For South London's Sam Akpro, his journey from listener to creator unfolded with the same patience that now defines his debut album 'Evenfall' - a collection that stands as a testament to the power of letting creativity bloom at its own pace.

The initial path led through Kingston University's biomedical science department, though not for long. "I just went to uni because I had no other direction to go in," Akpro reflects. "But once I was there for a while, I realised that it wasn't for me. That's around the same time music and other things were interesting me." While he notes that the academic and musical realms share little common ground - "I don't think the skills overlap, the only thing I could say is you need focus for both" - this period marked a crucial turning point. The uncertainty of those university days would later inform the deliberate, measured approach he brings to his musical endeavours.

Fortune often sparks artistic revelations, and in Akpro's early twenties he forged lasting connections with other creatives. "When I was 19/20, I was lucky to be surrounded by friends who were pushing their own music, which piqued my interest in music making," he recalls. A chance encounter proved particularly pivotal. "During this time, I bumped into the singer Joy Crookes, who encouraged me to produce my own beats as opposed to using other pearled beats." That gentle nudge toward originality would become the foundation of his artistic philosophy.

London's underground culture wove itself into Akpro's musical fabric. Skateboarding, in particular, shaped his musical DNA from an early age. "It was just my main activity from the age of 11 to about 18 years old, so naturally, my musical influences came from the skate videos I was watching and the music my friends were showing me." This immersion in skateboarding culture provided more than just a soundtrack - it offered a perspective on how art and movement could work together.

The urban landscape offered additional inspiration: "Maybe graffiti, a lot of old London graff videos had jungle, drum & bass soundtracks. I went to a few jungle raves too, but I wouldn't say that it's a direct influence musically; these were just moments in my life that stick out musically." These diverse experiences - from the raw energy of jungle raves to the visual poetry of graffiti - coalesced gradually into Akpro's distinctive musical identity.

His debut album, 'Evenfall' emerged from a three-year creative odyssey that began with a moment of artistic revelation. "It started in 2022 when I wrote the first song 'I Can't See the Sun'," Akpro explains. "It felt like I'd never written anything like that, and for that reason, I set out to write more things till I got that feeling again, so this happened on and off for three years till I had all these tunes."

The ten-track record pirouettes between post-punk intensity and jazz-laced electronic dreamscapes. While the album features some collaborative moments, Akpro maintains a clear vision of his creative process. "I wouldn't say it's inherently collaborative; all the music is written alone by me except for 'Death By Entertainment', but I'll say once I've fleshed out the idea fully, it becomes collaborative when I work with my co-producers, this helps me to get into a songwriting headspace and put down my laptop."

His partnership with ANTI- maintains the same spirit of artistic independence that marked his earlier self-released work. "It's cool; I still have all creative freedom," he notes with characteristic directness. The real hurdles came not from the label but from "trying the right things to say or maybe the way I was saying things, but to be honest, the only challenge I faced was from external opinions on what I was creating, which I learned quickly to shut down while being in the process of finishing a personal project."

Among the album's ten tracks, Akpro holds a particular fondness for 'Baka'. "The way it moves feels very organic even though it's an electronic track," he shares. "It also reminds me that you should never underestimate old ideas; I started that song four years ago." This patience speaks to his broader artistic philosophy, too. When asked about his current songwriting themes, he says: "I try not to think about what I'm writing about; just let it happen naturally."

Looking ahead, Akpro's ambitions for 'Evenfall' are clear and grounded. "I'd like it to reach as many people as possible, whether that's this year or in two years, and I'd like to play it live to as many people as possible." While the future holds more plans - "Still planning things, so I won't talk too much" - his present focus remains on the evolution of his art. Even his daily routine reflects this measured approach, as he notes simply that he'll "probably write some music later, go for a walk."

From those early days of watching skate videos and absorbing London's underground culture to crafting a debut album that is sure to be a highlight of the year, Sam Akpro exemplifies the power of patient evolution.