2. • XXYYXX’s real name is Marcel Everett.
• He is originally from Orlando, Florida, USA.
• He is signed to Relief In Abstract, an independent record label based in Orlando, Florida.
• He is notable for gaining popularity in the indie genre, despite his age (17) and experimental lo-fi music.
He created his music in his bedroom with softwares such as FL Studio and Ableton.
• XXYYXX is influenced Lapalux, Star Slinger, Disclosure and Shlohmo.
• "Doing drugs on a freeway...underwater,“ – XXYYXX describing his music.
XXYYXX
3. LOCATION AT TIME OF INTERVIEW:I'm in my grandma's neighborhood, just walking around. There's two condoms on the ground, just chilling in the street. I'm taking a picture and putting it on Twitter as soon as I get
off the phone. These condoms are definitely used and old. There's some sort of mold collecting. Brownish-orange. It's really gross.
PICKINGA NAME: There's no actual meaning, to be completely honest with you. For some reason, everyone thinks I picked the name because I love XXXY. And I didn't know he existed until a few months ago.
WORST DESCRIPTION OF YOUR MUSIC: "Contemporary blogwave." I can't tell if that's an insult. "Chillwave" over and over and over again. "witchstep," "drugtune," and "Miami blow." What is "Miami blow"? I'm not
from Miami, and I don't do coke. [laughs]
BEST DESCRIPTIONOF YOUR MUSIC: I guess it would be "experimental bass." Because I'll experiment with different filters, effects, synths, and make a song out of it.
STARTINGFROM THE BEGINNING: I make all my own synths from scratch. I also try to experiment with different sounds; darker sounds. With "TIED2U", for instance, I was experimenting with what could make a track
moodier. Also, I don't remember the last song I made when I wasn't stoned.
ROLLING THE PERFECT BLUNT: The trick is getting the weed even.
BEING STONED AT PANERA BREAD: I got like six or seven coffees. I didn't really notice until I was blazed that my senses were heightened. There was a richness to the coffee. I could taste the hazelnut in it, if it's dark...
it's not gross.
FIRST SHOW: There were 2,000 people attending—it was at this festival. I was freaking out. I was outside, squinting in front of my laptop. And sweating. So I took these amphetamines, and things got really euphoric.
And then FL Studio crashed. I had to play one of my songs from iTunes! I was dancing around a little bit. It was ridiculous.
DANCE ROUTINES: I can't "cook." I try! Grant, this guy on my label, he can definitely cook. He cooks so well! He's like, a master chef. I call him "The Master Chef." I can't do two-step, either. All I can do is whatever my
body lets me do, and I'm pretty sure those moves don't have names. I do dance alone when I'm in my room, which I'm sure makes things even worse. [laughs]
PLAYING IN NEW YORK: It's supposed to be a big show, because I'm playing with celebrities, and I love celebrities! I'm playing with artists I have in my iTunes. I'm probably gonna half-ass it.
VISITINGBROOKLYN: When I went to New York for the first time, I went [to Brooklyn]. It was pretty much what I expected, but better. It was The Weeknd's fashion week. It was fun.
BROMANCE WITH MISTER LIES: Yeah, we're really dumb together. We joke around all the time on Facebook. He's a pretty close friend, I just might work with him at some point. He's like, "What's it going to be like?"
I'm like, "I don't know." Probably something moody.
BEING MISTAKEN FOR JAMES BLAKE: If you look on Dubstep Forum, there's all these people saying I'm trying too hard to be James Blake. And I don't think they realize that James Blake is a pianist! He's also a singer-
songwriter. His whole album is singing. I mean, there aren't even any lyrics in my songs!
HATERS: You have no idea how many comments I delete. [pauses] My uncle just told me the best thing. And if you could, please quote this. "That's what haters are; they're your biggest fans. They love you, they just
don't know how to express it."
OVERCOMING JEALOUSY: I hated Grimes. Before I even listened to her music, I hated her. I tried listening to some of her songs a little more, and I just thought she was super generic in every single way. When she
shot to fame, I saw it as a marketing campaign, like Lana Del Rey. But then, I finally realized, I'm just jealous. Once I up and removed myself from all that jealousy and listened, I started to dig it. There's a lot of beef
and jealousy in music. And that's a real cancer to the music industry in general.
THE FUTURE: Have you heard of JMSN? I don't know, he's been called similar to The Weeknd. But somehow he got Usher's recognition. And I'm going to be working with this guy! An Usher-approved vocalist.
Working my way up.
XXYYXX PLAYS TONIGHT AT THE KITSUNE AMERICA COMPILATION RELEASE PARTY IN NEW YORK. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE ARTIST, PLEASE VISIT HIS WEBSITE.
4. At 16 years old, I was slacking in school, spending my free time playing Halo and not knowing what I wanted to do with my life. Marcel Everett, who goes by the name XXYYXX, lives his life a little differently than most
kids that are in high school- he makes slick, crisp electronic music and the first show he played in front of a live audience was in front of 2,000 people. For our New York readers, you can catch him tonight (08/30)
alongside Sinjin Hawke, A$AP Mob, and many more. Check out the details for the event here, and if you don’t happen to live in NY, you can stream the whole show here, via NOISE212.
What is your real name, age, and hometown?
XXYYXX:Marcel Everett, 16, Orlando Florida.
At what age did you start producing music?
XXYYXX:I started seriously producing around like 15, I was messing around with electronic software when I was around 13.
Where did the alias of XXYYXX come from?
XXYYXX:There really isn’t anything behind it, I just have a blog called XXYYXX, I named it after that because I didn’t know people would listen to my music so I chose a whatever name.
What’s it like being 16 years old and ballin’ so hard?
XXYYXX:Hah ballin’? I wouldn’t call it that but I’m really happy with all the experiences I get to have and it’s also great to know that people like my music out there.
Your songs seem to all have a certain vibe to them, that personally calls to mind a rainy Sunday day. How do you get in the mood to create these kinds of tracks when you’re producing?
XXYYXX:Usually something like isolation, that can usually do it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lG5aSZBAuPs&feature=player_embedded
The video for “About You” features slow motion shots of blunts and blowing smoke, and takes a dark turn when the faces become covered by wolf masks. Do you think the video is a good encapsulation of the images
you try and evoke with your music?
XXYYXX:Haha well I thought the video went incredibly well with the tune, especially with all the timed editing, it was similar to the song I think he did a great job in that department.
Your SoundCloud genre tags seem to mock the classification of music under a specific genre, with descriptions like “Overdose,” “Wine House,” and “Technical Deathcore.” How would you personally describe your
music to someone who had never heard it before?
XXYYXX: Hmm experimental bass music or just something like that. I’m not very good with genres or classifying my music, I’d just say it was weird haha.
You have songs that are definitely trap influenced, like your “Hard In the Paint” remix. What are your thoughts on the genre quickly blowing up in the electronic world?
XXYYXX:Well that was more footwork inspired but I’ve heard trap used to describe some of my stuff. I think it’s okay, I mean people keep revising old genres that exist. Trap was a sacred south thing and people are
using it to market their music but that’s okay.
Artists with similar styles like Clams Casino have gotten heavily in the rap game, getting people like A$AP Rocky to rap over their beats. Have you thought about sending instrumentals to/collaborating with hip-hop
artists?
XXYYXX:Not really, I work with my friends though sometimes. I’m just not really much of a hip-hop producer I’m really bad at it.
You teamed up with San Fransisco’s Giraffage for the smooth “Even Though” on the Kitsune America compilation, how did that collaboration come about?
XXYYXX:Well we just networked over facebook, I think I was straight up and just told him I was a fan and dug his stuff and it just gradualy built up from there.
Your music is often compared to James Blake, would you cite him as a major influence to your music? Who are you most influenced by?
XXYYXX:He’s an influence, I can’t really think of who I’m influenced by the MOST. I guess I’d say Flying Lotus or Teebs.
You’ve made it known that your tracks are bedroom-produced, how does it feel going from that intimate setting and translating into a live performance in front of an audience?
XXYYXX:It’s actually very awkward, it’s kind of like being in your bedroom again with this personal project with the same emotions you had when you were making it, but doing it in front of a crowded room of
strangers. It’s fun though when the crowd is receptive.
You release new tracks every few weeks (some even just a few days apart)- how much of your time is spent writing?
XXYYXX:I write a lot, even if it’s garbage I at least try haha. I could make an album every 2 weeks (It wouldn’t be very good though) but I hope that puts it into perspective.
What do you do with your free time when you aren’t making music?
XXYYXX:I like to just hang out with friends and enjoy myself. I graduated early so I start college soon, that may become a bit of a pain.
Any last words or shoutouts before you go?
XXYYXX:Yes a shoutout to the Relief In Abstract Records roster and all of my fans / supporters!
5. Relief In Abstract is an independent record label based in
Orlando, Florida. Jered Dowden and Lex Johnson started
the label as a musical collective in 2010 during high school
as a platform to promote their friends' music. For this, they
are believed to be Baby Geniuses and will even sometimes
don the name. Relief In Abstract gained rapid success when
their artist, XXYYXX, gathered a strong following online.
Their brand and website was designed by the label's own
Guillermo Casanova.
6. XXYYXX, or Marcel Everett, is just a normal 17
year old kid who gradually gained a massive
following online from his music. It’s quite
unusual to see someone his age get so much
success so early on in his career. Also he is very
open to opinions and openly speaks about
getting high. Researching XXYYXX has given me a
better insight into the artist as a person and
knowing this can help us create a better music
video.
