14 FAKTS INTERVIEW WITHX & IVY

Australian duo X & Ivy are set to release their highly anticipated collaboration with UKG legend and Daft Punk collaborator, Todd Edwards. Their upcoming track, ‘Keep Me,’ is a masterful blend of X & Ivy’s signature house flair and Todd Edwards’ iconic fusion of garage rhythms and soulful vocal manipulation.

Conceived from a series of creative sessions in Los Angeles, the dynamic collaboration delivers an irresistible vibe for club DJs and promises to ignite dance floors worldwide, showcasing X & Ivy's innovative sound alongside Todd Edwards' genre-defining legacy.

Q: Please introduce yourself

We’re X & Ivy, an Australian-American duo. We’ve been making house, techno, and garage music together since 2016. Our sound is heavily inspired by UK garage legends like Todd Edwards, who we’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with on our upcoming single 'Keep Me,' which drops on October 25, 2024. 

Q: One person you'd dream to have a coffee with?

Ivy: It’s way too hard for me to choose one person of the top of my head, so I have to go with the band “TOOL”. The way they follow the Fibonacci sequence and the Golden Ratio in every aspect of their writing is truly mind bending. There’s too much to say about it and not enough time to speak upon it, so I STRONGLY suggest you check it out for yourself hahahahahaha.

X: Definitely David Lynch. His surreal approach to filmmaking and the way he bends reality in his work really aligns with how we like to create music, something that’s familiar but always with a twist. 

Q: If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?

Ivy: Teleport. If you haven’t seen the movie “Jumper”, go watch it! If you take away the conflicts between the protagonist and antagonist, you’re, without question, gonna immediately hop on the bandwagon of wanting to teleport.

X: Time travel, no question. Would love to go back and experience 90s rave culture + the acid warehouse parties firsthand. 

Q: If you would have been given the chance to do a film score, what movie would you choose and why?

Ivy: Lords of Dog Town. The movie in my opinion is scored perfectly and I would not change a single thing. The emotion you feel through the music while watching that movie really hits you in the soul.

X: Inception. The complex story with trippy visuals would go really well with the deep, atmospheric sounds we like to play around with. We love the idea of building tension and playing with the dreamlike vibes. 

Q: Who has been the most influential in your music career? And why?

Ivy: George Harrison. If you look at the way he lived his life, he truly took the time to explore and dive into the cultures of the world he was fortunate to experience. Then to be able to take these real life inspirations/experiences and directly incorporate them into your art is beautiful. His music was very experimental and unconventional to the genre he was tied to, which ultimately led him to  produce his best work. He truly made music for himself and what resonated with him, which ultimately connected with the world in a massive way. I was also George Harrison for Halloween when I was 8 years old, so needless to say he’s my favorite Beatle.

X: I’ve been influenced by so many artists, but would have to say Daft Punk has always been foundational. Their ability to cross genres while maintaining an underground appeal shows it’s possible to have mainstream success without compromising your sound. 

Q: Tell us about your journey, what got you to where you are today?

A mutual friend introduced us in 2016 and from the get go we decided to start producing and DJing together! We began releasing music in 2018, and then COVID put an abrupt stop to the momentum we had been gaining. To promote our music, we began using social media in lockdown, and that turned into another side venture that included a cookbook. In 2022, we decided to get back to our roots and evolve our sound, focusing on house, techno, and garage. Gaining radio support from BBC 1 and releasing on labels like Big Trouble Records helped us break into the scene. The collaboration with Todd Edwards is a major milestone in our journey, a result of years of persistence and dedication. 

Q: Everyone goes through ups and downs, what’s one habit you adopt to push through the downs?

Ivy: Focus on the small things. When your life becomes overwhelming and you can’t handle it. Get back to the small things, and do them well. Once you feel like you got that back then work your way back into your rhythm of your long term goals. EVERYBODY goes through this so never let it beat you up and NEVER feel like you can’t speak about it, because majority of us are all going through the same thing!

X: Consistency is key. Regardless of how things are going, I try stick to a daily routine. Producing, going for a walk, finding new music, or just spending time away from the studio. It helps maintain balance and clear my heads. 

Q: Can you recall a DJ set or performance of yours that remains unforgettable to you? Where did it take place, and what makes it stand out among all others?

Ivy: New City Gas, Montreal. At the time I don’t think X and I had played a show that had over 400 people (which is still quite a big room), and then being thrown into a  direct support slot for a 3000 person sold out show was truly something else. It sounds crazy as a performer to say, but I get insane stage fright. We ended up playing an absolutely bonkers set but I seriously didn’t look up at the crowd once lol.

X: Our first show as “X & Ivy” was a house-party in Leeds, UK. There was such great energy in the room and got to test out our new sound to a willing crowd, it set off our return to dance music on a positive note before we came back to the States. 

Q: How has your music style evolved over the years?

Ivy: We just stopped caring what others think. Do whatever you want, go where you want, and as long as you’re staying true to what you’re feeling, the rest will follow as it was always supposed to.

X: When we started, we were more influenced by mainstream house and techno. As we dug deeper into the underground scene, our sound became more raw and experimental, with a heavy emphasis on UK garage and breaks. Our productions now have a more intricate, layered style. 

Q: If you were to venture into another music genre, which one would you choose and why?

Ivy: Rock. It feels like DJs are the modern day Rock stars since the dance scene popularity boom, and I know everybody at some point in their life has thought “wow being a rock star would be pretty sweet”.

X: Hip-hop. The creativity in the genre is boundless, and love how producers like J Dilla and Madlib layer samples and beats. Plus, the crossover between electronic music and hip-hop is something I’ve always found inspiring. 

Q: Could you name 3 tracks that got you into electronic music and why?

Ivy:

1) St Germain - Latin Note,

2) Session Victim - Stick Together,

3) Daft Punk - Technologic.

I have nothing else to say other than if you haven’t heard these songs then you need to listen to the full albums they’re associated with :)

X:

1) The Chemical Brothers - Star Guitar: The seamless blend of electronic beats with melodic progressions was a game-changer.

2) Justice - Genesis: The raw energy and punch of this track inspired us to bring more grit into our productions.

3) Todd Edwards - Saved My Life: The vocal chops and unique production on this track blew my mind when I first heard it. 

Q: Can you recommend a hidden gem in your home country that would be perfect for a rave?

Ging Ling Way, Los Angeles, CA. There have obviously been frequent raves popping in and out of this venue, but the causality of the venue makes it so special. It’s an open air event in the center plaza of China Town. The neighbouring local businesses absolutely love it as well, and truly share their experience of their own culture that makes you feel like you’re celebrating Chinese New Year. All in all, a very special venue that is supported by the people of the community to give you an amazing experience beyond the music. 

Q: Could you tell us about your upcoming releases and plans for the year?

Our next release is 'Keep Me,' featuring Todd Edwards, coming out on October 25, 2024. And an incredible EP coming out on a label we truly see as family, Skylax Records. Other than that we’re just gonna keep doing what we’ve been doing and set ourselves up to have a big 2025! 

Q: Can you share a fun fact about yourself that most of your listeners are probably unaware of?

Ivy: It took me 27 years to try Eggs Benedict hahahahahaha. And I’m OBSESSED!

X: We both have a chipped front tooth :)