Duo Aki (Lola Schuele and Eden Annesley) blends violin, saxophone, shakuhachi (Japanese flute), and live looping into a genre-defying sound world where classical, contemporary, and folk traditions converge. Fresh from representing Australia at the 2025 Osaka World Expo, the duo now works between Melbourne and Pōneke, creating cross-disciplinary performances that explore identity, sustainability, and inclusion. Their debut Aotearoa performance, before/now/after, features evocative works by emerging female and neurodiverse composers, accompanied by striking custom visuals from Danish artist Monica Vejgaard. Described as “beautiful, interesting and evocative,” Duo Aki invites audiences into a rich, immersive sonic journey at the intersection of culture, collaboration, and innovation.