Xavior

Interview 19 October 2003

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Let's start right at the beginning, you're from LA right.

"yeah, im from a little city outside of LA called San Pedro, it's beach
community - i have to make sure I let people know that because LA is
such a wack city - i always make sure people know I didnt grow up in
the hood, I grew up on the beach (haha)."

Tell me about yourself, your background, your musical influences, the part music played growing up. Are you from a musical family. Gospel
roots? What else do you do, could you do. 

"well, I guess im pretty easy to sum up, Im an artist! I paint, I write, I sing, I have my own clothing line, I dance, I design websites,
more recently im enjoying photography.  My musical influences are pretty wide, Im feeling John Mayer right now and Stained.  I grew up
listening to Aretha and Anita Baker so Id say Anita Baker and Patty LaBelle influenced me to want to sing but it was of course Michael
Jackson who inspired me to want to go on stage. Of course thats changed a lot now cuz im not a Michael Jackson fan anymore.  Gospel influences
are Kim Burrell, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams - they truly have my heart when it comes to singing the true words of God.  Believe it or
not, im an only child raised by a single parent and music wasnt a part of my growing up really. I mean I used to listen to Kiss, Journey,
Steely Dan, Styx while my mom and cousin listend to R&B. I was a rock n roll kid.  No one ever sang, including me. I really didnt start singing
or realized I could sing at all until I was in my 20's."

What were the first things you did in music and when was that.

"oh wow, first song was called Life So Bright, by a guy named Jean Philipe Aviance.  He used to DJ here in LA long years ago, this kat was
sooo awesome. I have no idea where he is now but I know he did stuff for YoshiToshi a while back but damn he was my first producer that had
to be like 1991 or so. That song was never released though but it did help me start my career. The first released song came from Aqua Boogie.
That track was produced by Mijangos from Mexico. I hated that song, I really did. I think it was good for the time but seriously, Ive never
sung the words to that song since I recorded it. But JD from DeepSwing said he played it all the time thats kind of how we met and how they
had heard of me..go figure"

Do you write songs

"I write everything I sing. People have added their names to the writing credits but no one has written lyrics for me ever. I dont sing
other peoples words because they arent mine.  It kind of sucks when you read the credits to your tracks and you see names on their that had no
input in your tune.  I wrote the lyrics to Ilayali's tracks the ideas were theirs but the lyrics I wrote.  That was the first time i ever got
to write for another artist.

What have you done performance wise.

"I dont perform much, i mean Id love to but i dont get asked, for some reason I get overlooked in this area."

What's LA like for the kind of stuff you do.

"hhahahaha, this city hasnt a clue about deephouse and real house music, most people here couldnt care less about me or what ive done.
Theres so little respect for the hard work that these producers have done. They have to go overseas to be recognized, so if thats the case
for the producer, you must know the artists are worse off"

Most if not all that I know that you have done has been in the 'house' arena. Is that what you like, or where you want to be or did it just
kind of happen that way. I'm kinda thinking where do you sit from say an R'n'B, or maybe Gospel perspective. Do you like it and do you want
to do it.

"I would love to do Soul music, but not here in America, Id like to do what we call British Soul. Like Jamiraqui, Incognito, Blood, Omar and
such. Ive tried hard to cross over but it seems virtually impossible. I know its in me but I dont know what I have to do to get it done or to
be recognized as an artist and not just a dance music artist."

It started with Deep Swing didn't it, tell me about you and Erik and JD, what you did, how you worked, and how it all went. Your (I think)
release (Shelter) got picked up by Soulshine. How was they , they're a strong outfit and Louis Benedetti does some sweet remixes. What did you
think?

"actually it started with Mijangos and AquaBoogie.  But the song with DeepSwing went global.  Erik and JD were incredible to work with. I was
so new to this so I didnt know that our relationship wasnt traditional. We truly liked each other. Im going to venture out to say we had love
for each other.  I would go to the studio just to hang out. They are brilliant in what they do. It took me to be separate from them to
realize how truly talented they are.  Louis is incredible - he truly is. Theres so much i that mans head its scary. I think if he does
everything he sets his mind to, he'd be a millionaire."

'Take me higher' was the follow up wasn't it but that was released elsewhere, ROI out of Germany?

"yes it was the followup, but it was release domestically as well. I think it came out here in the states under Raw Nerves records."

'I promise you' - where did that fit it - did that pre date the above, came out on a local label (relatively) Generate didn't it.

"I Promise U, came out after Taking Me Higher when Erik and JD decided to run their own show.  So Generate and I Promise You were their
premier.  I really wish I had recorded a better track for their debut. I mean I liked it and its cool but I know I could have done better.

Then to Soulplanet with Changes and Sugar Baby Darling - Tell me about those.

"I met KC and Jack about 3years ago while I was in a musically slump.  I mean no one would work with me on tracks, it was like I was dieased
or something. I know why, but its old news.  KC and Jack came along and said basically fuck them and fuck anybody who wont work with you over policall bullshit we'll work with you.  So they did and i came up with Changes.  I dont know its called Changes but it is. They (soulplanet)
gave it that title.  Sugar Baby Darling was inspired by a track I was to do for the PoundBoys. We never got the time to record it so I did it
with KC and Jack.  That song is the real me. I mean I honestly feel like Ive never got a chance to freely do what I do until I met KC and
Jack. They let me truly create. If you like Sugar Baby Darling, then you like me cuz that song is 100% me. T

Have I missed anything?

"haha, yeah, you've missed a lot but im going to stick to the questions"

How have things gone so far, what kind of reactions have you been getting personally from home and away.

"its strange, people here in the states seem to react to my tracks okay but overseas im a lot more popular. Im sort of over it. I dont care
anymore. I just want to make good songs. I used to be in this to be popular and successful but seriously, I dont care. I just love to
sing.  I talk to my friend Dave Wareing all of the time begging him to get me gigs in the UK cuz I love how they respond to my music."

What do you think about some of the remixes, do you like them all, or do you sometimes wonder where it's going.

"oh man ive heard some remixes of my stuff and hated them. Im so serious, i dont care how big the producer or remixer is if it sucks it
sucks. Some of the remixes of I Promise You were horrible and There was only one mix of Taking Me Higher I liked all the others in my opinion
sucked. I believe it was mixed by Bini and Martini I think. DeepSwing did a great job with that tune, I didnt feel a remix was needed."

How much control do you have, or influence you can exert on some of the 'production' led projects you have got involved with.

"on the production side, not a damn thing. DeepSwing had direction they never allowed or accepted any of my ideas music wise. They have a
formula that obviously works for them.  Soulplanet let me use my ideas. They were the only producers to date that actually recognized that I
have an ear for music. Dont get me wrong, they didnt need my input but they could appreciate my worth and input.  I really dont think a
producer and artist should be involved with the creative process. I mean they are good at what they do as we are at what we do.  I dont
like when producers try to tell me how to sing a word so I dont think its fair for me to tell them how to place a sample."

You actually came to the UK didn't you - how was that?

"yes, ive been there several times. I love it there and would live there in a minute. I think i was born in the wrong country hahaha."

What do you know about the UK Soul scene, it picks up on some of the more soulful side of 'house' music such as Sugar Baby.

"yeah I mentioned that earlier how much I love your soul music. I simple love what the UK does in music PERIOD. I really think europe at
whole as the right idea about so many things, not just music but especially music.  America is so confused on what talent is. I pray you
folks over there dont adopt the same practices. I mean Britney Spears is not talented. House music artist are talented, we take a simple
track just beats and breaks and turn it into a song. We dont have multi million dollar studios, mostly in home studios, no background singers,
no million dollar writers, no videos really, no makeup artists, none of that artificial bull, but somehow we put out the most incredible tunes.
To me it doesnt get any better than Michelle Weeks, Sabrina Pope, Vernessa Mitchell, and me of course Hahaha.  I mean come on we in the
house business know music, we appreciate it, and in some ways are trying to preserve it."

You've done product for some top labels (of the genre) but it seems that, with few exceptions, there is no longevity, no security for an
artist in the house field?

"true, i work a full time job that I hate. Im not looking for a home in the hollywood hills just yet"

Are you working on anything, what can we see you doing in the short term and maybe longer term.

"im actually about to start some very cool projects but i cant say who because they want me to keep it secret. The funny thing is, they all
want to drop these bombs and surprise people but i hope they dont drop them at the same time. Im happy right now. I mean its taken a long time
to find some producers that do the kind of music my soul desires to sing. I mean as a singer maybe DJs dont get what i mean. But Soulplanet
allowed me to sing from my soul. The two new producers I have now will allow me to do the same thing. I miss that. Im no longer just going to
sing to a track. Next year I want to perform.  I want house fans to realize that i really can sing and that im just as good if not better
than the other male vocalists in our genre. Everyone loves Kenny Bobien and Byron but honestly, if they havent heard me sing live, they have no idea what I can do. Sure i have good shows and bad shows but there are times when God takes over my voice and i surprise myself hahaha. Im so serious though, Im just recently getting credit for what Ive done. Ive never performed in Italy but i constantly hear how much they love my songs. Well, I honestly feel no one understands or can feel what I do until they've allowed me to sing to them personally. I truly do make it
personal. Im known to break down and cry on stage because those songs mean so much to me. Takin Me Higher is the most beautiful song ive
released. Just listen to the words."

Anything else you'd like to add.

"man i could go on and on so i'll say no for the sake of your readers hahah."

Keep in touch and thanks for your time.

"no problem, im glad to do this stuff"

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