Ghanaian-Norwegian artist Akuvi explores self-worth, personal boundaries, and the courage to move on with “I Know Who I Am,” a new single featuring longtime collaborator Soulbase. The soulful release marks the first preview of her forthcoming album, expected in spring 2027, and finds the singer embracing the freedom that comes with understanding her own value.
Written by Akuvi and produced by Soulbase, the track draws inspiration from the breakdown of a close relationship. Rather than revisiting the conflict in search of answers, Akuvi focuses on the moment when she realises that protecting her peace matters more than convincing someone else to understand her perspective. It is a reflection on recognising when a situation no longer serves you and finding the confidence to walk away.
Musically, “I Know Who I Am” blends soulful R&B with Afrobeats and hip-hop influences. A minimalist guitar melody sits alongside heavy bass, creating an understated backdrop that leaves space for Akuvi’s distinctive raspy vocals. Her delivery moves between vulnerability and quiet determination, reflecting the emotional shift at the centre of the song.
The chorus adds another dimension through group vocals assembled from more than 30 takes. Alongside Akuvi and Soulbase, the voices include Soulbase’s wife and son, as well as the sound engineer. What begins as an intensely personal declaration therefore develops into something more communal, with the collective vocals reinforcing the song’s message of self-acceptance and inner strength.
The release draws on the cultural influences that have shaped Akuvi’s identity as an artist. With roots in Ghana’s Volta Region and an upbringing in northern Norway, she brings together different musical traditions while resisting the limitations of a single genre. Her work frequently examines the relationship between vulnerability and strength, as well as the experiences that shape belonging, individuality and identity.
Those ideas were also central to her Afrobeats for Emotional Gangsters EP, which surpassed one million streams across platforms. The project explored emotional openness and the importance of understanding one’s feelings. “I Know Who I Am” builds on that foundation, moving towards the confidence needed to establish boundaries and leave behind relationships or circumstances that threaten personal peace.
Akuvi arrives at this new chapter following a period of growing visibility across music and entertainment. She has spoken at Forbes, opened for Ghanaian star Stonebwoy at London’s OVO Arena and launched the Dream Big Afro festival in Norway. Her performance history also includes AfroFuture Festival, while she placed among the top three contestants on Norwegian television programme Battle of the Stars. Earlier in her career, she reached the final stage of Norway’s Eurovision selection.
Beyond music, Akuvi has established herself in voice acting, providing the Norwegian voice of Dolores in Disney’s Oscar-winning animated film Encanto and voicing Karma in Ludacris’ Netflix series Karma’s World. These experiences reflect a creative career that extends across music, performance and storytelling.
Soulbase brings extensive experience to the collaboration. The producer and DJ draws from hip-hop, R&B and Afro-Caribbean music, shaping a sound built around rhythm, warmth and textured production. With a career spanning nearly two decades, he has worked across genres and borders as a producer, writer and collaborator. His continued partnership with Akuvi provides the musical foundation for the new single.
Recorded between Oslo and Accra, “I Know Who I Am” introduces the direction of Akuvi’s forthcoming album while reinforcing the themes that have become central to her artistry. The song does not ask listeners to take sides in the relationship that inspired it. Instead, it focuses on the personal clarity that can emerge when someone accepts that not every misunderstanding needs to be resolved.
For Akuvi, knowing who she is means no longer depending on universal approval to feel secure in her identity. With this new release, she turns a difficult experience into a measured statement about self-respect, reminding listeners that sometimes moving forward begins with knowing when to stop explaining.
