Rocker AKLOH has an anthology of releases in the form of some EPs, single's, with an album expected out soon, with another EP also coming soon! A whole lot is set for the rest of this year, with more live shows, including with a live band, a lot of the shows happening have been done with solo acoustic performances. So much is set for this up and coming artist, because as he puts it simply "I'm Not Dead Yet" a recent single found HERE and he says much with us below!
1. Please tell us about the history behind why you wanted to create this music project?
Though music has been a fundamental component of my life for as long as I can remember, I largely put my musical aspirations on hold after completing my undergraduate degree at SUNY Fredonia in 2018 in order to dedicate all of my energy to establishing and elevating my career in fitness. However, after five years of building a hugely successful career with Orangetheory Fitness, I came to the realization that the "itch" to dedicate myself fully to music in order to see what I can manifest would never simply go away - it was either scratch it or forever let it remind me of what could have been. As such, I quit my five-year and near-six-figure career in fitness at the end of 2023 to pursue music full-time and that is where akloh. was born.
2. What’s the origin of the name is it Akloh or Akloh Music or Jorian Akloh Holka?
"akloh." is the correct stylization of my artist pseudonym, and you may notice that it's simply my last name ("Holka") backwards - this is meant to represent that while I am still the person I've always been, I essentially "flipped my life around" in abandoning my aforementioned career. Lastly, the period at the end represents the fact that while the name may be backward, I am nevertheless moving forward as an artist in seeking to achieve new goals.
3. Where are you based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local acts you could recommend?
I am based in Buffalo, NY where we have a relatively strong local scene! It has some unique quirks such as generally seeing the most community participation within the hardcore/metal/hip-hop genres as well as the general public not being the most engaged in consuming/supporting local music, but generally speaking there are a large number of artists who can find opportunities to perform at a large number of venues. There are definitely other Buffalo acts I'd recommend checking out such as Letter to Elise, Heart for Sale, Little Liar, Robbery Club, Prairie Pavement, etc.
4. How would you describe your style?
I characterize my sound as "anthem arena rock" - songs that convey relatable topics in a positive/upbeat manner that breeds unity amongst listeners and cultivates a collective energy that lends itself to these songs being played loud and proud. And while there are moments of musical complexity, my music places much greater emphasis on quality songwriting, composition, and recording in order to make it both attractive and accessible to as many listeners as possible.
5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?
I am currently in the process of putting out my debut release "anthology", which is a 9-track LP comprised entirely of songs I wrote prior to akloh.'s inception that I wholeheartedly believe in and want to carry with me into this new chapter. So far, "anthology part i: the world's most dangerous man" and "anthology part ii: the man in a dangerous world" - each featuring three songs - have been released in addition to the first single from "anthology part iii: the man's world", leaving only the final two songs yet to be released. Listeners can expect the aforementioned sound with the understanding that it encapsulates components of many of my influences from classic rock to pop punk to radio pop and beyond. Every track introduces something new while maintaining characteristic undertones that ensure cohesiveness and flow from one to the next.
6. Do you have any new music in the works?
Work is well underway on my sophomore EP, which will likely be titled "twenty-twenty me" and feature five songs chronicling the life-altering year that 2023 was for me (i.e. ending a 3-year relationship, going on a life-changing trip, deciding to quit my job, and taking the first steps toward dedicating myself entirely to music). This will likely be released in 2026.
7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?
While I have no concrete plans for touring yet (I will begin doing so when the time is right and it makes sense to do so), I am in no way hitting the breaks on live performances - I played ~85 shows all around Western New York in 2024 and am on track to either match or beat that in 2025.
8. What plans do you have for the future as far as the rest of this year goes?
The first portion of this year will center almost entirely around executing the remainder of the release timeline for "anthology". From there, I'll shift focus to not only recovering from what has turned out to be a roughly 8-month release cycle in which I've done nearly everything (i.e. content creation, marketing, networking, etc.) myself, but also finalizing my live band (all performances to date have been solo acoustic) as well as creating less formal and more fun social media content. Toward the end of the year, I hope to see my live band's debut as well as to put out a three- to five-track acoustic Christmas release.
9. Where can we listen to your music and where can we buy your stuff?
Everything can be found at linktr.ee/akloh.music, and merch is currently only available for purchase at shows!
10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?
When a listener first hears my music, I'd simply like them to remember how it made them feel. Whether it be the quality of the recordings, the compositions themselves, the lyrics, etc. - it is my hope that one or a combination of those items lend themselves to the listener feeling something. And if it makes them feel something positive? I hope they'll take a deeper dive into my music, check out my social media, and become an active part of the community I'm working day in and day out to foster.
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