Xaatu – “Ancients”

By The Butcher on June 12, 2020

Xaatu is the experimental project of 24-year-old producer Sandy Quigley from Whittonstall in the North-East, UK. He has received praise from BBC Introducing and is already building a loyal following on the live circuit. His variation of electronica is bass-heavy, with influences from R&B through to future. Xaatu picked up a guitar aged around 6 and has taught himself to play both guitar as well as piano. He has been producing since aged 16: ‘I use Reason to make music, and 90% of the time I just sit down with my laptop. I have access to a full studio and loads of instruments but when I first start an idea I like to keep it simple and just use my laptop so that I can get a rough outline for the track quickly so I don’t lose the idea.’

Last April, Xaatu released the single “Save Me”, which is an instrumental hybrid of electronic dance, trap and wave. The single showcases his deep musical knowledge that goes far beyond simple beat making. Xaatu wrote “Save Me” while he was stuck in Berlin airport for 10 hours after his flight was cancelled, around the time when the coronavirus pandemic was just starting to worsen. Luckily he had his headphones and phone in hand and started making a beat that would become “Save Me” when he returned home and got to his studio. On his influences, Xaatu says, “Growing up I listened to all sorts; from Emo and Pop Punk to Dubstep and Classical – and everything in-between. Now my main influences are predominantly electronic producers. Sam Gellaitry, SOPHIE, Flume and Pearl White all influence my sound, and I listen to a combination of them alongside artists like Yung Lean and Bladee; whose art inspires other aspects of my music.” Most recently on May 15th, is Xaatu’s work on Geordie-Caribbean rapper Sågaboi’s debut single ‘Fountain’. His new release is “Ancients” which drops this Friday, June 12th.