Q&A: XKYLAR Wants to Know: WHY IS NOBODY DANCING?
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY FAITH LUEVANOS ☆
DANCING IS SO INCREDIBLY BACK IN LA—and honestly, it should’ve never left. How, you ask? You can thank DJ/producer XKYLAR and the release of her debut EP, WHY IS NOBODY DANCING? out now. Even though this is her debut, XKYLAR is no stranger to the electronic scene. Since 2020, she’s been cultivating her sound and experimenting not only with music, but with her accompanying visuals as well.
WHY IS NOBODY DANCING? begs the ultimate question that plagues real club-goers every time they walk in. Each catchy hook and its pulsing rhythms pull listeners in like a trance, and even if the club isn’t your scene, this EP allows for a dance party in your bedroom, too. Intended to reconnect people with the art of dancing and letting go, each song is fueled with grit, fashion and confidence.
Luna sat down with XKYLAR to discuss why she thinks nobody is dancing anymore, her going-out icks, her visual direction and more. Read the full interview below.
LUNA: For our readers who may not be familiar with your music, how would you describe it?
XKYLAR: I think it's a modern take on electroclash mixed with pop. It feels nostalgic of Tiga/Digitalism/old Lady Gaga, but my take on it. Really distorted sounds, loud, fun, unserious.
LUNA: Since your first release in 2020, it seems like you’ve always known your sound and have just elevated that since then. How do you feel your music has evolved?
XKYLAR: Thank you! Honestly, I feel like getting to the point where I discovered I wanted to make dance music was the hardest part. Once I found that out, it was just discovering what sound within that I wanted to do the most. Once I realized that I wanted my live shows to be a fun experience where everyone is dancing, vs. my music needing to be something super deep and meaningful. That's what I listen to anyway. I think my music has always been more of a character, like the loud/confident version of myself that I maybe wish I could be in real life. When I first started putting out music again, like "Life is Good" and "HOT," the music strayed from my personal identity. As I've been making music and living in that character, I've embraced that version of myself more, so it all feels a lot more honest. I also thought back to what I would listen to when I was younger—I was always really inspired by more underground electronic acts like Simian Mobile Disco, Digitalism, Ratatat, and just realized "Wait, I could make my music sound like that.” I love loud music and dancing, so just imagining I also have to give a TON of credit to my collaborator, Jon Santana. We randomly got matched together in a session, and the chemistry was immediate. I feel like he's able to take my ideas to a place I can't on my own, and he made the experience of making this project so much more fun.
LUNA: Your debut EP, WHY IS NOBODY DANCING?, is set to come out June 26. How does the title capture the overall sense of the project?
XKYLAR: I just feel like everyone on the internet/IRL is talking about how nobody dances anymore. I feel that way all the time, especially in LA, where it seems like my friends and I are always the only ones dancing. I also think it's easy to have some nostalgia for times pre-cellphones, where everyone could be in the moment. This project discusses that desire for a time where everyone could let go and have fun without feeling perceived. The project kinda goes through the experience of feeling alone in that feeling to finding other people that feel the same and a community in more underground spaces to ultimately being like, "You know what? Even if nobody is dancing, I'm still going to because that's what gives me a sense of purpose and happiness."
LUNA: What are your top 3 icks when you go out in LA?
XKYLAR: Okay, I don't wanna be a complete LA hater, these probably happen everywhere but seem a little unique to this city...
1. When the DJ is incredible, and nobody is dancing—literally had this experience recently at a Boys Noize set where it was all influencers and I was just like, “Does no one understand how sick this is?”
2. When you are in the middle of a conversation, and you can literally see someone looking around to see if there's someone more important to talk to.
3. When you've met someone before and they either don't remember you or pretend they don't know you—like we've met literally 6 times, you know who I am, or just pretend FR.
LUNA: A recent comment on one of your Instagram posts deemed you as “this generation’s Carrie Bradshaw.” What are your thoughts on this? Also, what S&TC character do you resonate with the most?
XKYLAR: Girl, I saw this comment and died. Literally, Carrie Bradshaw was my hair inspo when I dyed it. I think it's an honor. I love Sex and the City. I just love the idea of people's lives not being centered around being in your 20s; there is so much ageism on the Internet nowadays that I love a show about cool women in their 30s. It makes me look forward to that chapter. I think at times in my life I'm different characters—so I'll say I'm a Carrie Sun and a Samantha Rising. I LOVE Charlotte, but I fear I'm not that much of a prude or as put-together as she is.
LUNA: The visuals and music videos you’ve been releasing have felt very cohesive, and almost like the only way the song is meant to be felt/absorbed. Where do you pull creative inspiration from?
XKYLAR: Thanks so much! I spent a lot of time [being] creative for other people (that's been my job), so I think I naturally am always gathering references and things just pop into my mind when I'm making a song. I replaced Instagram scrolling with Pinterest, so I pull a lot from there, but I'm also obsessed with coffee table art books—I have a whole collection, so sometimes that inspires me too. I also love to pull inspo from artists—like OG Lady Gaga, Madonna—and movements from the 90s–2000s (90s rave, electroclash, indie sleaze)—posters and style. I'm a very nostalgic person.
LUNA: Where are your favorite places to go dancing?
XKYLAR: Tee Gee is probably my fave bar in LA. A warehouse rave. In NY somewhere—I love Jupiter Disco. My house.
LUNA: You have 3 shows coming up in SF, LA and NY. What can fans expect at your show?
XKYLAR: SF show is gonna be DJ/Live so expect a mix of your fave electroclash and my music. I have a background in creative direction for tours, so I'm planning on making visuals for my music and programming all the lights, so I'm really excited. Just expect it to be loud, bright and very high energy.
LUNA: Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
XKYLAR: Go listen to WHY IS NOBODY DANCING? and I hope it makes your summer extra fun.
