Artist Spotlight: Zxne Kxmar
Vancouver’s Zxne Kxmar went from dishwashing to dreamweaving, taking vocal lessons and recording in his home studio by 2023. Influenced by Kid Cudi, Frank Ocean, and GTA 5, he crafts moody anthems like “Introspection” for cloud-heads and night drivers. His music is a cosmic hug for the daydreaming soul.
When did you first realise your voice could take people to another dimension — was there a moment it all clicked?
That’s a very good question. I actually took some singing lessons in the year of 2021 when I was working part time as a dishwasher. I was not quite there yet with my voice back then but my vocal coach taught me some vocal exercises to strengthen my vocal cords to create range and tonality in my voice. It wasn’t till mid 2023 when I finally got the courage to record myself at my home studio. After a lot of trial and error that’s when it clicked. That’s when I got the confidence.
“Introspection” feels like the perfect track for a late-night drive. Where were you mentally and emotionally when you made it?
Introspection came out like any other one of my songs in the vault. There is this feeling in my body that automatically wants to create something different and special. Artists can relate to me when I say this but it’s a moment we chase to fill some void in us when we especially write songs. In that very specific moment, I was emotionally sad and melancholic. My best friend suddenly passed away and it got me in a space of “Introspection”. Thinking deeply and spiritually I was just looking out of my balcony and it just flowed perfectly through the music.
You blend harmonies and hooks so effortlessly. Who were you listening to growing up that helped shape that sound?
Honestly there are a lot of Artists I’ve listened to back in the days but just to name a few I would say (M.I.A, Frank Ocean, Travis Scott, The Neighborhood, Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blood Orange, Tame Impala, Kid Cudi). I mean you get the point the list goes on; I am so influenced by so many different types of music from people all over the world. There were hundreds of other artists I did not mention because we will be here all night.
You’re not afraid to be unapologetically honest in your music. Do you ever feel nervous putting your real-life struggles into songs?
All the time. At the same time my ultimate goal is to connect with people through my music. If I can help one person in their day to day life, I achieved what I needed to do. Kid Cudi especially is a huge inspiration in my music. When I listen to artists like him, I feel less alone in this world and I want to do the same for someone else.
What’s one underrated bar or lyric in “Introspection” that people always miss but means a lot to you?
I feel like when I sing “Look Up in The Sky” People that hear the lyric will sing it but not understand why I’m saying it. It pretty much means to never look down on yourselves when you’re having a bad day. Be grateful with everything in life and always keep your head high. Just like that Tupac song “Keep Your Head Up”.
If “Introspection” had a visual moodboard, what would be on it? Neon lights? Rainy windows? Midnight city drives?
The Mood board will probably look like a Midnight Drive on a bridge with the roof off the car and you and your friends or special someone is with you in the car, just vibing out and taking life easy. That was the vibe I pictured in my head in the studio when I was crafting this record.
Your music has been called “the soundtrack of people’s day-to-day lives.” Who do you imagine pressing play on your tracks?
I Imagine the dreamers in this world to make this the soundtrack to their lives. My whole life I felt like I never belonged wherever I went my head was always in the clouds for some reason. Teachers in school will tell my mom my heads always in the clouds and he’s always day dreaming. This Song is for the people with big dreams that are in environments that they don’t want to be in and who are hustling to achieve their dreams one day, I do it for them.
There’s a sense of love and hope woven into your words. Is that something you consciously try to balance in your writing?
Exactly. I know consciously how powerful music can be and how it can change and shift your mood in your day to day lives with just one song. So now when I write I want to make art that can give hope and love to people’s worlds because there is already enough stress and negativity in the world right now.
What’s your process like — are you a pen-and-pad type of artist or more freestyle and vibe-led?
My Process in the studio changes everyday and it really depends on my mood for that day. Almost all the time though I freestyle flows in my head and sing out loud to find the right pockets and cadences for the verse and hook. It’s only after I find the flow I start writing the lyrics.
What’s a non-musical influence that inspires your sound — maybe a film, a book, or just life itself?
Lately I’ve gotten back to playing GTA 5 the video game. It’s really inspiring my song writing because that game is based in LA and LA is where I wanna live one day. Also, I get influenced by films with a very good storyline because I tend to tell stories in my songs a lot. Movies and Video games for sure influence the sound of my music.
You’ve got this distinct storytelling voice. If you could collab with any storyteller in music — Kendrick, Brent Faiyaz, Frank Ocean — who are you picking and why?
I appreciate that a lot that is a such a compliment to me. I strive to tell the listeners that are tuning in my music that they get the most raw and authentic version of myself when I sing. Frank Ocean is definitely a dream collaboration of mine. I just feel like when he writes it paints a very vivid picture for his fans and when he sings that picture comes to life for a memorable experience. In my opinion one of the best songwriters of our time. Kendrick and Brent Faiyaz are also super talented artists and I hopefully get in the studio with one of them in the future.
What was your first studio session like? Can you paint us a picture of young Zxne Kxmar behind the mic?
My first ever studio session I will never forget it. I was 17 years old and in grade 12. One of these girls I went to school with knew an audio engineer/Producer friend that recorded other rappers and artists in his home studio. She helped get my first studio session and at the time I never knew anything about audio engineering and producing and I remembered I was so nervous recording my voice in front someone I just met. After some time though I got used to the studio setting and my producer friend at the time was Cee Lo. He said I was improving so that’s when I knew I can pursue this for real.
Your melodies have this hypnotic energy. Ever thought about making a full-on concept project or soundtrack?
Making a soundtrack for a Blockbuster Hollywood picture movie would be the ultimate dream for me personally. Just having my songs narrate a movie and creating a new world around it honestly the biggest honour any artist can have in my opinion. It would be a dream come true for sure.
What do you hope people feel when they hear your music at 12am, windows down, just cruising?
I hope people find solace and peace when they hear the record at 12 am with the windows down cruising on the highway. Hopefully it could be a love letter to someone special in their lives or reminder that everything will be okay.
And finally — if “Introspection” is the vibe for tonight, what’s Zxne Kxmar playing tomorrow?
Introspection will always be a vibe in the night for a chill cruise on the road. My next Song will be coming out in the Month of June called “I FEEL CONNECTED”.