Rahbi’s big day

October 3 is shaping up to be a big day for the Atlanta-based psychedelic-soul singer Rahbi.

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For starters, he’s appearing on stage at the acclaimed Afropunk Festival, which has celebrated alternative urban music and culture in Brooklyn for a decade before turning to Atlanta. Suffice to say Rahbi, who is well known for cultivating a sound and a look that’s part Prince and part Ziggy Stardust-era David Bowie, is hyped about his upcoming performance. “I’m super, super, super excited,” he says. “This is the first time Afropunk is coming to Atlanta, so this is history.”

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Rahbi landed a spot on the Afropunk lineup after winning a multi-city Battle of the Bands organized by the folks at Afropunk back in June. The competition, which tallied votes from fans via Afropunk’s website, pitted local artists against each other for a chance to perform at the festival.

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He admits, however, that with his own musical resume, which includes signing to LaFace records at the age of 14, dropping three EPs and one full-length album, and working with heavyweights such as Janelle Monae and Erykah Badu, among others, he was reluctant to enter a competition like this. Locally and nationally, Rahbi has built a reputation for creating outlandish and often theatrical songs and live shows that straddle the line between commercial music and performance art.

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But after talking with friends and artists, including vocalist Kimberly Nichole from NBC’s “The Voice,” he was convinced to throw his hat in the ring. “Kimberly told me: ‘Rahbi, your ass better enter the Battle of the Bands, you better slay and give it your all!’ So we did it,” he says. “And we’re gonna rock the hell out of Afropunk.”

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Rahbi is also taking advantage of his chance to shine on Afropunk’s stage to unveil some new music. His latest EP, GoldenChild: Trimester 3... “Hello World,” arrives the same day he performs. As the title suggests, the independently released three-song Trimester 3, fueled by its funk-tinged single “Blush,” is the latest entry in his birth-themed series. Trimester 1... “Fun” focuses on the carefree lifestyles people lead early in life. Trimester 2... “Deception/Conception” centers around getting older and reconciling one’s place in the world. This most recent offering is his way to encourage listeners to maintain the bright-eyed exuberance of youth, even as grown ups.

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“On Hello World, I want to lead people to love and have them embrace whatever makes them feel special,” Rahbi says. “Know that you can survive with the talents God has given you. And don’t get distracted by the naysayers. You need to believe just like you did when you were a child. Keep that childlike mentality. Use it for good.”