Who’s Next!

XAVIER
NATIVE NEW YORKER

"It's a non-issue," says NYC's tall-drink-of-water songster Xavier, when quizzed for his take on the notion that he could become pop's first "out" African-American superstar. Maybe. What is worth talking about is the fact that this local scenester's current EP, XXX, on A Touch of Class records (the firm who helped launch the Scissor Sisters) is garnering the Bronx-born singer lots of attention. His single, a cover of George Benson's "Give Me the Night," has been scoring raves from the music press-and from audiences who've seen him work his soulful mojo onstage at Wigstock, Homocorps at CBGB, Plaid and Therapy. Expect much more of the same.
WHY HE'S A SINGER:
A mixture of compulsion and passion.
ON HIS SOUND:
It's synth-pop with dance and R&B elements.
WHAT'S NEXT?
A major label record deal might not be too far off (Yaay!) so I'm finishing my work on my album, writing new material and collaborating with some people that I admire (possibly even a queer New Yorker or two).
HIS MUSICAL IDOLS?
They're more like heroes. Stevie Wonder, Prince, Aretha Franklin, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Leonard Bernstein, Daft Punk, Cole Porter, Chaka Khan, Grace Jones, Stephin Merritt-the list goes on...
FIRST BIG GIG?
Singing the choral part of Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" at the Joffrey Ballet with the Boy's Choir of Harlem. I was 10.
HIS DREAM DUET?
Perhaps with Kathleen Battle. "Wir Eilen Mit Schwachen" from Bach&Mac182;s Cantata 78. I'm dead serious.

John Polly, Editor-in-Chief, NEXT Magazine, January 7, 2005

Beat Box: Xavier's Cuts Get Scissor Treatment

New York indie label A Touch of Class Recordings is responsible for signing acts like Scissor Sisters and the Ones to worldwide deals.

Now, along comes ATOC's latest discovery, Xavier, whose debut EP, "XXX," arrived last month. It was produced by Scissor Sisters' Babydaddy and ATOC co-founders Oliver Stumm and Dominique Clausen.

On a recent Saturday night, Xavier treated fans to a live performance at legendary New York club CBGB.

For the uninitiated, Xavier's sound traverses '80s Italo-disco, dance-rock and electro-funk. Sure, such a musical hybrid works well in recordings. But transplant tracks like "Sunrise in Tokyo," "Disco Twilight" and a wicked cover of George Benson's "Give Me the Night" into a live setting, and pure magic occurs.

Backed by a four-piece band and two background singers, Xavier strutted across the well-worn stage with all the swagger of a young Mick Jagger and the abandon of Sylvester - while his sartorial statement was more Prince.

While he appeared confident, Xavier says he was nervous. "It was my first time playing with a full band while doing my own songs," he tells Billboard.

Raised on the music of Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross, the Beatles and Whitney Houston, Xavier spent his teen years in the Boys Choir of Harlem. A one-off track ("Stay Forever") with Tutto Matto followed.

While attending Columbia University in New York, Xavier - a 1999 graduate who majored in sociology - befriended classmate Scott Hoffman (aka Babydaddy).

Fast forward a couple years, and the Scissor Sisters get signed to ATOC followed, last year, by Xavier.

"I was working with Scott when he was working with Scissor Sisters," Xavier recalls. "But Scott's a white Jewish guy from Kentucky, and he wasn't always getting where I was coming from musically. So, I put together a CD of my favorite songs."

He titled it "What Black People Were Listening To in the '80s and More." In turn, Hoffman made Xavier a CD of his favorite songs ("What White People Were Listening To in the '80s and More").

Xavier now talks of doing more live shows and writing songs for his debut album. Throughout, he wants to take risks. "I'm willing to fall flat on my face. If you're not moving forward, you're going nowhere."

Michael Paoletta, Billboard, December 18 2004

Class Act
Xavier gets into a groove with "Give Me the Night"

by Chris Thomas

One of the best moments in singer/songwriter Xavier's giddy, dance-floor-packing synth-pop cover of '80s anthem "Give Me the Night" is an interlude of a few heartfelt bars of "Into the Groove." As Xavier explains of its origin, "I don't drink coffee, and my dancers gave me my first-ever Red Bull before a performance at Webster Hall. Have you ever heard of logorrhea? Let's just say it rhymes with diarrhea. I was trembling. I wanted to sing, I wanted to have sex, I wanted to do everything at once. On stage that Madonnalude just came out, and it worked so well that my producers and I recorded it in the studio."

The producers in question are the Scissor Sisters' Babydaddy and A Touch of Class, a duo whose eponymous dance label launched acts such as the Scissor Sisters, The Ones, Waldorf and, now, Xavier. "As much as A Touch of Class is considered the hot label," says Xavier, "it's refreshing that they're all about integrity and musicianship. They're in it to make good music, and that's exactly what they do. They also happen to be the two gayest straight people I have ever met in my life. Then again, that's true of all Europeans."

The B-side of his first single is "Sunrise in Tokyo," an Xavier-penned tune with a textured, freestyle sound. Whereas comparisons to Stevie Wonder are unavoidable on "Give Me the Night," Xavier channels Prince's intensity on this moving ode to his simple dream "to do my best to see the sunrise in Tokyo." The subtlety of his songwriting bodes well for his upcoming album (his six-track EP, XXX, is now available on iTunes).

Xavier honed his vocal technique during a seven-year stint with the Boys Choir of Harlem. He considers that period to be like a university degree in music. "I sang with Whitney and Stevie before I was 12," he explains. "Growing up, I was rehearsing so much I rarely ever saw the sun except through a classroom window. It was intense. I was quick with words, and they were quick with fists, so that's how that relationship worked. But I really learned about showmanship there. And discipline."

Unlike Alicia Keys or Lauryn Hill, Xavier actually finished his degree at Columbia. "Well," he explains, "barely finished. I also performed downtown a lot, between socializing and not doing my homework. In fact, I won one contest so many times they asked me not to return."

"CARRY ON DANCING WITH BABYDADDY"

Off the dancefloor, house music is best used to spice up mundane activities:stick on BASEMENT JAXX "Rooty" and the housework is done in no time. Put on this record when you're sashaying your featherduster and soon you'll be running the Hoover around like Freddie Mercury in the video for "I Wanna Be Free". New Yorker Xavier is produced by pre-Scissors Sisters Babydaddy and house outfit ATOC Team.

"XXX" is an 8-song glorious '80s groove that'll have your limbs breaking into crap robotics while images of mirrorballs form before your eyes. "Give Me The Night," a hit for George Benson in the '80s, ia a cocktail of Superman Lover's "Starlight" with a splash of Madonna's "Into the Groove." It's brash but so up-tempo that the lyrics could be about the horrors of animal testing and you'd still smile. Elsewhere, "XXX" is too bare, hooking lazily around Italian house chords and '70s basslines. But-- next time there's a massive pile of washing-up to tackle in tight Marigolds, "XXX" might well be the key.

7" out of a possible "10"


RICH PELLEY, NME

Xavier "XXX" (A Touch of Class)
The Big Apple is celebrating its sultry summer nights steppin' out in short shorts, stilettos and silver make-up to a futuristic disco soundtrack. Xavier's male vocals are as refreshing as a chocolate egg cream on St. Mark's while floating around with a gang of friends. Thanks for bringin' back the finger-snappin', hand-clappin' and beat-boxin'. Everything we love about New York back in the day.

Vitamin Betty, XLR8R #84, November 2004

Exotically-named New Yorker does Rod Temperton-penned party favourite for redoutable Manhattan glamour label, Scissor Sister Babydaddy adds bassy 21st Century bottom end and cheeky, if brief, Into The Groove steal. Result? A Comfortably Numb-esque stellar rewire that will have purists quaking in their boots while the disco citizens rollerblade by. Next summer's holiday anthem sorted? Let the major label bidding war commence...

Paul Flynn, I-D Magazine, 11/04

more atoc boundary challenging music, with xavier the latest offering on the label. first up is xavier's synth pop cover of the george benson classic, "give me the night". a pretty straight up cover, with 80s synths dominating alongside the vocal track. on the flipside, "sunrise in tokyo" blends elements of freestyle, garage house, and techno into a textured dancefloor treat, with great synths and a delayed vocal teaming up with solid beats on another atoc winner.

http://www.undergroundsolution.de

A Touch of Class is back with another genre-smashing synth pop classic! Here vocalist Xavier makes his vinyl debut with a hot cover of George Benson's
"Give Me the Night," staying close to the original but backed with an 80s, post-disco club vibe. On the flip, his original track "Sunrise in Tokyo" has a deep freestyle vibe.

http://turntablelab.com