Artist Profile: Xena The Artist.

By: Smoove.

Introduce yourself.

My name is Xena The Artist! I am a Neo-Soul/ RNB singer and songwriter from Inglewood, California. I have always been singing and writing songs since I was a child. This was a gift and passion I came out of the womb dedicated to and passionate about. I started and continued on in music because I always knew that this was God’s calling in my life. The whole world could be black and white, and music would be my color. It was just something I knew in my heart, in my gut. Nothing else fit there but music.

I didn’t start making music professionally until this year because I was doubtful of myself and scared of people judging my art. But I got to a place where I knew that either I would be miserable doing something different and working a 9-5 or I could feed my soul and my calling by chasing my dream to be a singer and create music.

How would you define your sound? Who is your “average” listener?

To be completely honest, I believe that my sound is still developing. I say this because I know that as I continue to grow as an artist, so will my sound. However, the core of my sound will always center around dynamics, layering and symmetry. My music isn’t easily digestible, you have to listen again and again and unpack it, finding something new.

My average listener as an R&B lover/ enthusiast with an alternative edge and just the right amount of crazy in them. Haha! They most likely still buy CDs and Vinyls.

Who would you say some of your influences are in the music industry?

I have such a wide variety of influences across generations, but a few major are:

• Sade

• Erykah Badu

• Jill Scott

• SZA

• Jhene Aiko

• Beyonce

These women have defined their spaces in music and I and influenced in different ways from each of them.

What is your favorite thing about making music and releasing it to the world?

My favorite thing about the process of making music is that satisfaction that I get when I can get what I hear in my head to be put into real sound. I feel like that small feat is overlooked sometimes but is so powerful. If you break it down, I take an idea that God gives me and I either play it on an instrument or into a DAW and translate it from a brain wave to a sound wave and then add effects to change it and produce sound which is heard in my brain.

That is mind blowing, like F***ing ridiculous! Then that feeling grows when I talk to my fans and hear about how my music has impacted them. That is always the goal and its so satisfying to know that I am accomplishing that.

What is your studio ritual?

Since I grew up singing in the choir, I always have my songs written and rehearsed before I head into the studio. I never have guests in the studio. It makes me nervous and generally disrupts my energy.

Just me, my engineer Jimmy and our set up. I don’t need any distractions, just channeling the energy.

What is your favorite song of yours?

BLAME GAME. I’m screaming it from the rooftop!

The whole song is a triple sided story about my love/heartbreak with two people at once. Not only did I go crazy with the lyrics but the vocals?! The harmonies?! Chef’s kiss.

Biggest lesson you’ve learned since the start of your career?

Just do it. (Not sponsored by Nike haha).

You are the only thing stopping you and even if the worst scenario happens, you’ll survive. I had to conquer my fear of failure and just let my art be what it is.

What has been your favorite or biggest accomplishment this year?

My favorite accomplishment of this year has been my new single Blame Game. I really poured into this song and this song challenged me so much mentally to get it just right, but I love the outcome.

What’s the theme song to your life?

Moment 4 Life. I’m a barb, and this song has stayed with me the moment it dropped. To me it is my driving force to get to where I want to be and my congratulations when I have wins whether they are little or big. It’s the perfect song.

What has been the best era of music for you?

The best era of music is definitely the 2000’s! We still had all of the current faces of the 90’s pumping out hits while the new era of 00 R&B and Soul were shaking up the scene and revolutionizing things once again! It’s truly a classic era and one that deserves in depth study.

Follow Xena on Twitter & Instagram.