Meet Xydo: the Underground Artist with GROOVL1N

Many of us are familiar with VIXX member Ravi’s label GROOVL1N, but for the standard K-Pop fan, the artists under his label are not as widely known. One of these artists, Xydo, just recently released an album and has been active in the underground K-R&B scene, with his SoundCloud being active since 2018. If you’re a fan of Ravi’s music, you’ll have heard him featured on the latest album. Since joining GROOVL1N he’s released quite a bit of music, with seven singles and now two EPs under his belt, including a number of collaborations, most notably Ravi, BUMKEY, and pH-1. 

The latest track “Paradigm” is a light acoustic song with a simple melody designed to place heavy emphasis on Xydo’s vocals. If it’s your first time listening to him, you’ll certainly be enchanted by his unique vocal timbre, which is an enchanting tenor. He also often flawlessly moves between his normal and falsetto tones. About a minute and a half into the track, a soft R&B beat flows into the acoustic melody to give it a bit more of a groove, adding to the sweet tone of the song overall. “Paradigm” is a very pleasant and calming track, the perfect kind for a chill summer day.

The accompanying video is about as subdued as expected, with earthy tones and soft lighting taking the main stage. Nature is the main focus of this concept, with the opening shot showing Xydo dressed in white in a dark room next to an almost bare, jagged tree branch. As he walks through the dark abyss, more foliage is shown until everything goes black and flashes back to him in a full, lush forest. The sepia filter keeps the colors subdued, and lends to the softer feeling of the song by not having so many flashy colors. The simplicity of the video lends to the chill vibe of the track itself, and places all the emphasis on Xydo’s vocals. 

If you’re a fan of underground R&B, definitely be sure to check out Xydo’s latest EP!