AKoVA is a world class musician who bends genres and captivates audiences. This multi-instrumentalist creates beautiful music with many different instruments. Setting rhythm with his feet he strums the guitar and plays the djembe with his hands and sings with his heart mostly at the same time.
AKoVA is so much more than a singer songwriter. He is a unique and compelling storyteller having the ability to channel his life experiences into thought provoking music. He shares one mans intimate evolution, leaving listeners with the priceless gift of hope. There is no other like AKoVA.
This acoustic multi-instrumentalist inspires and uplifts audiences worldwide. Dubbed 'The Rhythm King' by music media AKoVA's raw beat driven music takes over your body willing you to dance yet heightens awareness like gentle tap on the shoulder. You can't help but feel AKoVA's energy lift a room.
AKoVA is in a class of his own, there is no other like him. He has supported Xavier Rudd and the United Nations, Ash Grunwald, won the GLObalvision Song Competition and toured his new album, This Is Me Now nationally playing festivals and venues around the country.
Here's what others in the industry are saying about AKoVA:
"This guy is sic!" - Ash Grunwald
"Akova's an amazing performer. His music is not only original and fun it has real substance and meaning. I still can't believe it's just one guy playing all those instruments at the same time. What a showman." - Adam Iffland 92.5FM
With extensive national community radio support AKoVA tours extensively… and he's always open to a hug or a chat after a show. Ambassador for Alive - Youth Suicide Prevention - Inspiring and supporting young Australians at risk of suicide to feel alive and ultimately choose life through the engagement of their suicide intervention support services and initiatives.
"Luke Escombe is funny and brave, a showman and an artist, a brilliantly engaging lyricist, expert tunesmith, fine guitarist and exceptional singer. Seldom is such sophistication wrapped in a coating of such overt fun. Hear him" - John Shand, SMH
Soaked in the spirit of the old bluesmen but with the wordplay and timing of a stand-up comedian, Luke Escombe's music is original, energetic, subversive & funny.Luke was born in London into a musical household. His father Alan was a successful rock musician in the 60's before moving behind the scenes of the industry in the 70s to join rock and roll freight company "Rock-it Cargo". This enabled Luke to receive an incredible musical education, watching shows by legendary artists like Prince, Bruce Springsteen and The Stones while he was just a boy. At the same time Luke also fell in love with TV comedy shows like Blackadder and The Young Ones, providing the combination of rock and roll and anarchic humour that would form the basis of his songwriting.
Luke moved to Sydney in his 20s, releasing his first album as a solo artist in 2008. "Golden Ages" was a folky, mostly acoustic collection of introspective story songs. But it was his second album - "Mantown" - where he found his true voice; returning to the blues, soul and rock music he'd loved in his youth, plugging in his guitar and turning up the volume. "Mantown" spent nine straight months in the top ten of the Australian Blues and Roots charts and spawned two unforgettable music videos for singles "Drop tha Bomb" and "iMan".
In 2011, after a long period away from music due to a chronic illness, Luke wrote and starred in a one-man musical comedy show called "Chronic", inspired by his experiences as a patient in the Australian healthcare system. The show received rave reviews and went on to comedy and fringe festivals around the country as well as a 9-night season at the Edinburgh Fringe. Parts of the show were televised on ABC TV in Australia and this led to Luke being asked to perform for three years in a row at Parliament House in Canberra and at the New Zealand National Museum in Wellington, launching him into a new career as a public speaker.
In 2014, after regaining his health and becoming a Dad, Luke was inspired to create a show for kids and parents called The Vegetable Plot. Once again combining a variety of music styles with his love of wordplay and subversive humour, The Vegetable Plot is now a nationally touring, multi-award-winning show, playing at libraries, schools, foodie events, community gardens and major festivals like Splendour in the Grass.
In the last 12 months, Luke's career as a musical keynote speaker and health advocate has gone international. He has performed at events in Chicago, Hong Kong, Vienna, Bangkok and Miami and been awarded the WEGO Health Award for his use of music and humour to inspire those living with chronic illness. Luke is a proud ambassador for Crohn's and Colitis Australia and an official partner of the Australian City Farms and Community Gardens Network and the Healthy Kids Association. He is also the owner of "Sydney's sexiest man voice" - a title he won in a radio competition on Sydney's Mix 106.5FM.
Hailed by Taylor Dayne as one of "the most dynamic, sexy and soulful singers," Vivian has performed all over the world with some of the biggest names in music.
Starting her career at the age of 9, she's recorded and performed with Michael Jackson, Donna Summer, Sinead O'Connor, Stevie Wonder, P. Diddy, Faith Evans and Q-Tip during her multi-decade career.
"I thought the heavens had opened up and rained down some of the best singing and performance style I had ever heard," professed Patti Austin on Sessoms.
Her new album Life is her third studio effort and first foray into the realm of jazz. Backed with a rotating lineup of all-star musicians, the album explores how people have more power than they realize, and how little things end up making big differences.