Xelli Island
LA-based artist Xelli Island has released her new single “02 20 20”.
Produced by Jon Zott, the new single is a friendship anthem.
“Friends who lift each other up and support one another. That’s what this song is about,” says Xelli.
“2 20 20” is the first single off her debut EP (produced by long time friend/collaborator Jon Zott), to be released later this year. Xelli Island describes this first project as her life’s work.
“02 20 20” is now available worldwide.
Photo credit: Olivia Purugganan
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
My story is a long one with many twists and turns. I grew up in and around Detroit, MI in a very blue-collar family. I’ve had just about every part time job in the books from retail, to yoga studio management, to assembling bicycles at a factory, and in the recent years, waiting tables. My mom is from The Philippines so I’ve been visiting family there since childhood. That has always been an incredibly eye-opening and grounding experience for me. My dad has been a gravedigger for most of my life and is the hardest working person I know. Both of my parents are extremely loving, honest, and supportive. I’ve always been really serious about pursuing music. It’s been the one constant thing in my life that’s truly guided me. I started singing and performing in bands back when I was 14. Each band/project lasted a few years and always seamlessly led into the next one. SO much growth, drama, and experimentation happened in that process and now I’m here as a solo artist. I also attended University in Detroit and got a BFA in graphic design, which feels crazy to me now. Over the last nine years, I moved around a lot in Detroit living in various neighborhoods with different friends before deciding to move to LA in November or 2017. I can’t even begin to explain how much has happened in both my creative and personal life since moving here. It’s been a total whirlwind.
What did you grow up listening to?
I was a total sucker for pop music when I was growing up. All of the essential early 2000’s pop artists were on repeat through elementary and middle school, (BSB, Destiny’s Child, Christina, Nelly Furtado, etc..). My dad exclusively listened to Zeppelin and my mom loved ABBA, so they were around too. Then I had the obligatory emo phase where I was super into bands like Shiny Toy Guns, The Used, and Incubus. Such good times. From there, I graduated into the indie scene and dove into artists from past generations.
At what point did you know you had to become an artist and release your original music?
When I wrote my first lyrics and vocal melodies to a song. I was 14, singing in this little band that played Beatles and Clapton covers (lol). Then we started writing original songs. I went home with a demo recording of this pop punk instrumental and sat in my room writing the vocals to it. I remember the feeling of unlocking the melody, capturing a specific emotion, and turning it into something tangible that I knew people would relate to. I realized then how powerful music can be when the right words are intertwined with great melodies. That’s always been the magic of creating original music to me.
How would you define Xelli Island, the artist?
Dreamy but down-to-earth, decently wise, a little bit alien, living in a slightly dystopian world, and sentimental as fuck. I have a whole narrative about Xelli that I keep to myself.
"02 20 20" is your new single, what's the story behind this song? Who helped you create this song?
02/20/20 was the date the song was written. It was a significant day to me for many reasons. The song came from experiencing true serendipity. I was settling into this new routine/serving job I got in DTLA and was taking the train to work. I had a lot of time to think and reflect waiting for and riding the train. That day I was sitting there thinking about the millions of little things that have to work right in order for anything to happen (down to the bolts on my car staying in place for my engine to function properly). When you think about things that way, everything feels lighter. Later that night, I went to the studio to record vocals for a different song but my producer, Jon Zott, had coffee at 8pm and decided we felt like writing an upbeat song instead. We wrote “02 20 20” in a couple hours and felt super happy about it. Afterwards, I found myself driving to my *new at the time* crush’s house in the middle of the night. We were so excited about each other and stayed up all night hanging out. All of these beautiful things seemed to be falling into place and I found myself surrounded by the most amazing people. Friends who lift each other up and support one another. That’s what this song is about.
What did you feel when writing this song?
Late-night bliss. Serendipity. Gratitude.
What do you like the most about this song?
I feel like I wrote a song for my friends and it feels cute and sentimental. I like that it’s really uplifting and takes me back to that day. I think it has the potential to make people feel grateful for what they do have in this life. It’s hard for me to emote happiness in songs so it feels like an accomplishment in that sense as well.
What made you want to release "02 20 20" as a single?
It has a great energy to it. And it’s pretty catchy >:)
What can you tell us about the artwork?
This year has been a rollercoaster for everyone on the planet. I wanted the artwork to portray stepping towards the unexpected. After 02/20/20, Covid-19 lockdowns and quarantine became our new reality. I thought the cover should reflect that. It’s a film photo that my friend Liv took of me in my backyard. There are old, disintegrating windows propped up against some trees that have been there since I moved into this house. The unnatural in the natural. It worked out.
You are originally from Detroit - how does it impact the music you are making today?
I think it helps me stay really down-to-earth, tough, and true to myself and what I’m creating. There isn’t a lot of room for phoniness in Detroit. Most people there won’t buy it. Detroit has been through so many hardships and you really feel it's history and struggle. It’s definitely a big part of me.
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
The hardest part is being broke almost all of the time and coping with the uncertainty of your future. You can work extremely hard and put your entire heart into a project for years and still not get far enough to be financially stable. The best part is the freedom of expression and creation. There is no better feeling than immortalizing life’s experiences through songs and knowing that people connect with it.
What do you think of today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I think that it’s pretty frustrating and can be confusing to navigate. If I could change one thing, there would be a more tangible way for independent artists who don’t have industry connections or money for PR to get their music into the right hands and ears. Sometimes I think of all the good music that never gets exposure and it makes me sad.
What are your thoughts on today's current situation around the world and on the Black Lives Matter?
I think a lot of extremely necessary work is finally starting to be set into motion because of the BLM movement. A lot of people are waking up and seeing the truth in how corrupt the infrastructure of this country is. On one hand, it’s beautiful and inspiring to see what we can accomplish when we unite for each other. On the other hand, I’m truly embarrassed by America and how deeply corrupt it is. Some days it feels very hopeless because of who is in power. Please vote in November.
What message do you want to give to the world overall?
Self-awareness, love, gratitude, and compassion for others go a very long way.
Connect with Xelli Island: