ORBIT: AMPLIFY Playlist—Akira Akira

by: Rachel Narozniak Jun 30, 2020

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Over the past few weeks, electronic artists have celebrated the musical contributions of black artists by compiling ORBIT: AMPLIFY playlists. The playlists have succinctly spotlit productions from black artists and artists of color that have influenced these artists’ careers, and on a simpler level, kept them moving and grooving. 

Following respective ORBIT: AMPLIFY playlists from Anabel Englund, Brando, and Major Lazer‘s Walshy Fire, 23-year-old triple-threat, Akira Akira, who exercises his producing, engineering, and A&R talents at Mad Decent, joins the ORBIT: AMPLIFY series to curate his own playlist. The multi-skilled DJ’s resume boasts opening sets for Major Lazer and Diplo, and the allure of his music is exemplified in part by Rihanna‘s choice to set one of her Fenty runway shows to Akira Akira’s sound.

In between frequenting Twitch with his own livestream series, AKIRA AKIRA LIVE, which airs on Mad Decent’s Twitch channel each Sunday at 9:30 p.m. EST, and throwing down back-to-back sets alongside Diplo on the same platform, Akira Akira is taking time to pay tribute to the black artists and other artists of color who have impacted him. His 20-song playlist provides a look at his hip-hop taste, with productions from JACKBOYS, Tory Lanez, Kanye West, DJ Swisha, Bloc Party, and more figuring on his ORBIT: AMPLIFY Playlist.

Akira Akira also includes two of his own productions, his original, “Don’t Panic,” and his remix of Major Lazer’s “Miss You,” produced in collaboration with Hikeii. For those unfamiliar with Akira Akira, it’s time to get acquainted, and for those who know his sound, relax, kick back, and enjoy selects from a seasoned ear in the modern music scene.

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Make no mistake—dance music is born from black culture. Without black creators, innovators, selectors, and communities, the electronic dance music we hold so dear would simply not exist. In short, dance music is deeply indebted to the global black community and we need to be doing more. Black artists and artists of color have played a profound role in shaping the sound and culture of dance music and now more than ever, it is necessary for everyone in the music community to stand up for the people that have given us so much. Dancing Astronaut pledges to make every effort to be a better ally, a stronger resource, and a more accountable member of the global dance music community. Black Lives Matter—get involved here:  

Black Lives Matter

My Block My Hood My City

National Lawyers Guild Mass Defense Program

Black Visions Collective

Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Legal Defense Initiative

The Bail Project

The Next Level Boys Academy

Color of Change

Committee to Protect Journalists