We sat down for an exclusive interview with the rising superstar Xoro, who is unapologetically bulldozing the boundaries of edm music with his anything-goes mindset.
The track opens with a gentle piano melody before gradually building to a crescendo of pulsating beats and soaring synths. The track’s vocal samples add a deep element to the music, creating a euphoric feeling that’ll have you lost on the dance floor.
We had an exclusive talk with Xoro, to discover more about this release.
Can you share some insights into how the collaboration with Armin Van Buuren came about after your successful track with Lucas & Steve on “After Midnight”?
I started the track ‘God is In The Soundwaves’ back in November 2022 and after hearing the first demo, my good friend James helped me finish the writing and killed the vocals. I wanted to find another collab after my Lucas & Steve one but the direction of my new sound had changed a lot so I felt it would be hard to find a DJ who would collaborate with me on this new record. I had an idea that although it sounded quite different to Trance, the track takes a lot of influence from the genre and who better to do the song with me than Armin Van Buuren? I found Armin’s A&R on instagram and got his email address before sending it over. They immediately came back saying they loved the track for a collaboration and even offered me a longer term record deal with Armada which was amazing!
What was the inspiration behind your new collaboration, and how does it differ from your previous work?
The inspiration for ‘God Is In The Soundwaves’ came from a night at Printworks where I watched the DJ from the back of the club and it almost looked like a priest blessing the crowd in a church in the dark. I know this might sound far-fetched, but in many ways music is a religion to clubbers and it helps them to heal their problems for a moment in time. I thought it would be amazing to make a song describing that moment both sonically and with the lyrics. I wrote down some of my ideas and then got James involved, who is an incredible songwriter to help me work on it. Armin & I then finished the record over zoom and it was ready to go. I think it definitely sounds very different to my other tracks as it has a much higher BPM and is more underground than my previous releases. There will definitely be more to come in this lane 😉
How would you describe the overall vibe and sound of “God Is The Soundwaves”?
I would describe it as the middle ground between Trance and stutter house, it has both European and UK influence which I love. It is fast paced, dark, and euphoric which definitely hits you in the feels.
What were the key challenges or exciting moments you encountered while working on this new project?
I think the main difficulty was that at some point my project file became so big that my FL studio session wouldn’t stop crashing. I managed to fix this by converting all the heavy synth plugins to audio before sending the stems to Armin. The most exciting moment was definitely when Armin facetimed me for the first time to do a session on it whilst he was in Chile. We finished the record and he played it at Ultra Miami the following week which was crazy.
Who is an artist you admire and would love to collaborate with in the future?
I think my biggest inspiration is Armin Van Buuren as his live performances and music really gives me the chills. In terms of a new collaboration, I would love to work with D.O.D as his music really has the perfect balance between delivering emotion and making the crowd move.
Can you share any exciting or unique live shows or performances you have planned for your fans in the near future?
I hopefully will be performing at ASOT Rotterdam next year which would be my biggest show but this is unconfirmed. I hope to do some more local performances in London clubs such as Ministry Of Sound and Egg next year.
As a DJ/producer, how do you see the current state of the electronic dance music (EDM) industry, and what trends do you think will be significant in the coming years?
I think TikTok has clearly been the dominating factor in determining hit EDM records which we’ve seen with Prada by Casso and many others. It will carry on to be a very influential tool in the future but who knows what new social media apps will come. I also think that AI will definitely be used more and more and will influence the EDM industry in both the production and marketing processes.
What advice do you have for aspiring DJs and producers who are looking to make their mark in the industry?
I would definitely advise you to send your best piece of music to an artist who inspires you and to build relationships as they end up being valuable when you least expect it.
In addition to music, are there any other creative or personal projects you’re currently working on that you’d like to share with your fans?
At the moment not really as I spend most of my time on music haha.
Finally… When you’re not in the studio or performing, how do you like to spend your spare time? Any hobbies or activities that you’re particularly passionate about?
I love going to the gym and playing tennis are hobbies of mine and are great to manage stress.
‘God Is In The Soundwaves’ is a must-listen for any fan of electronic dance music. Armin van Buuren has once again proven that he is a true master of the craft, and his latest rack is an ethereal journey; check it out below.
ON/OFF: Admin van Buuren, Xoro, Yoel Recoba, New Release, Interview, EDM Music
