all inquiries, bookings and correspondence send to xander@mcxander.com
Just me and a mic, with some help live from a BOSS-RC50 loopstation a Korg KP2.
Influences
Bobby McFerrin, Bjork, Sigur Ros, Rennie Pilgrim, Lauryn Hill, Sheila Chandra, Hallucinogen, Radiohead, Buck 65, Issac Hayes, Paul Simon, Bonobo, Saul Williams, Rokia Traore, OTT, Roots Manuva, Blackalicious, Joni Mitchel, Silver Mount Zion, Bach, Rachmaninov, Rhazel, Salif Keita, Paradox, Inua Ellams, Polar Bear, Evil 9, Bill Hicks, overtone singers worldwide, Plump DJs, all the great uk beatboxers, RATM, One Self, The Bulgarian Womens Choirs, Angelite, Vocal Sampling, Blockhead, Dynamite MC, Shpongle, Squarepusher, Explosions in the Sky, Bob Marley, Pendulum, Ravi Shankar, Asha Bhosle, Tibetan Bhuddist Monks, Herbaliser (and their various MCs), Foreign Beggars, Asian Dub Foundation, Cuban Sol, .... Vipassana meditation and Haatha yoga.
London’s MC Xander has been described as a ‘sonic shaman’.
A Rapper and beatboxer, this innovative artist uses nothing more than a mic, a pedal controlled sampler, an FX box and his own vocal chords to record, loop and edit the beats, sounds and words emanating from his mouth. Intricate, multilayered beats carry along sub-bass frequencies emitted form somewhere deep within his chest. Spine-tingling, almost operatic vocals merge with Sanskrit chanting and beautiful choir-esque melodies to create a platform for his conscious rhymes to flow over the top.
Although most of Xander's music has an unmistakable quality that ties it together, his vocal dexterity is a variable flow from arab-esque devotional chanting through soulful reggae crooning, to breakneck drum and bass, jumpy breakbeat and ragga stylings.
Having come out of London’s breakbeat scene, he has MC’d for DJs like Atomic Hooligan, Rennie Pilgrim and Eddy Temple Morris and although MCs ordinarily need DJs, Xander is not an ordinary MC. His loopstation technique to human beatbox allows him to create incredible layered compositions before adding his poetic wordflows. The result is a combination of awesomely fat human beatbox, lush vocal harmonies and inspired rhymes.
Xander’s versatility and near-universal appeal has seen him support big acts in the worlds of both hip-hop and alternative music. He has opened up for Mobb Deep, Whoo Kid and 3 times DMC winner, DJ Craze, as well as platinum selling singer songwriter Newton Faulkner.
His unique brand of multi-vocalism has seen him playing regularly at the UK summer festivals, including Glastonbury, Glade, Secret Garden and Bloom.
Stranger Mag, after catching his Glastonbury performance reported that “His voice was a revelation” and The sun newspaper called it “The best beatbox display I have ever seen”. He has also played shows in Russia, Japan, Thailand, Eastern Europe, Australia, Spain, Holland, India and Germany.
News
Yo yo yoo!
The summer update is here... with the festie season already kicking off in ecstatic brilliance and knowing how much everyone is already enjoying the sun, I will keep this brief......
The first thing on the radar for me is the party in the beautiful coed hills in wales for the summer soltice weekend. As well as me, I will be joined in this most idyllic of settings by tragic roundabout and the beautiful Carrie Tree. Nature and music synthesise to create the best way to enjoy the solstice - and it looks as though its going to be glorious sunshine too.
The sunday of that same weekend, I'm going to be playing in Hyde Park for the Exhibition road music day with other One Taste regulars. And the best thing, apart from it being out in the sunshine on a huge stage is that it is absolutely free!! So even better.
Next up, Glasto. I'll be playing in the Chai Wallahs space again because I absolutely love the intimacy and the vibe. So far, I'm playing at 9.30pm on Thursday and at 5pm on Sunday. Come and check out the wallahs, they've got a new fatter than god soundsystem too!
After we've picked up the pieces from Glasto, the next thing is Break! in Bristol's Lakota. I'm in the streets for the St. Pauls carnival and then the 2nd room of an immense line-up from LTJ Bukem, Krust to the Dreadzone soundsystem. Gonna be dope!
Then I'm off to europe for 5 weeks doing shows in Germany, Austria, Holland and places along the way, sometimes in a club, sometimes on a street. Then its back for Shambala festival and I'm pretty much done (in) for the summer!
Would love to see you all you shiny summery peeps, so come and lets frolic, dance our arses off and generally do what out european summers require!
hey i came and watched both of your performances at glastonbury! so i thought i would add you on myspace as you told us all to :D your amazing at what you do, its both clever and interesting! :) i made video's on my phone and recordings and they don't fully do you justice but they are alrite :) cheers for accepting (Y) x LisaJean
Hi MC Xander Just giving you heads up on our new track OUT NOW!!! House & Breaks Mixes Have a bangin week respect Angel & Trudi (Preview On Our Player)
Yo Xander check out my new Dubstep track, live looping, all sounds from my mouth! Its poor quality - but thats cos i recorded it in my bedroom using the webcam mic.. its just an idea that i think sounds coool .. appreciate it if you had a listen! :)
Xander! Its been way too long my friend. I will be seeing you at Glasto, just managed to grab a last minute ticket.. Will come find you at the Wallahs. Big love xxxx
Hello,
Just wanted to let you know that round 1 of the this year's People's Music Awards kicked off on Friday 12th of June. And we are putting the call out to all NEW AND UNSIGNED BANDS to enter their best song into this years awards.
So if you want to hear some of the best new-music in the world and have your say in who is crowned the people's choice, then check out our myspace page, or go straight to the website: thepeoplesmusicawards.com
Big thanks - The Peoples Music Awards
