Akpossoul on ‘Force’, Family Connections and Finding His Own Sound in House Music
For Akpossoul, music has always been closely connected to family. Born in Lyon, shaped by his West African heritage and now based in Montreal, the DJ and producer has spent more than a decade developing his relationship with house music. His latest release brings that personal history into focus.
‘Force’, a collaboration with his older brother Manoo, arrived on 16 October through XPLR, the new imprint from French house producer Rocco Rodamaal. The release connects two generations of the same musical family, bringing together an established figure in French house and an artist still developing his identity as a producer.
Manoo's history stretches back to the late 1990s, including his involvement in Rodamaal alongside Rocco and Alex Santos. The group's catalogue includes ‘Insomnia’, released through Ben Watt's Buzzin' Fly and later remixed by Âme.
For Akpossoul, however, working with his brother was less about revisiting that history and more about exploring a musical connection that has existed for much of his life.
“Working with Manoo came naturally. We’ve always shared a musical connection, and ‘FORCE’ gave us the opportunity to explore that creatively. Releasing it on Rocco’s XPLR label makes it even more special, bringing together our musical history and a new direction.”
Growing Up Around House Music
Having an older brother involved in electronic music meant Akpossoul encountered the culture surrounding house music long before he began releasing his own productions.
“Music was always part of our family environment. Through Manoo, I was exposed to house music and the creative world around it from an early age. His career definitely inspired me, but it also motivated me to develop my own identity and find my own way into music.”
That distinction between influence and independence has become important to his development.
Although the brothers share a musical background, they have established their own perspectives. Working together on ‘Force’ allowed them to bring those approaches into the same creative process.
“The process was very natural because we understand each other musically. We can be honest and challenge each other’s ideas without making things complicated. We have different perspectives, but that balance is what makes the collaboration interesting. Ultimately, we both want to serve the music.”
Their familiarity creates room for creative disagreement without the need to negotiate the personal dynamics that can sometimes accompany a new collaboration.
It also gives ‘Force’ a significance beyond the record itself. The release represents a meeting between two individual musical journeys that began within the same family.
From Lyon to Montreal
Akpossoul's influences extend well beyond his brother's record collection.
His West African heritage, upbringing in Lyon and subsequent move to Montreal have exposed him to different musical environments, each contributing to his understanding of rhythm and groove.
Rather than consciously combining recognisable regional styles, he sees those experiences as inseparable parts of his musical identity.
“My West African heritage is part of who I am, while growing up in Lyon and living in Montreal have exposed me to different cultures and musical environments. These experiences naturally influence the way I approach rhythm and groove. I don’t try to represent a particular place in my music; everything comes together organically.”
That approach reflects his wider understanding of house music as something capable of connecting people across different backgrounds.
Having experienced dance music communities in both France and Canada, Akpossoul recognises the differences between individual scenes without losing sight of what connects them.
“Every scene has its own identity, energy and way of connecting with music. Living in France and Montreal has allowed me to experience different perspectives, but the fundamental connection is universal. A great house record brings people together through rhythm, emotion and the energy it creates on the dancefloor.”
Taking the Step From DJ to Producer
Before establishing himself as a producer, Akpossoul spent more than a decade behind the decks.
Those years gave him an understanding of how records function in clubs, from the timing of an arrangement to the way energy develops across a dancefloor.
Eventually, playing other people's music was no longer enough to satisfy his creative ambitions.
“After more than a decade of DJing, I wanted to express my own musical ideas rather than only playing other people’s records. DJing taught me how to understand energy, timing and the connection between music and the dancefloor. Those lessons are still essential to my approach to production today.”
His production career reached an important milestone in 2024 with ‘Sakana’, released through Anané's Nulu Music.
The collaboration received support from artists including Anané, Manoo and La Santa, introducing his work to a wider audience and encouraging him to develop his sound further.
“‘Sakana’ was an important step for me because it introduced my music to a wider audience. The support it received was encouraging and gave me more confidence to explore my own sound. Since then, I’ve become more comfortable experimenting and allowing my productions to develop naturally.”
That growing confidence is central to his current direction. Rather than settling into an established production formula, Akpossoul wants to retain the freedom to experiment.
A New Chapter With XPLR
The release of ‘Force’ also brings Akpossoul into a musical circle with longstanding connections to his family.
Rocco's relationship with Manoo dates back to their work together in Rodamaal, while XPLR represents a new chapter for the French producer alongside his established Memories Records imprint.
For Akpossoul, joining the label's catalogue carries both professional and personal significance.
“I’ve been a fan of Rocco’s productions for a long time, so I’m genuinely proud to release a track on his label. He’s also close to my family, which makes this release particularly meaningful. With ‘FORCE,’ I feel we’re continuing a musical connection that goes back years while bringing something new to the table.”
The release connects artists with shared history while giving Akpossoul another opportunity to establish his own place within house music.
And although his production catalogue is still developing, he already has a clear understanding of the qualities he wants his records to communicate.
“I’m still developing my sound, and I want to keep that freedom. Groove, percussion, atmosphere and a strong connection to the dancefloor are important elements in my music. But I don’t want to follow a fixed formula. I’d rather people recognise the feeling and intention behind my records than expect them to sound a certain way.”
It's a distinction that reflects the balance he is trying to establish between his musical roots and his own creative ambitions.
With ‘Force’, those two sides of his identity come together through a collaboration that is as personal as it is musical.
For now, Akpossoul is focused on continuing that development, exploring different approaches to production and building relationships with artists whose work inspires him.
“My goal is to keep growing as a producer, explore new musical directions and collaborate with artists who inspire me. I want to develop a distinctive sound while staying true to my musical roots. For me, this is just the beginning of the journey.”
Akpossoul and Manoo's ‘Force’ is available to buy/stream now via XPLR.
