Tony Forbes Opens Up About Grief As He Seeks Vocalists To Complete Song Dedicated To AKA
Tony Forbes Opens Up About Grief As He Seeks Vocalists To Complete Song Dedicated To AKA. More than three years after the tragic passing of his son, Kiernan ‘AKA’ Forbes, Tony Forbes is finding new ways to navigate grief, rediscover purpose and keep his son’s memory alive through music.
In an emotional Instagram post, AKA’s father reflected on the pain of losing his son, admitting that despite putting on a positive face in public, the loss continues to weigh heavily on him.
“It’s been 1,368 days since that night, almost 4 years. In public I put on a positive face but it hurts so much,” wrote Tony Forbes, offering a glimpse into the personal journey he has been navigating since the rapper’s death.
Tony acknowledged that the tragedy changed his outlook on life, with many things losing their former meaning. However, he shared that things are gradually changing as he begins rediscovering what matters most and finding a renewed sense of purpose.
Among the ways he has been pursuing healing is through music, with one particular project holding a deeply personal place in his heart. Tony revealed that he had once persuaded Kiernan to collaborate with him on a song before time ran out for them to bring the idea to life.
“I nagged Kiernan to make a song with me, he gave in lol. We ran out of time but I decided to still do it,” he shared.
Determined to fulfil that dream, Tony began working on the song just over a year ago. Rather than approaching it as an ordinary musical collaboration, he envisioned a deeply personal record in which he speaks directly to his late son.
Explaining why he chose music as an outlet, he noted that it makes expressing his emotions and navigating the healing process a little easier.
Tony also gave followers a glimpse into the creative process, sharing that the audio accompanying his post is an early demo featuring some of his own lyrics, developed with assistance from artificial intelligence.
He later worked with an artist and recorded a rough version of the song he ultimately hopes to release. Unfortunately, the process has since stalled after the artist became unavailable, leaving the project unfinished.
Now, Tony is turning to the music community for help in bringing the heartfelt tribute to life. He has put out an open call for vocalists and rappers who believe they can contribute to the song, encouraging interested artists to reach out through direct messages.
“Even better, attach your vocal to some of the demo song,” he added.
For Tony, this is more than simply completing an unfinished record. It is an opportunity to realise a dream he once shared with his son while finding another meaningful way to honour his memory.
Nearly four years after AKA’s passing, the pain remains, but through this project, his father is finding a way to turn some of that grief into something lasting.
