Today we’d like to introduce you to Akeil Shams-ul-hooda.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
After my college friends encouraged me to join my school’s South Asian A Cappella team in 2019, I realized I had an inherent desire to create my own music. I invested in professional studio equipment and began writing lyrics for hours on end, experimenting with melodies and flows inspired by hip-hop/pop music. In perfecting my craft over the past three years, I have released eight songs across streaming platforms, directed two of my own music videos, and connected with some of the most talented people in the industry.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
As I released each song on streaming platforms, created content for TikTok, and marketed myself across my university campus, I started to believe I had the drive to succeed in the music space. Despite this, I was met with jokes, doubt, and ridicule from many. By channeling my emotions of confusion and frustration into a renewed sense of motivation, I was energized with a desire to stay true to myself and continue making music. My goal was to show myself that I could own who I was despite those saying otherwise, knowing that the only person that has true control over my life is myself.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Having had the privilege of being raised on three separate continents of the world, I believe my experiences with multicultural communities have been one of the most influential factors in shaping my music. I draw inspiration from the styles of Lil Baby, Drake, Quavo, Nav, and Gunna and various Bollywood melodies to create works of melodic rap-pop music. Under the stage name “SWICHO,” I am working to mold South-Asian representation in the music space. As an artist balancing life as a medical student, I firmly believe that expression through art empowers performance in all facets of one’s lifestyle – above all, this is the mindset I intend to deliver to my listeners worldwide.
Any big plans?
I have several songs ready to be released soon. My objective in the immediate future is to finalize collaborations for my music video shoots. In doing so, I aim to build my audience further and eventually expand my brand at an international level. Ultimately, I want to enjoy this journey and put my all into manifesting whatever I can with my love for music and entertainment — keep a lookout for my newest single, “Manifest,” releasing this Summer across all platforms!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/swichostudios
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swichostudios/?hl=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcx33YJ6M1zxZ4FZd47OypxXO3L9uCtJX
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/swichostudios?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
Image Credits
HGfilms (Harish Ganesh)
SIFCO (Shekhar Iyer)
