A Chat with XCVIII (07.01.26)
XCVIII (pronounced ninety-eight) are an emerging band that has released their latest EP, Till Next Time. Serving as a bookmark in their story, the project is a reflective stop in their evolving narrative as they prepare for their debut album. We speak with the group about all things music below.
OSR: How did the concept for your latest release come about?
XCVIII: As the project faces uncertainty about the future we wanted to put out a project that was reflective of all that we had gone through together as a band and team. The EP serves as a timestamp of a transitory moment.
OSR: What emotions or experiences were you channeling while writing these songs?
XCVIII: Each song in the EP channels different emotions, but they all find commonality in the tension between extremes. Tension between dreams and reality, hope and doubt, and passion and restraint. I think I always find myself never to be certain about something. I’m always somewhere in the middle and confused. I think a lot of people are too.
OSR: How would you describe your musical style to someone who’s never heard your work?
XCVIII: Our music is plainly speaking, pop music, but with alternative and experimental references. We all have a passion for more alternative and experimental music, however we always seem to end up writing songs that have easy melodies, but with the textures of the somewhat more unexplored.
OSR: Who are the biggest influences on your sound, both past and present?
XCVIII: The 1975 was a massive influence growing up and inspired me to take music seriously. They kind of opened my eyes to see music more outside of the box. As I’ve gotten older, artists like Sade have really become close to my heart. I think Sade’s accessible sophistication is a characteristic I want XCVIII’s music to embody. Mk.gee and Dijon are definitely reflective of how people are relating to music, so I try to take notes of what they are doing. I also listen to a good amount of K-pop, old and new. It’s catchy as hell.
OSR: Can you walk us through your creative process from idea to finished track?
XCVIII: Usually the band jams together and finds a solid eight-bar idea which then becomes the foundation for the track. We like to quickly arrange the whole structure by designating verse and hook sections and then fill in the gaps with production. Melodies are hummed and incomprehensible at first, but I could kinda tell what words would sound nice. The hard part is trying to make lyrics phonetically pleasing, but also thoughtful. It takes the most time for me and always happens last.
OSR: How do you approach blending different genres or musical elements?
XCVIII: I think the worst thing to do is to force genre blending for the sake of it. I think when you listen to so many different kinds of music, the eclecticism just naturally gets expressed in the production and writing. I think you just have to let the music become you, not vice versa.
OSR: Are there any particular lyrics on this release that hold special meaning to you?
XCVIII: ‘Sophia’ is a song that kinda started this wild journey with the band and our label, Crazy Charlie’s. It has the line “Want a lie that makes me want to move”. Life and this world is so precious and I think it’s humanity’s responsibility to believe in the best for itself even if we think there’s no point in doing so. I believe it’s the hope in something irrationally good that actually inspires me and mobilizes me. If we’re moving towards something, are we not alive then?
OSR: How has your environment or hometown influenced your music?
XCVIII: Detroit. Detroit. Detroit. I didn’t grow up here, and I sometimes feel imposter syndrome being part of a Detroit band. But I love this city deeply because I relate to Detroit’s story of perseverance and resilience so deeply. It’s tough, rugged, and cold here, but there’s extra warmth, strength, and hope because of it. It’s the first city that believed in my vision with XCVIII, and I am eternally indebted to it. I think our music naturally is inspired by the grit and unwavering hope of Detroit. It’s rough on the edges yet warm and emotional.
OSR: What challenges did you face while producing this project, and how did you overcome them?
XCVIII: Pursuing music and even life is super difficult. There’s many times that we as a band and as people just have to persevere and stick it out. I think that’s the hard part I face all the time with this project. To have hope. A community that you love makes it all worth the fight and helps me overcome the obstacles.
OSR: What’s next for you after this release? Do you have any upcoming projects or collaborations?
XCVIII: We are preparing for the release of our debut album. It’s ten years of work being distilled into a single project, and can’t wait to share to the world our perspective of life.
Many thanks to XCVIII for speaking with us. Find out more about XCVIII on their Instagram, TikTok, and Spotify.
