Unstoppable outfit theXcollective feature Late Late Show Eurosong finalist NIYL, electronic pop and R ‘n’ B artist Shanny, and avant-grade artist Mutant Vinyl, who has been praised by BBC Radio One and Paul McCartney, in new single ‘Solace In My Head’.
Earning extensive praise across Irish media and radio for previous single ‘BIG’, featuring Jamel Franklin, Shanny and Celavidedmai (earning support from 2fm, Spin, Today FM, iRadio, Hot Press, The GOO, Nialler9 and District Magazine), and single ‘NAKED’, featuring DeCarteret, Qbanaa and Senita (support from FM104, The Last Mixed Tape, Hot Press and Red FM), powerhouse group theXcollective are poised for new heights with ‘Solace In My Head’.
theXcollective is a dynamic ensemble 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. Fusing soul, hip-hop, disco, reggae, and beyond, their electrifying performances are an explosion of energy, interaction, and spontaneity, and their incredibly varied roster of musicians and performers makes for the ultimate ensemble with each new release.
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 across the country.
‘Solace In My Head’ sees versatile vocalist and songwriter Shanny (a.k.a. Shannon Doyle), a Spotify Fresh Finds IE/UK Playlist-added artist, collaborate with The X Collective for the second time, having previously featured as a guest artist on ‘BIG’. Traveling to the picturesque cities of Utrecht and Den Bosch in the vast landscapes of The Netherlands to film the single’s music video, the group were inspired by the gothic architecture of the city, and the moody atmosphere born from unexpected thunderstorms and lightning strikes.
Shanny says, “What made the experience so memorable was the incredible team we had brought together for our project. We carefully storyboarded the video, working closely with videographer Khalifa and stylist Laura Cooney to bring our vision to life, and the custom pieces by Eeden Atelier and makeup by Bobbi Makeup exceeded our expectations, really bringing our characters to life. Their professionalism, creativity and energy helped everything run seamlessly from start to finish. We learned that no amount of preparation can replace the importance of having the right vibe on set, and the team brought exactly that. The joy and camaraderie we experienced behind the scenes can be felt in every frame of the video. We can’t wait for everyone to see our creation”
The single also features the highly talented Mutant Vinyl, aka Edwin James Pope, a Huw Stephens, Janice Long and Tom Robinson-tipped artist, who has been cultivating his own musical genre since 2011. His saxophone fronted project combines elements of electronica, dub, trip-hop and nu-jazz, featuring politically charged verses and clattering rhythms, which have earned him support slots for the likes of Rudimental, Prince’s NPG, Wolf Alice, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Shalamar and Mystery Jets. Pope’s infectious and genre-bending style has also seen him grace the airways on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6, RTÉ Radio 1 and Amazing Radio, and has led to collaborations with Tricky, Mad Professor, Wayward and Fun Lovin’ Criminals, and not to mention praise from Paul McCartney.
On the single, he says, “Recording the track remotely in London felt like being an audio voyeur within a warped art installation. Sending files to a session in Ireland that I was watching via a video call, seeking my own solace in a 4m square studio in Notting Hill with just a sax, microphone & some Scotch. The lyrics tunnelled further & further inside me with every re-take & edit, leading to stumbling home, humming freshly crafted melodies that would now be stuck with me, for better or for worse”
Boundary-pushing talent NIYL, who channels the intense beauty and isolation of his west-of-Ireland upbringing, weaving cathartic reflections into his work, is a superb addition to compliment the group’s fresh, evocative sound. His appearance as a competitor on this year’s The Late Late Show’s Eurosong final marked a pivotal moment in his career, showcasing his powerful stage presence and emotive vocal delivery to a wider audience.
On collaborating with The X Collective, NIYL says, “In a time when we are facing a loneliness epidemic across Ireland, finding a community that you can create with and be part of is such an important thing. As more and more creative spaces shut down, The X Collective is one of many groups that have seen Irish artists rally together to make, collaborate and fuel our creative passions. The group spans across Ireland and beyond and through working together, be it remotely or in person, we are creating music that, as independent artists, we would not have created – we are experimenting and celebrating each other’s crafts telling each individual story in the process.”
Member Emily Shaw, who co-directed the track and directed and produced the single’s music video explains, “This track didn’t follow a normal trajectory whatsoever. It was first written by Rob deBoer and DeCarteret at our writer’s camp before being passed to the current artists, who reshaped it into something completely new – two exceptional versions, both entirely different. With the new take, we actually conceptualised the dark and moody visual concept before even stepping into the studio. Chris Bubenzer helped create a darker soundscape and a new version was born from the visual narrative. It was exciting and a new experience to work this way and be involved in the musical and visual direction”
With each featured artist stepping beyond their usual persona to embody haunting new characters, ‘Solace In My Head’ unfolds from a dark, cinematic narrative that drips with mystery.
Cover Art by Karina Vy