With his most recent album, Personal, AKTHEPROD has created a profoundly intimate and emotionally stirring work. Personal is about the intricacies of identity, love, and self-worth. After the popularity of his 2024 EP Isolate, which examined themes of mental health and solitude during trying times.
He started making beats in 2018 while attending SUNY Potsdam for his undergraduate education, marking the beginning of his adventure. Alex quickly discovered that his music could be a platform for his voice after first concentrating on creating instrumentals for other people. His first solo compositions were the result of this realization, and his stage name AKTHEPROD evolved to reflect his development as a producer and artist, as well as his initials.
Personal is a study of vulnerability. Every song represents a new phase in AKTHEPROD’s continuous quest for self-acceptance. “Be Quiet” confronts internal battles with self-worth while silencing negativity, opening the album. Listeners are then taken on an emotional journey as “Passionate” candidly explores the anguish of rejection and love. “Golden” provides a flash of insight as the artist starts to see his worth beyond material possessions.
“True,” which explores love in the LGBTQ+ community and the difficulties people encounter when negotiating relationships with partners who are not completely honest about their identities, is one particularly noteworthy song. This degree of conceptual complexity demonstrates AKTHEPROD‘s capacity to delicately and nuancedly handle complicated subjects.
The album’s production mirrors its emotional depth. Tracks like “Gas” and “Evil Lurks” use darker discusses overindulgence and inner turmoil, while songs like “Goofy” inject playful confidence into the mix. With “Bliss (Played),” they are left with a sense of resolution as AKTHEPROD acknowledges past mistakes and celebrates personal growth.
In interviews, AKTHEPROD has hinted at exploring new directions in future projects. Perhaps he could venture into more sensual or upbeat territory while maintaining the emotional depth that defines his work.