Brother-sister duo XYLØ, comprised of producer/drummer/songwriter Chase Duddy and his younger sister vocalist/songwriter Paige Duddy have had one hell of a year and are planning on ending 2016 on a high note. On top of the release of their debut EP, America earlier this year, the duo’s single, “Gossip” was also recently featured in an Apple commercial, and they just hopped on a fall tour to round out the year with The Naked And Famous. With plans to release more music, a new video and a feature with The Chainsmokers in the works, XYLØ are showing no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Fans can celebrate Halloween with XYLØ in Denver at The Ogden Theatre on October 31st and catch them on tour throughout the end of November. Dates are listed below! Grab tickets for their upcoming Denver show at www.xylo-music.com.
Interview by Shannon Shumaker
Can you tell us a little bit about XYLØ for any readers who may not be familiar?
Paige Duddy: We are brother and sister who are 10 years apart (I’m 22 and chase 32) making pop alternative music in our studio at chases house in our hometown right outside of la, called westlake village.
Did you grow up in a musical household? Who are some artists who have inspired you as musicians?
Chase Duddy: Yes. Our grandfather and uncles are all professional musicians. They taught, mentored and inspired me from a very young age. They all played on some really cool recordings throughout the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s with artists like Steely Dan, Toto, Michael Jackson, Pink Floyd, Madona, Bee Gees etc. All those artists were really cool so I grew up listening to that stuff in the car with my parents and I’d put headphones on and play drums to all that kind of stuff as well as Jackson Five, Led Zeppelin and 90’s alternative, punk, grunge and hip hop. After high school I went to music school to study drums and I fell in love with playing Jazz so, I’ve kinda been all over the place musically.
Paige: Yes we grew up in a very musical family, it was apart of our everyday lives. Throughout elementary school I would fall asleep at jazz clubs/ concerts on school nights and wake up rushing to school cause I stayed up so late.
Our grandfather was definitely a huge influence. He and my grandma lived next door to us and our backyards connected. They had built a beautiful home studio that I was always hanging in with friends and family. Our dad is a huge Led Zeppelin fan so that was always playing at home as well as Britney Spears and snoop dog (because of my older sister.) Those artist are still my biggest influence to this day.
Earlier this year, you released your debut EP, America, and since then you’ve been keeping busy and just released a couple of new songs, “Gossip,” and “Dead End Love.” What has been the highlight of your year so far?
Chase: Having our song “Gossip” in an Apple commercial. I’ve always thought they’ve had the coolest artists in their commercials and it’s been a goal/ dream of mine for a long time to work with them.
Paige: Yeah the Apple thing was pretty spectacular. Releasing music and filming videos has been super fun as well.
You just recently released the music video for “Dead End Love.” What does this song mean to you?
Chase: It’s kind of a Bonnie and Clyde / modern Romeo and Juliet kind of story. We wrote it in the beginning of the year and played it live a bunch before we finished the final version of the recording. So far it’s been the first and only recording of ours that I’ve played live drums on.
Paige: This song is about two people who love each other so much that they are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice to be together forever, which is death. This song makes me really happy and really sad when I listen to it. I love it. My boyfriend is singing background vocals on it with me in the bridge and outro, so it makes the song feel special to me.
You just hit the road on your first tour this fall with The Naked And Famous! What are you most excited about on these upcoming tour dates?
Paige: Traveling, eating, playing gigs and meeting new people!
Chase: Yeah! I’m actually writing this on the road as we speak to our first show of the tour in Portland. I’m looking forward to making new friends as well as some new fans hopefully. It’s going to be a great experience and I’m excited to I get share it with my little sister on her very first tour.
For anyone who is just seeing you live for the first time on these upcoming tour dates, what would you like them to take away from your live performance?
Chase: A smile and a piece of merch.
Paige: Haha yes what Chase said and to love it so much they come back with their friends to our headline tour.
After these tour dates wrap up, do you have any other big plans for the end of 2016 and beginning of next year?
Chase: Yeah, we have a feature coming out with The Chainsmokers which is really exciting, so it’s going to be cool to see how people react to that. Hopefully we will gain some new listeners in the process. Other than that, just finishing up new music and getting it out there.
Could we expect some more new music before the end of the year?
Paige: Yes! And a new video!
STAY CONNECTED WITH XYLØ: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
UPCOMING TOUR DATES:
Oct 27 Seattle, WA @ Neptune Theatre
Oct 28 Vancouver, Canada @ The Vogue Theatre
Oct 30 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Deposit
Oct 31 Denver, CO @ The Ogden Theatre
Nov 02 Minneapolis, MN @ First Ave
Nov 04 Kansas City, MO @ Arvest Bank Theatre at The Midland
Nov 05 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
Nov 06 Chicago, IL @ The Riviera Theatre
Nov 07 Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall
Nov 08 Toronto, Canada @ Danforth Music Hall
Nov 10 Boston, MA @ Royale
Nov 12 New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom
Nov 14 Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer
Nov 15 Washington, DC @ The Lincoln Theatre
Nov 17 Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live!
Nov 18 Richmond, VA @ The National
Nov 19 Norfolk, VA @ The Norva
Nov 20 Raleigh, NC @ The Ritz
Nov 22 Atlanta, GA @ Buckhead Theatre
Nov 23 Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom
Nov 25 Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
Nov 26 Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall
Nov 28 Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
Nov 30 Oakland, CA @ Fox Theatre