The Buffalo music scene is a prominent part of the nightlife in Western New York. Locals have numerous venue and genre choices when attending a live show.
In a unique rock n’ roll and pop genre mix, akloh. brought Electric Avenue Cafe to life on Monday, June 3. After the show, akloh. sat down and shared some insight on Buffalo, the music scene, and himself.
Alexandra Clark: Who would you say is your main inspiration or influence currently?
akloh.: Rock bands that truly value the art of quality songwriting have always been at the top of my list – Green Day, Foo Fighters, Nickelback, Switchfoot, etc. Those really haven’t changed for quite some time now because that “brand” of larger-than-life rock ‘n roll has never ceased to light a fire in me. With that said, I also draw a hefty amount of inspiration from more pop-based acts such as Jonas Brothers, The Struts, Twenty One Pilots, etc. as well as a variety of local acts.
AC: What do you love about performing live?
akloh.: I truly believe that I shine in a live-performance setting, especially considering the fact that all of my performances thus far have been delivered as a solo acoustic act. In an era when so many artists focus solely on releasing music and racking up streams/likes/views; when so many bands rely more on backing tracks than their own talents to put forth an engaging live experience; when the human-connection component of being a musician has been lost on so many, it’s a feeling unlike any other when I’m able to get up in front of a crowd armed with nothing more than an acoustic guitar and deliver a performance that’s just as if not more captivating than that of a full band.
And while I do have a live band in the works that I hope to perform with on occasion as sort of “special events,” I’m going to continue riding this solo-acoustic wave for as long as I possibly can. As a local-level artist beginning to breed notable success without having released any music or performed with a full band, I think it’s safe to say that there’s something special about the atmosphere I’m able to create with that acoustic guitar.
AC: What’s your favorite aspect of the Buffalo music scene? What about Buffalo as a whole?
akloh.: My favorite aspect of the Buffalo music scene has to be the musical diversity present within it – you can truly find acts of nearly every genre that both have originated in and perform around WNY. It’s often relatively easy to pinpoint the most prominent genre coming out of a given city, but with this city that’s simply not the case.
Otherwise, I’m an absolute sucker for Buffalo summers. While I’m not much of a fan of our winters, the way in which they create a shared sense of excitement and eagerness to be outside experiencing nature when the weather does (finally) change creates an environment unlike any other.
AC: What is your dream and or goal for your music career?
akloh.: My goal – while lofty – is to be the next artist on the forefront of the anthem and arena-rock sounds. I want to continue creating music that is not only true to myself, but that also carries with it a tangible sense of empowerment and vitality that lights the fire in others’ souls and allows them to share in that collective energy – music that 50,000+ people in an arena could relate to individually while singing and dancing along as one.
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