A DJ, producer, songwriter and classically trained musician, 28-year-old Greek artist Xenia Ghali has taken the dance music scene by storm with her recent & stellar emergence. After working with industry heavyweights such as Pitbull and the Grammy-nominated Wyclef Jean, Xenia really set the tone for her own career with her biggest track yet in the summer of 2016, ‘Under These Lights’, which reached #1 in the Billboard Dance Club Songs Chart and was followed up with ‘Places’, which also hit the top spot, reaffirming her abilities and providing proof, if any was needed, that Xenia is a talent that is set to remain at the top of the charts for the long haul.
Xenia continues to turn heads and prick ears in all the right places. Xenia’s latest single ‘Stick Around’, recently dropped on EDX’s Sirup label boasts just over 500,000 streams on Spotify. The track has been supported by the likes of Martin Garrix, Tiësto, Sam Feldt, Swanky Tunes, label head EDX and Mike Williams to name a few.
Owner of the independent label Funky Sheep Records, Xenia walks the line between mainstream success and underground credibility. Both an enigmatic and dynamic figure, Xenia Ghali’s DJ sets are defined by their combining of soulful house and pulsating beats, bringing together shimmering synth melodies and vintage groove-laden rhythms for a unique brand of modern electronic dance music.
Having DJed on Greece’s version of The X Factor and with standout shows at notable clubbing institutions including Ministry Of Sound London, Cielo New York as well as festival performances at the likes of Color Day Festival as a headliner alongside acts such as Erick Morillo, Steve Aoki, Martin Solveig, Don Diablo, Dubvision and Jay Hardway, it is clear that
her reputation is steadily building across the planet.
Xenia Ghali is making sizeable waves in the dance music community, as well as the music industry at large, and remains an artist worth keeping an eye on through 2018 as she ascends the ranks ever higher. EDM Reviewer had the exclusive privilege to interview her and Xenia spoke about her early life, revealed her secrets to a great track and shed some light about what more can we expect from Xenia in the future. We hope you enjoy reading this interview!
1. Xenia Ghali is a particular and exotic name, is it because of your Greek origin? Could you
tell us more about your life, especially when and why you started approaching the world
of music?
Thank you so much! I actually get a lot of people thinking it is a stage name when it is actually my full legal name haha!
Yes, I am named Xenia because of my Greek origin (my mother is Greek). I grew up in Greece and was trained in classical music on piano and flute since the age of 5. Later during my teenage years, I picked up a guitar and the drums and started a high school indie rock band! That was when I first started songwriting. I realized that was my
true passion, writing music and songs, so I decided to pursue music composition in University.I went to the UK for a Bachelor’s Degree in ‘Music Composition, Production and Film Scoring’ and during my time there I really started diving into the world of House music. I was infatuated with DJs who were mixing on vinyl records and turntables, so I decided to invest in a couple of second hand Technics turntables and taught myself how to mix old Chicago House vinyl records. One thing led to another and during one of my shows at a local bar near my university, an event promoter from the Ministry of Sound in London invited me to play a set at the club. That was my first big show and that was the point where I realized that I wanted to pursue DJing and producing electronic and dance-based music.
After receiving my Bachelor’s Degree, I moved to New York to receive a Masters Degree in Film Scoring and Composition while also starting to enter the US scene as an artist, DJ, and Producer.
2. Your career has been full of great releases, but today we would like to focus on the latest
one, wherein you have shown a new approach towards EDM. In particular, Chill/Deep House.
Can you tell us more about this style, as heard in ‘Places’ and ‘Stick Around’?
I have always viewed myself as a musician first. The fact that I have a profound love for House and Dance music and that is what I perform in my sets should not imply that I confine my creativity with regards to the music I make.
Dance has many sub-genres ranging from Progressive/Bigroom to Classic House, from
Chill/Deep to Techno and much more! I always like to make music that expresses the state of my mind while I was making it and hope that my audience embraces it!
For me, what is important is that I compose music I genuinely like. Both “Places” and “Stick Around” have a more Chill/Deep House vibe to them. Melodic elements combined with more energetic parts and a special emphasis on the bass (elements which I love regardless of the specific genre). That sound describes where my mind was when I made them!
3. Xenia Ghali is more than just a producer. She is a DJ and a songwriter too! Which one of
those ‘jobs’ is your favorite?
That is one of the most difficult questions in the world! Haha! I can’t say I have a favorite ‘job’.
All those “hats” make up who I am, so I guess they all go hand in hand!
4. Summing up the previous questions, it is easy to notice that you are always open to new
projects, new genres, and new musical choices. Are this independence and versatility your
main characteristic? How would you sum up yourself as an artist with a single word?
I would definitely say that versatility is my main characteristic! I would use the word
“passionate” to sum myself up as an artist.
5. We really enjoyed the hypnotic rhythm of your latest release on Sirup, “Stick Around”! Could you tell us more about how that song came about?
First of all, thank you so much for the kind words! I actually created ‘Stick Around’ in a very different way than I usually do. First, I made the track and then the top line (lyrics and melody).
I usually always work on the top line first and then I build the track around it. It was a very interesting process for me and I actually enjoyed a lot to work that way! It was released by Sirup after I did a pre-release campaign actually. I was going to release the record independently through my own label ‘Funky Sheep Records’, but before doing so, I decided to do a pre-release campaign. The campaign involved the record being sent to DJs from around the world, radio stations, labels etc. I was interested in receiving feedback for “Stick Around” before I went ahead and released it. EDX was one of the DJs who received the record during the campaign and I found out that he was playing it during his shows. I reached out to thank him for the support and ended up talking about Sirup Music releasing it. I was thrilled about EDX and the label wanting to release it and of course, I said yes.
6. What are your plans for the rest of 2018? Any new projects you would like to tell us about?
There will be a few releases from me this year. I have just finished a few follow-up singles to ‘Stick Around’, so I’m very excited for you guys to hear them! Additionally, I am getting ready for my upcoming 3 month Summer Tour in Europe. Everything would be announced on my socials and website!
What do you think?
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