By: Maria Williams

Creative pursuits like music, fine art, and acting allow individuals to bring ephemeral things like memories and emotions to life. Whether they take a physical form, these practices are sacred for many artists. It can be emotionally cathartic and enable someone to better understand their sense of self. Making music is a deeply personal experience. Each musician has a unique process for transmuting an idea into a melody, chorus, and final song. 

Naeki, an emerging artist with an atmospheric, lively sound, has taken this challenge on with positivity. His cheerful disposition and his talent for experimentation have enabled him to produce and release music independently. Naeki’s tracks cover a wide range of genres like pop, R’n’B, EDM, and hip-hop, and encourage listeners to reflect on their emotions. When asked about why he finds this quality important in his music, Naeki explains the ‘reactionary’ nature of all of his creations. “Basically everything I create has been produced uninhibited,” he says. “Once creativity strikes, I let it develop however it feels most natural and I think that can be perceived in my music.”

Naeki Amoah-Vyolakey describes himself as a gamer and anime enthusiast who stumbled into music production and songwriting. He always loved music, but never gave much thought to whether he could create his own. Despite lacking formal training, Naeki quickly developed an affinity for sound engineering, beat-making, and songwriting. In his senior year of college, Naeki’s friend gave him a machine for making beats. He experimented with different sounds and rhythms for many months until Naeki made his first song titled Emotions. 

In the track, Naeki explores the idea of home and what it means to him. As a Ghanaian that spent years in the United States and Europe, Naeki has struggled to find a place of belonging. Different countries have helped him evolve as a person, but at the end of the day he is from Ghana. In Emotions, Naeki’s narratives make the song into a spacey, yet calming piece of art that prompts a listener to think about their own perspective. What is home to them and what does it represent in their life?

Despite ongoing resource constraints, Naeki has continued producing music. He has embraced unconventional approaches, using his phone and laptop to make things work. After all, some of the greatest artists have used similar methods. As Naeki has released new songs like Let’s Play and Hello, his skills have improved. His first album was a learning experience that provided him with more creative inspiration for his upcoming studio album which will come out sometime in August. 

The pandemic was a major driver for Naeki to focus on advancing his music knowledge. During this difficult time, he spent the majority of his days studying new production methods, writing lyrics, and refining songs. His friends and family were contributors to his learning journey. They encouraged him to keep going no matter the obstacles that were standing in his way. 

Along with the positives of Naeki’s music career, the artist has also encountered setbacks. He’s had to find unique ways of balancing life and his passion projects. Learning how to overcome creative blocks has also been a challenge. However, there has been light in the darkness. Naeki fondly remembers a time when his work was recognized by a local restaurant. The memory is something he thinks about often when creating as an inspiration to never give up on his dream of making it big. 

Naeki is gaining a following on social media for sharing his music. He has also launched a colorful merchandise line that embodies his refreshing artistic style. Naeki plans to release an anime-style production that brings some of his favorite songs to life.

Follow Naeki on social media to be notified when he releases his first studio album and embarks on new creative journeys.

Published by: Nelly Chavez