01Profile
A XVOTO Photo
XVOTO
Musicians — London
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
S: Saigon, I’m from Paris.
J: Jazz, Madrid.
Describe your style in three words?
J: Whatever I want.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
S: It was an Elvis Presley impersonator show in Paris when I was 11. I can’t remember much of the gig but I remember wanting to learn guitar after the gig, so it must’ve been pretty good.
J: The most emotional gig I ever went to was Cory Henry’s The Revival Tour. I went alone, it was at Islington chapel, there was only an organ, drums and spirit. I cried, I laughed and for the first time in my life, I really went to church.
If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
J: SZA and Sly & The Family Stone. Because I’d want to spend time with them in the green room.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
S: Probably punk and weebs. They're the two sides of my personality. I’m a WEEB-PUNK!
J: Dreams are the subcultures of reality.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
S: Belisarius, I would finish the Justinian restoration with him.
J: Cleopatra, because I have some questions...
Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
J: The shower, there’s something in the water that makes everyone sound the way they should.
S: I don’t really enjoy live shows.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
S: Jobriath, he had a tragic story. '70s homophobic press panned him and his album flopped. His life ended in empty cabarets before he died of aids. He would’ve been one of the greats if this world wasn’t so full of cretins.
J: Santigold. I’m obsessed with her lyrics and how she celebrates youthful imperfections.
XVOTO recently released their new single 'Brainfreeze'. Listen, purchase or stream it via orcd.co/brainfreeze.
02Playlist
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
S: 'La Boulette' by Diam's.
J: 'Sing A Song' by Earth Wind & Fire.
A song that defines the teenage you?
S: 'Full of Fire' by The Knife.
J: '212' by Azelia Banks.
One record you would keep forever?
S: 'In Rainbows' by Radiohead.
J: 'What’s Going On' by Marvin Gaye.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
S: I don’t really listen to lyrics. I just like the way sung words sound. So if I had to choose, probably the chant in 'Wede Harer Guzo' by Hailu Mergia and Dahlak Band. It sounds like unhinged euphoria and it hits me deeper than any lyrics.
J: “Everything I’m not made me everything I am”
From 'Everything I Am' by Kanye West.
The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
S: 'Be My Lover' by La Bouche.
J: 'Got To Be Real' by Cheryl Lynn.
A song you wished you had written?
S: 'Sinnerman' by Nina Simone. And not only written it... I also wish I had recorded and performed it. I get goosebumps every time I listen to this song. It's pure unhinged drama and epicness, it's the ultimate live performance, I can’t describe how good it is.
J: 'Pyramids' by Frank Ocean.
Best song to turn up loud?
J: 'Dreams' by Fleetwood Mac.
S: 'Da Joint' by EPMD.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
S: 'Castles in The Sky' by Ian Van Dahl, Marsha. I have a soft spot for late '90s early '00s Euro trash. Most of my melodies are just stolen and rehashed from that music era.
J: 'Empire Ants' by Gorillaz (ft. Little Dragon).
Best song to end an all-nighter on?
S: 'The Boy Is Mine' by Brandy, Monica.
J: 'Beautiful' by Snoop Dogg & Pharrell Williams.
Any new music you are listening to right now?
J: 'Fruit' by ABRA - she’s not new but I have a newfound addiction to her music and her honesty.
S: 'Blank Slate' by HMLTD. They just released their debut album and it's really good.
03Interview
Name, where are you from?
S: Saigon, I’m from Paris.
J: Jazz, Madrid.
Describe your style in three words?
J: Whatever I want.
What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
S: It was an Elvis Presley impersonator show in Paris when I was 11. I can’t remember much of the gig but I remember wanting to learn guitar after the gig, so it must’ve been pretty good.
J: The most emotional gig I ever went to was Cory Henry’s The Revival Tour. I went alone, it was at Islington chapel, there was only an organ, drums and spirit. I cried, I laughed and for the first time in my life, I really went to church.
If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
J: SZA and Sly & The Family Stone. Because I’d want to spend time with them in the green room.
Which subcultures have influenced you?
S: Probably punk and weebs. They're the two sides of my personality. I’m a WEEB-PUNK!
J: Dreams are the subcultures of reality.
If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
S: Belisarius, I would finish the Justinian restoration with him.
J: Cleopatra, because I have some questions...
Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
J: The shower, there’s something in the water that makes everyone sound the way they should.
S: I don’t really enjoy live shows.
Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
S: Jobriath, he had a tragic story. '70s homophobic press panned him and his album flopped. His life ended in empty cabarets before he died of aids. He would’ve been one of the greats if this world wasn’t so full of cretins.
J: Santigold. I’m obsessed with her lyrics and how she celebrates youthful imperfections.
XVOTO recently released their new single 'Brainfreeze'. Listen, purchase or stream it via orcd.co/brainfreeze.
04Playlist Notes
The first track you played on repeat?
S: 'La Boulette' by Diam's.
J: 'Sing A Song' by Earth Wind & Fire.
A song that defines the teenage you?
S: 'Full of Fire' by The Knife.
J: '212' by Azelia Banks.
One record you would keep forever?
S: 'In Rainbows' by Radiohead.
J: 'What’s Going On' by Marvin Gaye.
A song lyric that has inspired you?
S: I don’t really listen to lyrics. I just like the way sung words sound. So if I had to choose, probably the chant in 'Wede Harer Guzo' by Hailu Mergia and Dahlak Band. It sounds like unhinged euphoria and it hits me deeper than any lyrics.
J: “Everything I’m not made me everything I am”
From 'Everything I Am' by Kanye West.
The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
S: 'Be My Lover' by La Bouche.
J: 'Got To Be Real' by Cheryl Lynn.
A song you wished you had written?
S: 'Sinnerman' by Nina Simone. And not only written it... I also wish I had recorded and performed it. I get goosebumps every time I listen to this song. It's pure unhinged drama and epicness, it's the ultimate live performance, I can’t describe how good it is.
J: 'Pyramids' by Frank Ocean.
Best song to turn up loud?
J: 'Dreams' by Fleetwood Mac.
S: 'Da Joint' by EPMD.
A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
S: 'Castles in The Sky' by Ian Van Dahl, Marsha. I have a soft spot for late '90s early '00s Euro trash. Most of my melodies are just stolen and rehashed from that music era.
J: 'Empire Ants' by Gorillaz (ft. Little Dragon).
Best song to end an all-nighter on?
S: 'The Boy Is Mine' by Brandy, Monica.
J: 'Beautiful' by Snoop Dogg & Pharrell Williams.
Any new music you are listening to right now?
J: 'Fruit' by ABRA - she’s not new but I have a newfound addiction to her music and her honesty.
S: 'Blank Slate' by HMLTD. They just released their debut album and it's really good.