Spiritual insights from Xadi as he takes the stage at our conscious music series, Future Sounds
Future Sounds is Nataal’s new music monthly in collaboration with Consciously Connected Travel, Sons of Craft and Mortimer House. With ‘soul-full’ music at its core, our aim is to bring conscious people together to enjoy good vibes only. Proceeds from the second instalment supported Earthquake Relief in Turkiye and Syria while Casamigos signature Future Sounds cocktail flowed freely and a deep house soundscape by Sons of Craft DJ Janvier Wete warmed the room. All this built anticipation for a performance by young London rapper, Xadi.
This dynamic artist has gained attention worldwide with his honest song-writing and soulful approach to his craft. Xadi’s 2020 EP ‘Day Ends’ showcases his introspective lyrics and genre-blurring sound spanning hip hop, R&B, jazz and grime. Since then, Xadi has blessed us with six singles including the soothing ‘Mañana’ featuring Nina Cobham, culminating in the 2022 EP, ‘Floating in Lilac’.
I sit down with Xadi less than an hour before his performance at Future Sounds in front of a full house of 200 people, finding him to be self-assured, humble and basking in the moment.
Firstly, I can’t help but ask why your profile name on insta is Zaddy?
Basically, I was doing a few shows in the US and didn't realise that Zaddy was a thing. And everyone was like, ‘Oh, you think you're a Zaddy huh’. That’s when I learnt it was some kind of older sugar daddy type. I was like, ‘It ain't me but that’s why I am different to your other Zaddy.’
Tell me a bit about Xadi the person, before we delve into Xadi the artist.
I’m really interested in learning. My mum’s Irish and my dad's from Senegal. We grew up in an area with loads of Irish kids with music and instruments being a common thing. I watched my friends play guitar, wanted to learn and went on Youtube. So, I'm an independent learner and have done the same with mixing, mastering and producing. Then when I went to uni I studied physics.
How did you come to study at Cambridge University?
I went to a very normal school in Hounslow. I was never a top student in any way. I had an interest in studying medicine but my teachers told me my grades were nowhere near good enough. I failed my first exams for AS levels so had to re-sit them and became completely obsessive. This is when I realised that I had OCD because I went from being a normal kid more interested in partying, to studying for months and doing well in my A Levels to everybody's surprise.
So, it was about having enough faith in yourself to know you could do it?
Yeah, I think I believed I could do it even though everyone told me I couldn’t. I've never been told I was a really talented musician either but I want to do this so what do I have to lose?
Who are some of your creative influences?
Early on, I was obsessed with Kings of Leon. The first show I ever went to was Muse. From a production standpoint, it’s Kanye West and I'm a real Drake fanboy. There are also elements from the UK rap scene that I take from, artists like Bugsy Malone, which influences me in the way that I want to paint a world that everyone's living in.
How did the Xadi sound evolve?
I started out rapping and just singing the hooks on one or two songs. During the pandemic I lost one of my grandparents in Senegal, which was the first time that I had emotions I wanted to put into my music and felt that I could get the vibe across with a tone rather than explicitly saying it. So, I started singing but with the mindset of a rapper. I've always liked things that aren't too busy so my instrumentals are always quite spacey.
Which of your own songs speaks to you the most?
On the EP ‘Floating in Lilac’, my favourite track is ‘Somewhere Else’. It's the first track I wrote for the project and it sounded like how I felt my music was supposed to sound. The soundscape and tone taught me how to set the scene for the music I wanted to create.
Why are you choosing to lean into life through a more positive lens?
My parents divorced when I was very young. It was really difficult for my mum because she was the sole provider. Yet whenever she talks about it, she’s always positive, despite the reality not being so. She learnt from her parents that you can’t complain. I've picked up that trait. While that can be good, you also have to allow yourself to feel. In the last six months, I've been seeing a therapist and the catalyst was the loss of someone close to me. It's helped me acknowledge that I need to not just brush everything off and to look after my mental health. While I've been lucky enough to have a great creative community around me, you do need that advice and guidance.
Has your father’s journey and career in fashion influenced your work?
From a fashion perspective, yes, definitely. But I think the biggest thing he gave me was self-belief. A young man from Senegal who came here with nothing and achieved what he did, seeing that happen made me dream big.
When there were down moments, where did you find the motivation to keep going?
Those down moments, they would be very frequent, but they would never last longer than the night. There were always little indicators along the way, whether a random person adding my song to a playlist or someone messaging to say they liked my music. So as long as you can take heed of those little things, you can find your way to keep going.
How do you stay Consciously Connected?
Trusting my instinct about people or situations. I have a tendency to hyperfocus, especially when I have music that I am trying to make. So, to reduce that anxiety and stress I have a cold shower every morning. Also breathing techniques and meditation keep me grounded. I have a tendency to freak out a bit and go into overdrive, so I'm lucky to have people around me who are really passionate about things that aren't what I do. My mum teaches refugee children who don't speak English as a first language. My girlfriend runs a charity called Thread Ahead working with big fashion brands to repurpose their dead stock fabrics and garments. If you're a refugee or asylum seeker, you can come to these really nice events in Shoreditch and take brand new clothes. The sentiment is about dignity so I'll volunteer at her events.
What words of wisdom can you give to someone trying to make it in your industry?
One thing that is crucial is a certain level of naivety or almost delusion. But the main thing I guess is consistency and dedication. Surrounding yourself with people and things that can inspire or pour into your creatively. Listening to other artists' journeys and stories really used to help motivate me, too. And I want to encourage others to do what they’re passionate about. Just do it because it’s what feeds the soul.
Where is your sound going at the moment?
I'm working on a project called ‘Black Rock’. In the UK now, there's a lot of focus on black artists making music, which is great, but you don’t hear a huge amount about black artists doing things that aren't R&B and rap. I read a book about the origins of rock music and came across a black woman called Sister Rosetta Tharpe. I really want to bring those influences into my work. Alongside it, I also want to do a gallery exhibition where I take pictures of black pioneers in different fields, holding a guitar.
Why the curiosity to experiment with different mediums outside of music?
It largely stems from being mixed race. From a young age, I was aware that I didn't look like my mum or my dad. I was fortunate to grow up in a really multicultural area when I was in secondary school but because I felt like I didn't fit in anywhere, I also felt that I could play many different roles and didn't just have to be one thing.
How will the new EP compare to your previous releases?
‘Floating in Lilac’ was much more introspective. While the next one is raw, rough, edgier, punk-ish. Heavier on guitar, It's trying to make a point and bring attention to where I am as a black person. Everyone should be able to do everything. I'm really excited about this body of work, which will hopefully drop in April.
What else do you have lined up for 2023?
A couple of festivals in the summer and a headline show in London in the autumn. Then headed back to LA in the winter for more shows and to work with a couple of producers.
What can we expect from your performance this evening?
I'm doing everything on the guitar, it's going to be a really chilled out version of some of my favourites and some new material. I’ve never done this set before, I never felt comfortable enough to do eight or nine songs in such a stripped back way. So, I think it's going to be really special.
Listen to our Future Sounds with Xadi Spotify playlist here
Listen to the podcast of this interview here
The next Future Sounds is Friday 17 March at Mortimer House featuring Georg’ Estelle . Book here
Words Ingrid Asoni
Art direction Kouadio Amany
for Sons of Craft
Photography Dizzy Bagley
Styling Haruna Jebak
Styling assistance Anudary Muvek
Grooming Weini Haile
Location Sons of Craft studio
Visit Xadi
Visit Consciously Connected Travel
Visit Sons of Craft
Visit Mortimer House
Published on 04/03/2023