Grammy-nominated artist Xavier E is known for excelling as a performer and songwriter. His most recent success in the world’s biggest talent record pool on Spinnin’ Records has gained him a solid #1 position in the Top 10!
In this interesting interview, you can learn more about his life, music career, and the upcoming Sweet Rains remix of “Pain Of Another Day” to be released on July 22nd.
1. At what point did music become so important to you?
Music has always been part of my life. My father used to play the guitar, and my dad growing up was in a band with his family. My father had other children and they all were in bands and since and play music. I was too shy growing up to even try to sing because people use to make fun of me. But I learned in high school that music gave me a “feeling “, it just made me feel certain ways…
Sometimes I cry, laugh, and just feel good. That was the power of music for me. It wasn’t until I moved to NYC for college is when I really delved into my true passion for music and where I learned that I actually had a good voice. Music got me out of some of my darkest times. Now I can write a song about it and use those emotions in the power of the song. Just like my new single “Pain of Another Day”. It is a song about heartbreak, betrayal, and self-doubt that comes along with it.
Even recording this song, it was hard for me to get through it you can hear the raw emotion in these vocals. I hope that other people can relate and that this song can give others a “feeling”.
2. When did you start your artistic career professionally?
I grew up in a small town, my family was the only ethnic family in my town and a few towns over. I grew up with adversities and racism, so as soon as I could I moved to the biggest city in the world, New York City. I had big dreams of becoming an actor. I auditioned at one of the hardest schools to get into for theater and I got in. I was dead set to be an actor. While In school though I noticed I was only getting these “Suppoting Actor” roles. I mean, I was good, all my teachers told me so.
So one day one of my teachers Jackie pulled me aside and asked me why I thought I wasn’t getting any lead roles. She wanted to know if I was self-aware. I was 17 at the time, and I did not know. She told me it was because I was too “fat” and I would never get any roles but fat homosexual roles. (I was also not out of the closet at this time and I was 500lbs.)
I was crushed. So this is when I started to embrace my voice. I had a great vocal teacher, John Balis. He showed me how to use my voice properly. And there it took off, from one record label to independent record labels to self-releasing to where I am now today.
3. Which are the artists who inspire you?
I was an odd child, to say the least. I was 500 lbs, a closeted gay boy trying to fit into a heterosexual world. I used to dress in bright colors and baggy clothes and comb my hair in punk style, just trying to stand out and fit in. I was trying to be cool, but I was just weird. I started listening to Cyndi Lauper and saw how odd she was.
She was kind of like me. Oh my god! It is okay to be different. She inspired me to be myself and show people my true colors. Now I am not ashamed of who or what I am. I am who I am, accept me for who I am; if not, I don’t need you in my life. Madonna, as well for the same reasons Boy George, and all the boy bands, and Janet Jackson, Justin Timberlake, of course. I had to say that, and I’ve met many times. The list goes on.
4. Is your new song “Pain Of Another Day” a personal statement?
I believe music that comes from a “true” place is good music. People can relate to that. If you go through a struggle other people can release and if it comes from a real place it makes it real to other people. “Pain of Another Day” is about a relationship I was in, and I was cheated on. I got in my head and was so insecure back to my fat days. Why is this person cheating on me? Am I not good enough? What is wrong with me? It was a rough time in my life.
My father was dying, I was home with my mother, and my boyfriend at the time was running around with other people. There was a lot going on. I was hurt. When writing this song, I was so emotional, and when trying to prepare to go into the studio to record the vocals, it was hard for me to get through just a dry run.
Even now, I can listen to i,t and it will bring back what I was feeling at the time. I have another song called “Proud”. I wrote this song about the death of my dad. And I needed his approval, and I wanted to know if I made him proud and if he would be happy with my choices in my sexuality, my work, goals. When people hear this song they get other meanings from it, it’s their mother, their aunt, or their mother who they lost. But the song comes from a true play. People can relate.
5. Did you ever expect to top the dance music charts?
I am working with some of the best people in the industry – Sweet Rains Productions. I am familiar with their work, and I knew that this would be a hit. It is still trending up, and people are loving it. I am not going to lie, I was shocked and excited at the same time to see I was #1 on Spinning Records, and that over 6k people have listened to and are still listening to this track. I am happy and excited and I can’t wait to get more people to hear it and like this song.
I did have a few songs that did very well on Digital tracker radio, I was in the top 100s for the major and independent artist for 14 weeks. I was in the Top 3 on the independent charts for a song my old record label hated. So, during COVID, I decided we needed a feel-good song, so I released a song called “Cruel Like That”. This song went wild! I knew “Pain of Another Day” had a better production so deep down in my soul I knew and I know this song is going to be hitting the top of a lot of charts.
6. Are you psyched to get out there and play this music?
I am excited. I am not going to lie, the first time I heard any of my music on XM radio, I had to pull over in my car and just sit there. I didn’t say anything but I just sat there and listened to it. I got teary-eyed and was just shocked but excited… I can not explain it just a bunch of emotions. And when I heard one of my songs played in a big club and people dancing to it, that was just exciting. I wanted to say: “That is my song, that is my song!”.
The first time I saw my music video on MTV and VH1, I was calling my friends to take a video off the screen of my TV. I was so happy, I cried. Then to see the millions of listening crowd I was getting by my radio play tracked by Digital Tracker radio gave me more of a rush. This song “Pain Of Another Day”, when a few DJs played it at Los Angeles Pride, I could just feel it in my soul, the energy and the reaction from the people, it gave me LIFE! I am more psyched, I am f*n excited.
Like all artists, I just want my music to be heard, and I want it to mean something to people, I want it to move people, and make people feel a certain way. Again, the power of music. I can not wait to start promoting this song and the rest of my EP I am working on. I feel this is the start of my music career, I call this music career 2.0. After my father’s death, I took time off from music and went back to school, got a degree, and started working in the Emergency room. I was one of those RN who was in the middle of the first wave of COVID and seeing how precious life was. I started to get back into music. You only live once and I can inspire people and help people in different ways, through song.
7. How was making this tune different? Who produced it?
This tune started out as a ballad. I loved the song, loved the ballad. It was also produced by the same team – Sweet Rains (back then it was Iggy Kisil and Johan Brunkvist, who was also a keyboard guy for the majority of Todd Terry’s records). I really wanted to have a dance version of this song. After years had gone by, I approached the Sweet Rains team again to take another look at these vocals. When they told me that these vocals inspired them and they were on board to make this a big ’80s retro throwback song, I was stoked! I couldn’t wait. I was like a child waiting for Christmas, waiting to hear this song. When I heard it WOW! Blew me away. Thank you – Sweet Rains Productions out of NYC for this amazing production. Just a great group of people who just gets it. They know what I am looking for, know what I want and they know music and the trends.
8. What’s your favorite part of the Sweet Rains remix?
One of my friends who heard “Pain Of Another Day” stated that the song is hypnotic. I love how the track builds it and gets huge then. I love the groovy beat and the vocal production… Even down to the mastering of the song. It sounds amazing in my Porsche’s speakers and in clubs. The bass is out of this world, and it keeps you in that groove to dance or even to work out.
9. How was this collaboration possible?
I’ve known Sweet Rains Productions for many years now; they have worked on a few songs for me… We’ve always kept in touch. When I had the idea to record another song, I had many people out here in Los Angeles who wanted to be part of this, but I already had a team I trusted. I reached out, and here we are today. They are not just a production company, they made me feel as If I was part of their family. Just the way they have treated me and my music is just amazing. I am truly a blessed person to have great people in my life.
10. What advice would you give to other vocalists who are just starting out?
Make music you love! Make music for yourself and other people will love it! Here is advice that an A-list artist gave me a long time ago. I mean, over 10 years ago, and I live by this even today. She said, “Don’t worry about what other people are doing or how they sound, we are all unique.” I am paraphrasing but it was along this line. I tell other artists this all the time. Do you boo! We are all different, your music is an art, and my music is an art. Not everyone is going to like your art, I am okay with that. Do not let other people tell you anything about your art, it is yours, you made it, so own it!
CONNECT WITH XAVIER E
Hi, I’m Erick Ycaza — a music blogger with a BA in Advertising & Graphic Design. I created this blog to keep you updated with daily music news. Surprisingly, I’ve been writing about music since 2007. If you’re an artist and would like to be featured, feel free to reach out: info@electrowow.net
