeners will connect with these themes through your music?
AK: I truly hope they enjoy the music, and that it provides some type of guidance on living a better life, being aware of your actions and how you treat others. I elaborated on my past experiences through life and what I learned from my mistakes so others don’t have to go through the same shit.
LUNA: The process of collaboration can be enriching but also challenging. What were some of the most memorable moments you experienced while creating 'u r not alone' together?
AK: Creating this album was really dope for me, and working with an amazing artist from a completely different part of the world was super exciting and something I want to continue doing in my future works. There were many memorable moments, but I enjoyed every time I would get a new beat from sagun for the album. Like clockwork, I would get to writing ASAP. The most challenging moments were adding features and confirming releases with those features. Everyone has their own schedule, so just lining things up was not the easiest. But hey, this is what comes with making an album.
SAGUN: With AK, I didnt have any challenges. But with myself and my process of making beats, it was harder. I would probably make 10 to 20 beats and only send AK one or two, because I really wanted to challenge myself to be selective with my best pieces of music that would fit the vibe of the album.
LUNA: As artists who have experienced both individual success and collaborative endeavors, how do you see 'u r not alone' shaping your artistic trajectories moving forward?
AK: I think us doing this album is going to open the door to more collaborative album opportunities for us both. And, the lo-fi world will know more of me, and the rap world will know more of sagun.
SAGUN: This project gave me the chance to collaborate with a lot of hip-hop artists for the first time. It also gave me an experience on how to make collaborations truly come to life.
LUNA: With the album set for release on April 5th, what are your hopes and expectations for how it will be received by your audience and the broader music community?
AK: We just hope you enjoy the vibes and that it helps you through the difficult times in life.
SAGUN: I’ll set my expectations for nothing haha. Only because I’m already happy that we put our efforts and hard work into this album and people who can relate will connect with it. So I’m just happy for now.
