Read It and Weep

Amara Korinko: This marks the first weekend of your first US headline tour — describe how it's been in three words.

Akriila: Music, vibes, Gossip Girl — I know Gossip Girl is two words but it’s my favorite series, so I’ve been watching it.

What’s been the most memorable thing about New York City?

The first time I came here, I was with my dad and we went to Central Park to see the John Lennon Memorial. I remember that place most specifically, so I always go to see that memorial on my other trips.

Elsewhere is a great venue to have your debut US performance in, what’s something you particularly appreciate about the venue layout and the NYC crowd?

It's so fun to me, having these 3 back-to-back dates. The first two were smaller, so I can be with people and I can literally touch and hear them talking. I think that's something [different than] in Chile or Mexico where it's not that small, so I connect more with people. But also having this third show that is bigger, the performance is better for me. For being myself, to have the physical space is important. And in [terms of] music production it's obviously better so I have the best of both worlds.

How do you typically spend your travel time while touring?

I'm not going to lie, I always love to be in the hotel. I travel near where I stay and grab some coffee and have lunch or dinner in a special place because I love food! My goal every time I’m outside my country is to have good dinner and music.

This bright bold red has been your defining color, what about it calls to you?

The red was important to me — lowkey it's not my favorite color (which is yellow) but it's a powerful color to me. When I was dying my hair I was like ‘Ok, what color? Ok, red,’ I feel so connected with the color. I'm always so happy when I see the color in my stuff. I don’t wear red clothes or anything but I try having my [accessories red]; my brush in red or my cellphone red or my headphones in red, I like to have little things to match.

Would you rather always have a perfect hair day but you can never have colored hair again, or have the ability to change your hair any color/pattern but always have a bad hair day?

I would love to stay with the red forever. If I had to change to different colors [it would be] a mess to me. I love having one thing and doing it well. Sometimes I'm tired of the red but lowkey it's my favorite part of me.

Where did the inspiration for the roger music video come from?

I was trying to have this era of fantasioso, like not real things happening. So I was like I can be with some cartones (cardboard) and then I can be one. I was having so much fun, me and the music, me in a room, going to the world and the world has nothing for me so I just be a carton.

How do lyrics come to you? Is it all in one go or do you have to sit with them for a long while?

When I overthink, my lyrics get worse so I always take 20 minutes to an hour max when I’m writing music because if I start overthinking it gets so much like a character and not something true. The past few months I had the idea that I have to do it fast, not because I don't care but because if I don’t then I’m going to lose the first thing that attracts me to do the song.

What are some things that remind you of/are associated with your hometown?

One time I read that Santiago has the most lesbians in the world and I think there’s a big lesbian community, I always think about that. Also just so retro, Chile is so retro. It’s like a backroom but in a good way. It has really special food and the people are so funny in Chile.

How has your upbringing in Chile influenced your musical sound?

My favorite artist is Alex Anwandter. Alex is a guy from Chile that also lives in New York. He has this album Rebeldes and maybe that was the first time I was obsessed with music and obsessed with lyrics. Then I started listening to Spanish music and I love the production when it's for other places but the lyrics are in Spanish. That all started with Alex and Chilean or Argentinian music.

How would you describe your fashion sense?

I'm trying to discover myself in fashion. I love to have one thing: I have one bag or one shoe or one t-shirt that I love and I use it so much for a few months until the next thing. I get obsessed with all my things. If I like a song or album or a place to eat it's only that on repeat. If I love something I’m going to use it all the time.

I see you're an unconditonal love type of person. Your songs all carry the theme of love. What is your love language?

I love to give presents to my friends, to my partners, to my team. I love having dinner and paying for everyone and spending my time with them.

The thing that I love other people doing is understanding me. I think I'm a very special person and I can be so quiet or so loud depending on what's happening in my head. So when I really think that people care about me it's because they are present or they understand me or give me words of affirmation.

What do you think about right before, during, and as you walk off stage?

Right now, I’m thinking of my garganta (throat). I’m so scared to be so loud and kill my throat.

During, I’m always thinking about the lyrics, having it right, because sometimes I change [lyrics during production] and then in life I'm like 'Fuck, was it this or that?' So I can get in my head. I have some songs I have completely learned, so for those I’m with people and having fun, but the ones I haven't I’m [focusing].

After, I'm wondering if people had fun, if everyone is happy about the show.

Fear not, Akriila, because even if your throat was fried, the crowd was screaming all the lyrics word for word. That was obvious when Akriila put the mic up to a front row fan who didn't miss a beat. They were chanting her name before they even saw her face, before the recognizable shade of red flooded the lights, before the stage was even set. Much like her emotionally raw songs, the connection between the performer and the audience was something intimate and special. It was less like a concert and more like a gathering of blood bonded companions. Fans lingered in the red light just a little bit longer after the show, as if to soak it in as much they can, wearing smiles and exchanging words of astonishment. I think it's safe to say, they had fun and left happy.