Akili Ni Mali

When hiring me you can expect/ask for one of three things: a Jazz set, an original song set, or a cover set.

With a jazz set, you will get:
1. 5-10 jazz songs with (provided) accompanist, depending on the length of event.
2. Cabaret style introductions, and stories with each piece.

With an original song set, you will get:
1. 5-7 original songs
2. Promotions of my music on different streaming platforms.
3. Acoustic set of songs.
4. Cabaret style introductions, and/or stories behind each song.

With a cover set, you will get:
1. 5-10 cover songs (no requests unless there is a list to choose from presented to me prior to the event).
2. 1-3 original songs (optional) / Promotions of my music on different streaming platforms (also optional).
3. Acoustic set of songs as well as backing tracks provided (all equipment is self-provided: mics, amps, chords, etc.).
4. Cabaret style introductions, and/or stories behind each song.

Akili Ni Mali is a singer, actress, and model originally from San Diego, CA. Her love of theatre started in the second grade, as a ribbon twirler in Valencia Park Elementary's production of Robbin Hood. This was the first time she realized how much she loved being apart of telling stories--no matter what role she played in them.
Akili graduated from Ball State University (Spring of 2019), with her BFA in Musical Theatre. There, she had the wonderful opportunity to be professed under and perform with Tony-Award winning, Sutton Foster as well as Tony-Award winning musical director Michael Rafter. She also was fortunate enough to be apart of the programs Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles Showcase, as well as the Senior Cabaret (Joe's Pub, NYC).
While in college, Akili spent her summers working professionally at The Legacy Theatre in Peachtree, GA (Summer 2018), Kings Dominion in Richmond, VA (Summer 2017), and Kings Island (Summer 2016), as well as performing in her own solo cabaret in Chicago at Davenports Cabaret Venue (May 2018). Akili is also active in the YouTube community, where she performs covers, original acoustics, and video blogs. She has over 400 subscribers and hopes to expand on her YouTube following as she uploads new and exciting content frequently.
Akili was the lead vocalist with Ball State University's Jazz 1 Ensemble in her senior year at Ball State University. She has performed on campus at multiple on-campus concerts, at the Indianapolis Fountain Square, and at the Jazz Kitchen (Indianapolis). Shortly after graduation, she traveled to Costa Rica, where she performed multiple sets with the Jazz band for a week. Following this, she landed her first Co-Star role in Television Series, Chicago P.D. (Season 6, Finale) in the role of "Shelly". She completed a 6 month contract with Norwegian Cruise Lines, performing as a singer/dancer on Norwegian Sky. Shortly after, she moved to New York, NY, where she is represented as an actor by A3 Artists, formally known as Abrams Artists Agency. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, she has moved back home closer to family (Indianapolis, IN) and will be doing gigs in Indianapolis for the year of 2020.
Akili is extremely grateful to God, her close friends, and her parents for believing in her always. She hopes to graduate with the mindset that nothing is owed to her, but only earned. She is in love with the three big cities: NY, Chicago, and LA. Though her heart will always be set on California, she plans to go wherever the work calls her. She is excited for upcoming opportunities and is eager to take the steps in her career to get closer to those opportunities.

It is possible (depending on the set list) that I will need one or all of the following:
- Mics/mic stands
- Camera
- Amps/chords/plugins/speakers
- Lighting
- Staging
- Music stands
***Any and all of these requirements can be negotiated upon booking***