Local computer programmer branches out to create hip hop album and short films

by | Sep 14, 2016 | HIP HOP & RAP

After VCU computer science major Joshua Christian Akan-Etuk was rejected by their film school, he decided to turn that negative into a positive and forge his own artistic path.

After VCU computer science major Joshua Christian Akan-Etuk was rejected by their film school, he decided to turn that negative into a positive and forge his own artistic path.

The 20-year-old, who goes by the stage name Christian Smthn, spent the summer creating a nine track EP, I’m Still Here, along with visuals on a website that he coded himself.

“I’ve been coding since before I came to college and when I came to college I was doing bigger things than what we were doing in class,” said Smthn about his decision to transition from computer science to film.

“I remember that moment so well, like this is it, I want to do this,” he continued, recalling a scene from Inglorious Bastards that inspired him to pursue film.

As far as his sound goes, Smthn pulls from several different influences, making the EP an interesting collective. From the synth pop instrumentals and visual themes comparable to Grimes or Beach House, to the hip hop lyrics and vocals comparable to Lil B or Earl Sweatshirt, Smthn creates an experience for the listener/viewer to enjoy.

“What I see a lot in Richmond is people releasing their music, but it just ends right there, and what I think is that when it comes to art and being successful in reaching an audience is using more than one medium,” said Smthn about the project.

Smthn created his own site where you can download the full project which also serves as a host for the shorts and the digital booklet.

The programmer turned artist hopes this project will help people who may be dealing with personal disappointments to have the courage to overcome it.

“The message is you can do more than you think,” he said. “The audience is me when I was younger and other kids my age going to school who are kind of lost. I wrote, recorded, did vocals, coded the site, created a digital booklet and directed the site and some friends helped with the vignettes.”

The nine short films, or vignettes, all correspond with each song on the EP.

The EP, along with other projects Smthn is involved in like local art collective Ice Cream Support Group https://www.facebook.com/supporticecream/?pnref=story, show his range of talent from videography, producing, and graphic design.

You can check out Christian Smthn’s new EP and films I’m Still Here at this link and he can also be found at the Richmond Zine Fest Sept. 30 where he will be showing a group Zine as well as his own photo book. http://chrstnsmth.ng/.

Amy David

Amy David

Amy David was the Web Editor for RVAMag.com from May 2015 until September 2018. She covered craft beer, food, music, art and more. She's been a journalist since 2010 and attended Radford University. She enjoys dogs, beer, tacos, and Bob's Burgers references.




more in music

Photos | BEHOLD! GWAR at The National by CJ Payne

BEHOLD! GWAR at The National, where the mere presence of Richmond’s intergalactic overlords feels like a gruesome embrace. Four decades of chaos and carnage—GWAR has become more than just a band; they’re the dark-hearted, unofficial mascot for the misfit masses of our...

Photos | Rise Against at The National by CJ Payne

A few weeks back, Rise Against hit The National in Richmond, tearing through a set that marked 25 years of pushing punk rock with a message. They’ve gone from raw punk to full-on rock icons, tackling every social and political issue they can squeeze into a song....

André 3000 in Richmond Tonight! The Beat of a New Age

Tonight, the musical icon André 3000 graces Altria Theater. Known best as half of OutKast, one of hip-hop’s most revered duos, André has redefined his public presence in recent years. He's traded verses for flutes, swapping the beats of Atlanta’s hip-hop scene for...

Misc. and the Messy Truth of Being Young and Loud

Misc. is a name that is becoming more and more integral in the story that is the Richmond music scene. Whether you have been in the crowd knocking around to their rap-rock mayhem, or seen their comic book-style posters painting the lampposts of the Fan, you have seen...

Ladada Keeps Their Eyes on The Road

Ladada has been churning out psychedelic surf with occasional punk outbursts for a little over a decade now. Having maintained a cult following with a variety of EPs and a full length album, the band is evolving into a higher form. They’ve got a new guitarist ready...

Photos | Richmond Halloween Parade 2024 by Michael Simon

The Richmond Halloween Parade returned for its 19th year, hosted by All The Saints Theater Company. A Richmond tradition, this parade has always been more than just a celebration—it’s a platform for protest. This year's theme, A Funeral March for Silence, served as a...