Draft:Akin (British R&B Duo)

Akin was a short-lived London-based female R&B duo which debuted in 1997. The group is made of members Venus and Tkai, whose career began at 22 and 23 years old in 1996.

The group signed a contract with Warner/Elektra Records/Atlantic Records (WEA) in March 1996, after touring with the group Intrigue.

Akin wrote and recorded an entire album between 1996 and 1997, titled "Private Party", which was never released.

The duo worked with the likes of Ben "Jammins" Robbins, Cutfather & Joe, Brockpocket.

Picture of the duo Akin used on the cover of "Private Party".

Singles & Tracklists

• Stay Right There

"Stay Right There" was released May 19th 1997 in Europe and Australia on CD, cassette and vinyl.

• Australian promo Cardboard-sleeve CD single:

1. Ben "Jammin" Radio Mix
2. D&A Street U Rite Radio Mix:
3. C&J Mix: produced by Cutfather & Joe; this mix is often mislabeled as the original version online.
4. Mindspell "Release the Groove" Vocal
5. Mindspell "Spark the Philly" Dub
6. D&A Street U Rite Extended Mix

• UK & Europe CD single (slim jewel box):

1. Ben "Jammin" Radio Mix
2. C&J Mix: produced by Cutfather & Joe; this mix is often mislabeled as the original version online.
3. Mindspell "Release the Groove" Vocal
4. Mindspell "Spark the Philly" Dub
5. C&J Alternative Mix

• Private Party

"Private Party" was released September 1st 1997 in Europe on CD, cassette and vinyl.

• Promotional not-for-resale CD single:

1. Ben Jammin Radio Edit: the main version.
2. Full Crew Old Skool Mix.

• Cardboard Sleeve CD Single

1. Full Crew Old Skool Mix: slightly different to the one on the promo release, both in mixing and track length.
2. Brooklyn Funk R&B Mix.
3. Ben Jammin Gatecrasher Mix.
4. Mr. Spring Mix

• J-Card Sleeve CD Single

1. Ben Jammin Radio Edit.
2. Full Crew Remix: different mix than the Full Crew Old Skool Mix also produced by Full Crew and included on other variants of the CD single.
3. Brooklyn Funk Club Mix: different mix than the Brooklyn Funk R&B Mix also produced by Brooklyn Funk and included on other variants of the CD single.
4. Hysteric Ego 'Earlsmere Al' Mix.
5. Brockpocket Mix.

• Sailing

1. Radio Mix.
2. Orchestral Mix.
3. Throw Your Hands In The Air.

Unreleased album

Akin recorded an entire album while under contract with WEA, meant for a late 1997 release.

The title of the album is a direct reference to their second single, "Private Party": the album, along with its title and cover were mentioned in the credits on their CD singles.

Some advance & sampler cassette copies of the album exist, and some tracks eventually leaked online.

The cassette's tracklist is:

• Side A

1. Stay Right There.
2. Private Party.
3. I Can't Find My Way Back To You.
4. You Give Good Love.
5. It's Cool, I Still Have You.
6. Keeps Getting Better.

• Side B

1. I Just Want To Love You.
2. Tell Me.
3. Everything's Gonna Be Alright.
4. You And I.
5. Baby Crush.
6. Haven't We Met Somewhere Before.