Twenty years after his debut album “Trouble” reshaped the music industry, Akon returns with “Akon's Beautiful Day”, an uplifting new single the five time Billboard® award winning artist hopes will serve as “the anthem the world needs right now.”
Known for blending raw emotion with irresistible melodies, Akon has continually evolved, overcoming challenges and remaining steadfast in his pursuit of personal and professional growth.
The new track includes an interpolation of a viral 2017 video where a young student joyfully sings the “Beautiful Day” hook, breathing new life into the moment with Akon’s modern touch. Collaborating with renowned producers JKash, JR Rotem, and Phillip Phever, Akon crafted a song that blends Afrobeat, pop, and R&B with a radiant energy that invites listeners to celebrate the present.
“Of course, you still wanna sing and dance and enjoy, but music should inspire you to become bigger, better, and actually make you wanna do things that make the world a better place,” Akon explained, shedding light on the deeper purpose behind his latest release.
Akon’s debut album “Trouble” introduced him as a fresh voice in R&B, with hits like “Locked Up” and “Lonely” propelling him to international fame at a time when life was difficult for the singer and there were not many beautiful days; he is quick to acknowledge that his success is the result of personal reflection and profound faith. Now celebrating his debut album´s 20th anniversary, Akon looks back on how far he’s come since those early days. “We all come from different backgrounds, different cultures, and I think it's important and it's healthy for us to share music and communication to gain a better perspective on each other,” he says.
Reminiscing, Akon recalls the feeling of working with Michael Jackson, stating joyfully, 'If that wasn't a dream, I don't know what is.' This accomplishment is just one of many that once seemed almost impossible for the Senegalese-American artist to achieve.
His new album, set for release later this year, aims to revitalize the music landscape. Akon, along with many others, believes audiences have grown tired of disposable singles, while music lovers worldwide long for more substantial, immersive, and robust bodies of work.
While the music icon admits that he has been “in creative mode” for most of the time, Akon recently spent a few relaxing days in Mexico, celebrating his wife and Konvict Kulture artist AMIRROR’s birthday at the luxurious Riviera Maya EDITION at Kanai. The stay, curated by long time collaborators Alesh Ancira and The Eclectic Agency, allowed the couple some quiet time before Akon’s now historic performance at Rock in Rio, where he captivated over 100,000 fans and premiered his new single “Akon's Beautiful Day” in front of an energetic and adoring crowd.
“I always face the challenge of giving a message without sounding corny,” Akon admits, “but I promise you, I think I nailed it with this new album.”
His confidence in the balance he strikes between meaningful, uplifting lyrics and infectious rhythms is clear throughout the entire conversation. The single, which instantly commands attention and transports music lovers to a joyful, positive space, does feel like an anthem for this new chapter—a celebration of hope and a reminder to us all that despite the challenges in our lives, we can always choose to be grateful for sunshine and grateful for rain.
