Already an Americana Album of the Month in Uncut magazine – who described it as a defining moment – six-piece XIXA have today released their brand new single, “Eclipse” taken from their forthcoming album Genesis, out February 19th, 2021 via Jullian Records.
Bandleader Brian Lopez notes of Eclipse: “…the chorus is intentionally written in a chicha-inspired major key, to give a sense of lightness and hope: ‘…Eclipsed by the wounds on my brother, eclipsed by the love we must find.’ A far departure, lyrically, from some of the darker themes that populate our music…But a fitting song and message for the time.”
His counterpart in leading the band Gabriel Sullivan adds: ‘Eclipse explores what XIXA is about: dark and haunting landscapes as well as the uplifting and catchy melodies of Chicha music.”
The chicha- and cumbia-inspired song comes paired with a video that highlights the band’s Tucson neighbourhood of Barrio Viejo – an intentional nod to their heritage and the Chicano culture they grew up with in the ‘80s & ‘90s: lowriders, swap meets, taquerías, all set against the backdrop of El Tiradito, a gorgeous shrine filled with prayers scratched on paper for those we have lost. “It was important for us to visually tell a story of where we come from, where this music comes from,” Lopez says. “Given that the song is a cumbia, we wanted to showcase all these colorful mementos that make Chicano culture so vibrant and unique to this part of the world. We grew up with all of it.”
Sullivan remarked on the juxtaposition of light and dark, good and evil, chaos and order – themes that runs deep within Genesis: “The video represents just that with it being filmed in our Barrio Viejo. Filmed against colorful yet ravaged adobe. Filming our low rider communities whose vehicles dress these border streets with pride and beauty. We are indeed Eclipsed by the love we must find.”
Genesis is available for pre-order today: https://orcd.co/xixagen
Photo Credit: Puspa Lohmeyer