Xana, a talented singer-songwriter, has been making waves in the music industry with her latest single “babyblue.” The song beautifully captures the poignant and bittersweet emotions that come with the realization of growing older and the passage of time, particularly the inevitable distance that forms between childhood friends. Xana’s heartfelt lyrics and soulful vocals resonate deeply with listeners, earning her widespread recognition and support. Her music has been featured on influential Spotify editorial playlists like New Music Friday Canada, solidifying her presence as an emerging artist to watch. Notable press outlets such as Earmilk and Atwood Magazine have also acknowledged her exceptional talent. With an impressive streaming count of over 30 million on Spotify alone, Xana’s music continues to captivate audiences and establish her as a visionary artist pushing boundaries in the industry.
Can you tell us about your journey as a pop artist and how you discovered your passion for music?
I’ve always been in love with music and performing since I was a little kid, wanting to be an artist or a “rock star” was the first thing I knew about myself. I was singing before I could talk, and putting on little shows for my parents. My dad was always playing guitar and singing around the house growing up. My parents were always incredibly supportive of my creative ambitions so my childhood was packed full of music lessons, art classes, competitive dancing, singing lessons etc. My favorite artist when I was little was Avril Lavigne,I just thought she was so cool and badass and strong and loud and I wanted to be just like her. Taylor Swift taught me that I could write my own songs, so I started doing that. They were god awful songs for the first while but eventually I started to get the hang of it. Around 2018 I felt ready to launch my solo project so I started planning, writing, and working with my producers Liam Moes and Shane Stephenson and finally in 2020 I released my first song Goddess which was met with an overwhelming amount of support, and that support and love has only grown ever since! I feel incredibly grateful and lucky to be where I am today, and sooo unbelievably excited for all that is coming.
What inspired you to write and release “babyblue”? Could you share more about the personal experiences or emotions that influenced the creation of the song?
I wrote “babyblue” during a time when I was deeply feeling the disconnection between myself and my friendships from my childhood and teenage years. Part of that was due to covid, the time we spent isolated felt like it made it harder to come back together, but a big part of that was simply growing up. I was still living in my hometown at the time, and some of my friends moved away for school or for love, others I naturally grew apart from over the years. It’s so strange going from being glued at the hip to now watching the highlights of their lives unfold on instagram stories. I guess growing up means a thousand subtle moments that go hardly noticed that accumulate into big life changes, causing you look around like “Wait, where did you go? Where did I go? How did this happen? I hope you’re well.” So I wanted to capture that in a song, because that’s how I move through these feelings. It’s a love song for the people who held me during my youth.
How do you approach the songwriting process when crafting intimate and introspective tracks like “babyblue”?
A song like babyblue is basically a page ripped out of my diary, it’s a form of therapy for me. This was my way of working through those feelings of missing people and “the old days” and my anxiety around the passage of time. I always feel like if i can make something good out of sad or hard feelings, then it means something. It’s worth feeling it. I tend to write the most confessional and vulnerable songs when i feel most comfortable, which usually means in a cozy room alone, late at night. I’m more honest in the dark. Then I just spill. And hope a catchy melody finds me.
Are there any specific techniques or strategies you employ to capture those emotions effectively?
There’s power in honesty and vulnerability, and I find that whenever I lean into it, even if it’s uncomfortable or hard to admit, that’s when I write the best stuff and am most proud of my work. In the age of competing on who can care less, admission of true honest feelings is how connections are made and how we feel less alone.
“babyblue” explores themes of growing older, the passage of time, and the inevitable changes in relationships. How do you hope listeners will connect with these themes and find resonance in your music?
Time happens to all of us. We all grow up, our lives change, we meet new people and lose touch with old friends, and it can all be very beautiful and exciting and daunting and stressful. I just hope that when people listen to babyblue, if they connect with it, they’ll feel less alone in those lonely, scary feelings. Maybe it will even motivate them to reconnect with some people, or at least hold some appreciative space for them from a distance.
Female empowerment is a recurring theme in your music. How do you incorporate these messages into your songs, and why is it important for you to share these narratives through your music?
One of my most passionate purposes with my music is to help people feel more confident and powerful in who they are, and more in control of their lives and narrative. As a queer woman, I’ve felt a certain helplessness in certain aspects of my life that I never want to feel again, and as I’ve learned to be more confident and secure in myself and who I am, I hope to help guide others in that same direction through my music. There’s so much power in being unapologetically yourself. And so much beauty in being loud and proud. There’s so much to learn in making mistakes, then being better the next time. So much bravery in being vulnerable and soft.
Vancouver, Canada, has a vibrant music scene. How has your local music community influenced your artistic growth and development?
I’ve been so grateful to have met my producers Liam and Shane, and through them I’ve met so many other talented and brilliant musicians and industry personnel. My circle of collaborators and trusted team members is so strong and driven, i’m so blessed to have them all in my corner, and to be in theirs. Because of how strongly i admire them and their opinions, seeing how much they believe in me makes me think “damn, maybe i should believe in myself that hard too” and it pushes me to be even better than i thought i could be. Vancouver has so many incredibly talented artists, and anytime i see someone winning, it feels like a win for everyone.
Can you talk about the significance of storytelling and worldbuilding in your songwriting?
I’ve always been a day dreamer, ever since i was little. My mom used to get so frustrated because i was constantly living in my head and rarely listening to her or teachers or anyone. But i just loved making up scenarios and stories and music videos. My imagination has always been vivid. Being able to take those big ideas and turn them into something real, songs and videos and albums, is the greatest gift of this life. Selfishly, it’s just incredibly relieving to be able to turn all my thoughts and emotions into something tangible, it gives me the ability to “let it go” and not have to hold onto everything so tightly. Now, i won’t forget those memories and experiences and daydreams. The artists i’ve connected with the most throughout my life have been those who have made storytelling, vulnerability and worldbuilding a priority in their work, like Halsey and Taylor Swift for example. If my listeners feel a fraction of that connection, then I’m doing a good job.
What has been the most memorable or impactful moment in your musical journey so far?
Probably playing shows and being in the same room with everyone as we all sing and scream and dance together. I love meeting everyone, they are just so kind and cool and it’s like “oh my god these are real people who are not only actually listening to my music, but enjoying it enough to come hang out with me for an evening!” and that’s just a really cool realization to make. I always feel so motivated and invigorated after a show, and more connected with my listeners than ever.
Is there a particular performance, collaboration, or milestone that stands out to you?
The release day of my album Tantrums was probably the happiest day of my life. That may sound dramatic but I was and am so incredibly proud of what I made, and I couldn’t stop crying all day just from pure joy and pride and gratitude. I fear I will forever be chasing what I felt that day.
How do you navigate the ever-evolving music industry as an emerging artist?
I think the simple answer to that is I just do whatever I want to do. I’m luckily in a place where I can do that, being independent. There isn’t anyone who’s telling me what to do and how to do it. My only rule is to be authentic and intentional in all my art. Everything comes from the heart, not from statistics or “industry standards”. Industry standards make me want to rip my hair out. But it’s a blessing that the music industry is ever-evolving. That creates room for experimenting, exploring new worlds, reinventing old things, diving deeper, wider, breaking warriors and discovering new facets to yourself and your art. There are so many great tools that can be utilized to compliment your work and process, you just have to stick to what feels true to you.
What can fans and listeners expect from your future releases?
I’m always digging deeper into myself and my songwriting to deliver the best art I possibly can. We thought Tantrums was personal… that was just the tip of the iceberg. My next body of work is like nothing I’ve done. If we’re being honest it terrifies me, and I’ve never loved anything more.