Get to Know Rising House Maven XIE

To celebrate the release of her single “C’est La Vie,” XIE stopped by with a guest mix and to chat about her experience as a multi-talented artist.

Hailing from Los Angeles, XIE (pronounced “Shay”) is making waves in the house scene with her captivating productions. Her love for music originated from her family, where the arts were at the forefront. From age five, she trained as both a classical pianist and violist and performed with Premier Youth Symphony. XIE would go on to study Fine Arts during her higher education and would teach herself how to produce. Having music so ingrained in her life made her a driven, multi-hyphenate artist that is worth your attention.

As a singer, songwriter, and producer, her tracks showcase all of her talents with a playful edge on four-on-the-floor beats. Her latest single, “C’est La Vie,” is out now on Thrive Music and explores more of the UK house realm. Hypnotic piano chords and sharp snare hits soak the club-ready track in nostalgia and highlight her vocal performance. “Life can feel heavy and complicated. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in all of it, but sometimes it’s actually easier to just let things go,” XIE said. “I wrote ‘C’est La Vie’ when I was dealing with some extreme anxieties as a reminder to take the good with the bad and each day in stride. You always have to move forward and remember life just is what it is, and it will get better.”

“C’est La Vie” follows another single, “Birds In Paradise,” which shows off her prowess in tech house. Additionally, XIE has graced the stages at Coachella, HARD Summer, and EDC Las Vegas. To kick off the month of June, XIE gifted us with a guest mix full of house tracks that will get you on your feet and took the time to chat with us about her journey so far. Press play on XIE’s exclusive mix, listen to her latest single, “C’est La Vie,” and keep reading for our interview!

Stream EDMID Guest Mix 374 || XIE on SoundCloud:

Music has always been a part of your life, from classical training at an early age to studying fine art and becoming a self-taught producer. Can you tell us more about growing up, being surrounded by music, and how your passion for it grew?

It really feels like music has been in my veins forever. Each part of my background seamlessly blended with the next, starting with piano when I was five, then Symphony later. My obsession with listening to music – from pop to electronic – spurred my love of tracks and songwriting. I got really fascinated with the process of how a song is made, and now as a producer, I have full reign of that process.

Given your impressive background, what drew you to electronic music? How and when did you first discover dance music?

I became a huge fan of Calvin Harris and his skills as a writer and producer, as well as Avicii and Deadmau5. It was around the Justice and Miike Snow era, combined with my first Coachella experience, that I fell hard for electronic music and EDM.

Representation matters, and seeing more and more Asian American women make waves in the industry has been amazing! How has your Chinese-American heritage shaped your journey as an artist?

Yes! I love seeing more representation in the industry and am proud to be a part of it. I hope to be a role model/inspiration for younger girls out there to show that you can do anything! It’s so cool that we’re in a day and age where people of all backgrounds can see other people that look like them represented in the entertainment industry.

Are there any Asian artists (both within dance music and outside) that you’re enjoying right now that fans should know about?

Bleu Clair, ZHU, and Wax Motif, to name a few Asian Artists. Also, some other artists I’ve been loving recently are Mochakk, Monki, and Kapuzen.

You really do it all, from songwriting to producing and even designing the artwork for your tracks. Can you describe your creative process? Does it change from track to track?

It can definitely be a lot! I really enjoy being hands-on and creating in many mediums, so even though it’s time-consuming, I love having that freedom. It’s always been a DIY vibe with me being an independent artist. Even when I was with a major label, I was still making the art and video assets. That being said, I also really like collaborating, and I look forward to working with other creatives in the future to help bring my visions to life.

What has been your biggest learning as a rising, multi-hyphenate artist?

Just staying true to my instincts and constantly trying to find the balance in the creative process. As a producer, DJ, vocalist, and songwriter, I’m constantly honing in my skills in each area and aiming for greatness. Just never stop learning and trying to improve myself. Since I am so involved in every piece of my artistry, from the music to the art to branding, it can sometimes be overwhelming, and it’s been a mental adjustment (that I welcome!) to surrender control at times and let others help me.

In the same token, what has been something surprising you’ve learned that you love about being an artist?

Through the developmental stages of an artist’s career, things can be tough, both monetarily and mentally, but ironically I’ve learned that it never gets easier. If anything, you start doing more and more and leading a busier life. So what I love is that the journey of being an artist is really a life choice and a valiant one at that. It’s extremely rewarding to create and share art, and definitely not “the easy way out…” quite the opposite, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Fast forward five years, where would you like to see yourself? What dream festivals and venues have you hit? Who have you collaborated with?

My goal is to be a headliner. I want to be worldwide, playing all the major festivals like Tomorrowland and touring venues like the Brooklyn Mirage, Club Space, and Pacha in Ibiza. I’d love to collab with Chris Lake, Grimes, Chris Lorenzo, Tita Lau, LP Giobbi, and Matroda, to name a few.

Finally, what can fans look forward to for the rest of 2023?

Thank you! I’m releasing my debut EP this summer, so there will be a lot more XIE music coming soon.

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