Apr 03 2021

Music Interview: Shadows xoxo delves on his creative tastes, musical influences & new EP ‘Conspiracy Theories’

By David Presley

Great to have you on Xttrawave. Please, introduce yourself.

I’m Shadows xoxo, the meaning behind my name came from me just like things that are black, I’m kind of emo I guess. Like there’s barley anything that is darker than a shadow. Also because sonically I like darker sounds. I was originally born in Brooklyn, New York. But I know live in Atlanta, GA

What got you into music and made you realize that it was your chosen path?

I think I got into music because I think I was riding around in a car when I was a kid and heard music on the radio & was like that what I want to do

Tell us about your new music? And what’s the story behind it?

I just dropped a dark trap EP titled Conspiracy Theories. It features King Dion, who is also one of my engineers. But there is a whole backstory on the EP. It’s really about coming to terms with being an upcoming rapper & realizing who you are.

What makes your music unique? And how would you describe it?

Even though I do categorize as a rapper, trust me I want to be in those discussions when it comes to hip-hop. I sometimes view myself as a emo pop star. Over the past 2 years I’ve recorded and released music that ranges songs that have an alternative rock sound, to dark pop, to dark melodic trap music.

Who are your biggest musical influences? And any particular artist/band you would like to collaborate with in the future?

My music influences are Kanye, Drake & Kurt Cobain. I also am fan of Paramore. When it comes to collabs… I would probably want to collaborate with Playboicarti.

Which is the best moment in your musical career that you’re most proud of?

I would I say my favorite projects that I have I released yet are Horizon & Conspiracy Theories. Both of them just carry this dark vibe. On Horizon it’s like I’m an emo pop star & on Conspiracy Theories, I show that I’m an actually a rapper that grew up in Atlanta. It just has so much sauce, I was really talking my sh**!

How do you balance your music with other obligations – family, friends or work?

Well many might think that can be tricky. It’s already hard enough for some people to stop being that guy/girl that was when they was on the microphone after the beat stops. But you have to have balance, like yeah I might lock myself away for while when I’m working on something. But I don’t want to get burned out. So whenever I’m not working on music I’m with family, with friends. That really helps, like just having talks about politics or how the current state of the world we live in is.

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?

Just be you, don’t try to fake anything. Like my rap name is Shadows xoxo, that’s because I like dark sh**! So take some time to just find out who you are and what you want to show the world as an artist.

If you had one message to give to your fans, what would it be?

My last message would be, just know that every time I touched that microphone or wrote some raps. It came from my soul. I was building a world for you threw music & art. Also thank you listening to my music. I hope I helped you get threw something you was going threw. Peace, love – Shadows xoxo

What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects?

Not right now, there’s no projects coming up. I just dropped about 4 singles after I dropped Conspiracy Theories. I’m just trying to be linked in Atlanta with the up comers who are making dope music for the city that will later spread throughout the world.