Conversation With Xavier Toscano

Xavier hails from the San Francisco Bay Area, and just like it, his influences are varied yet  cosmopolitan.Comfortable performing for smaller local crowds, as well as for thousands at festivals or while opening for major acts all over the United States and Europe; Xavier is definitely at his best during live shows. He combines his love for EDM, R&B, Reggae, and Top 40 Radio; with his dancing and acting ability; to create a multi-dynamic show that leaves people wondering where he gets the energy. Xavier’s music can be best described as energetic urban pop. There’s a frayed sweetness to his voice that adds a sharp edge to his strong pop material. Xavier’s music has been featured on the hit show Keeping Up With The Kardashians; MTV; Foot Locker Stores; Red Bull; Supercuts; Versace; and many more!
In addition a quick Google search will turn up a vast number of blog features and mentions. His music has proven to have universal appeal.

Q:When you decide it’s time to make a new record, is that more exciting or stressful?

Ans:It’s a bit of both. But I think that’s what keeps things interesting. It’s like walking into a dark room and you have to feel your way through it. It becomes an adventure!

Q:  How do you shut things out?

Ans:  I’m not sure I understand what you mean, but if you’re talking about focusing on my music versus
real-world distractions, it is actually quite easy. I love what I do, so I live for it.

Q: How easily do songs tend to come to you?

Ans: They are all different. Some pop-up out of nowhere quickly, while others really make me work for them. Each story has it’s own back-story.

Q: What’s your motto or the advice you live by?
Ans: “Born to amuse; to inspire; to delight”.

Q: What is you favorite song to belt out at the bar/in the car?

Ans:They change often, right now, I am really loving Zayn and Taylor’s “I Don’t Want Live Forever”.

Q: For our readers who have never heard your music, explain your sound in 5 words?
Ans: Feel good Pop music, baby!

Q: You write all of your own music; where do you draw inspiration from when you write songs and what’s your favorite part about the process?

ANS: Well, I write my own lyrics and melodies, but I work with producers for the music. The most interesting thing is how every song has it’s own back story and inspiration points. No two songs are the same in that sense. Usually, I just start with a simple idea and expand that into a short story.

Q: At what age did you start singing?

ANS: I was an adult …  I started professionally in November 2007.

Q:Who are your inspirations?

Ans:  There are tons of them! I would like to say that I love Timbaland, but I love anything Pop and Top 40.

XavierToscano

Q: If you could perform with anyone, in the future, who would it have to be?

Ans: I would love to go on a tour with Katy Perry. She seems like so much fun, plus, I think our music is
similar in some ways. Just fun!

Q:What is your favorite song to sing live?

Ans: Any song, just as long as I get to sing. 😉

Q:Do you have any events coming up or recording going on right now?

Ans: Oh yeah! Plenty. I am opening for Samuel Larsen (of Glee fame) in Los Angeles on March 31st 2017, but I stay pretty busy. People can always check my calendar on my website or join my mailing list to stay on top of shows.

Q:Do you have any advice for anyone wanting to sing as a career or just advice about careers in general?

Ans:Sure! Stay focused but also learn many things. You can’t just be a singer, you also have to learn the
business of singing. Stay on top of all aspects as best  you can. Don’t ignore all the facets of your goal, or you
will fall short overall.

Q: What was the first tune(s) you learned?

Ans: One of the very first songs I learned was Robin Thicke’s “Lost Without You”. I also learned Ne-Yo’s“Because of You”. Man, I loved those songs, and it was a great time.

Q: Is your family musical?

Ans: Yeah, I have two family members who love to play the guitar.

Q:  Describe your family member’s musical interests and abilities.

Ans: They are amateurs who play for fun. But growing up, it was always nice to hear my father play his favorite songs on the guitar.

Q:  Which famous musicians do you admire? Why?

Ans: There are so many and I could go on and on …Beyonce, Justin Timber lake, Freddie Mercury, Lady Gaga,The Neptunes, Timbaland, Max Martin.. I love Pop music.

Q:  Which famous musicians have you learned from?

Ans: Just about all of them! I am always on the lookout for new top 40 music and I always find something to
draw from.

Q:  Who was your first teacher? Other teachers?

Ans: The best voice instructor I worked is Jim Bedford of Bedford Studios in Castro Valley. He taught me a lot!
Q:  Describe your first instrument. Other instruments?

Ans: My voice. It has been the source great challenge and joy.

Q:  What are your fondest musical memories? In your house? In your neighborhood or town?

Ans: I have three very amazing musical memories:
1) Performing at Disneyland. That was beyond amazing!
2) Performing in front of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. It was so cool!
3) By far this was my favorite: Performing in London in front of over five thousand people. It was such a rush
to hear all the screaming and joy that day. I will never forget it.

Q:  Were you influenced by old records & tapes? Which ones?

Ans: Yeah, actually! When I was a senior in high school, someone, somehow left a record player with about a dozen LP records from the 1970’s just outside our corner block. It was so weird to see that, since these things were, I thought, obsolete. But I brought them home, and the record player actually worked! I listened to music from Roberta Flack, Issac Hayes, The 5th Dimension, The Beeges, etc.. – this is when I fell in love (truly in love) with soul music. This influences some of the tone of my singing and I hope it is obvious.

Q:  Who are your favorite musicians? Groups? CD’s?

Ans: I have sooooo many! I would say that my favorite singer of all time is Freddie Mercury (even though his music is  well before my time); I love Lady Gaga’s musical abilities; Madonna’s staging; Justin Timberlake’s“cool” factor; Michael Jackson’s technical perfectionism; Katy Perry’s fun attitude and style; Rihanna’s urban grace… I could go on and on!
Q: Have you been in competitions? Fleadh’s? Any prizes?

Ans: I hate contests… They are SO unpredictable so I avoid them. But I have won some pretty cool contests that have to do with branding, like RedBull, Supercuts, and others.

Q:  Do you perform in public? Describe those occasions? Concerts, radio, TV?

Ans: Yeah!!! Are you joking? There was a time when I was performing over 150 times a year! I do it all, from TV to radio appearances, fundraisers, you name it! A quick google search will pull them all up. I can describe them all as wonderful! 😉

Q:  How do you handle mistakes during a performance?

Ans: I ignore them in the moment and move on, but later plan on ways to avoid them in the future.

Q:  Do you get nervous before a performance or a competition?

Ans: Sure! All the time. I have learned that being nervous is a constant companion, like my shadow, and have
learned to channel the energy to my advantage.

Q:  What advice would you give to beginners who are nervous?

Ans: Channel it! Tell your mind that you can still perform in spite of the nerves, and that you can channel this energy into performing. Your mind listens to what you say to yourself. 😉 If you believe in yourself, you have rehearsed enough, and you believe in the value of what you’re doing, your nerves serve to make your performance better. It can help to focus you!

Q:  Do you attend sessions? What makes a good session?

Ans: Yes. A good session is when you feel good about the end result. When the end result is what you had expected or even better! 00

Q:  How often and for how long do you practice?

Ans: It varies, I have practiced for shows and got them down in an hour, or as long as 4 hours for several days.

Q: What do you practice – exercises, new tunes, hard tunes, etc.?

Ans: I work with dancers, so I rehearse the vocals on my own, but the dances in a dance studio with dancers.Every song is different, so each one presents it’s own challenges.

Q: Do you teach music?
Ans: No, and I probably never will. 🙂

Q:  How do you balance your music with other obligations – mate, children, job?

Ans: Prioritizing. I take the most important thing in front of me and make that work first. 🙂

Website + Social Media: http://www.XavierToscano.com
Email: manager@xaviertoscano.com

Thanks for taking time out of your day:)
THANK YOU!!!!