Dr. Joseph Akins is a prominent figure in the contemporary solo piano and new age scenes, distinguished by a dual career as a performing artist and a high-level academic in music production.
Based in Nashville and serving as a professor at Middle Tennessee State University, his work reflects a marriage of technical studio excellence and emotive performance. His sound identity is characterized by a 'Southern' melodic sensibility, which incorporates subtle elements of folk and country phrasing into a sophisticated jazz-influenced piano style. Unlike more minimalist ambient artists, Akins focuses on strong, lyrical melodies and polished, hi-fi production values. He is frequently associated with the 'Whisperings' solo piano community, performing alongside genre stalwarts like David Lanz. His discography, including acclaimed works like 'Masterpeace' and 'A Southern Sun,' is a staple for listeners seeking high-quality instrumental music for relaxation, focus, and therapeutic environments. Critically, he is respected for his ability to maintain a high degree of musicality within a genre that often drifts into the derivative, utilizing his deep knowledge of recording technology to create a signature 'crystalline' piano tone.
Shares contemporary classical, smooth jazz, cabin_in_woods, library (subgenre)
Shares contemporary classical, smooth jazz, piano, sentimental (subgenre)
Shares smooth jazz, piano, sentimental, traditional pop (subgenre)
Shares contemporary classical, smooth jazz, traditional pop, peaceful (subgenre)
Shares peaceful, smooth jazz, sentimental, traditional pop (signature)
Shares contemporary classical, smooth jazz, cabin_in_woods, library (subgenre)
Shares peaceful, contemporary classical, smooth jazz, piano (signature)
Shares peaceful, smooth jazz, piano, candlelit (signature)
Shares smooth jazz, piano, peaceful, instrumental_only (subgenre)
Shares contemporary classical, smooth jazz, peaceful, dry_intimate (subgenre)
Cassette uses generative AI to enrich its catalog. How we use AI →