Multi-talented Irish artist Celaviedmai, Brooklyn-born rapper Jamel Franklin and unstoppable newcomer Shanny of The X Collective have teamed up on the swaggering new single ‘BIG’, out today. The accompanying music video—directed by Emily Shaw and Ele Breslin (Zapho) and shot and edited by Nicola O’Reilly (a.k.a BabyGirl Films)—shows all the hustle big dreams require.
“‘BIG’ is about the highs and lows of trying to make it in an industry that’s already oversaturated in talent,” Shanny explains. “The verses play with the idea of a dual reality: already made it big versus working in a chipper to pay for the music you want to make. The chorus is an affirmation that you have what it takes despite the obstacles every artist faces when trying to release.”
Jamel says of the song: “The process of creating ‘BIG’ was a good change. It was great to be in a room with the producers and other artists bouncing ideas off each other and trying new things on the spot. I know a lot of people thrived working remotely during the pandemic, but to me these kinds of large scale collaborations work so much better when everyone is together.”
Shanny, Jamel, and Celaviedmai’s eclectic influences come together to create a sound you simply can’t ignore. Celaviedmai—who’s opened for the likes of Lil Wayne, Mac Miller, and Kelis—comes from a house and electronic rap background, while Jamel’s singular artistry is informed by his upbringing in Miami, raised by his Guyanese mother and Jamaican father. Alternative R’n’B artist Shanny released her debut single in 2020. Shanny’s unique vocal style takes inspiration from the likes of Eliza and Raye while musically she is inspired by Tyler The Creator. Shanny uses songwriting as a form of self-discovery and enjoys finding ways to write lyrics that allow her to look deeper into her personal life and the world that surrounds her.
As for the music video, Celaviedmai gushes: “Working on the ‘BIG’ music video was great vibes; it’s always much more fun when there’s a big crew. I also love Nicola from BabyGirlFilms so it was great to see her shine with this music video.”
The X Collective co-founder Ele Breslin (Zapho) worked as a co-writer, co-producer and bass player on BIG. She says of the track: “I had never focused on rap genres until I spent time listening to the likes of Celaviedmai and Jamel Franklin, understanding the musicality of their flows and rhythms and lyrical genius. The writing room was fun, wholesome and the vibes were immaculate. We wanted to write about our BIG plans and BIG moves and BIG dreams as artists, who I guess all share the same vision of success. The reality is that the music industry it’s one of the most difficult industries to survive in, let alone thrive in—yet we keep dreaming BIG.”
The X Collective is a dynamic supergroup of Irish artists and creatives who write, record, release and perform together in a mass-collaborative nature. The project is iterative, always evolving and keeping listeners on their toes.
The incredibly varied roster of musicians and performers make for the ultimate ensemble. They are known for their crowd-pleasing, high-energy, interactive sets and explore soul, hip-hop, disco, reggae and a myriad of other genres. Through covers, originals, freestyling and the members’ own repertoires, The X Collective have been shaking things up and setting high standards for every stage that they hit.
The community was set up in 2020 by Ele Breslin (artist, songwriter, music producer and MD) and Emily Shaw (music sync, events and visual production), a duo with a shared passion for pushing boundaries and breaking musical conventions.
The pair arranged a songwriting camp, hand selecting 35 writers, producers, instrumentalists and vocalists. This camp created a body of work which the group have gone on to record and perform at festivals and events around the country.
Now, with ‘BIG’ and other releases to come, the world at large gets to bask in The X Collective’s irresistible, energetic sound.
Photo credit – Stefan Tivodar / Emily Shaw