Even as a child, Xondra was compelled to convey strong messages through songs. She would sit next to the radio, listen out for lines that resonated with her, and then set them to new music. When she became a teenager, Xondra was able to swap out these pre-existing lyrics for those of her own. These days, she is writing genre-bending music that explores themes related to feminism, which we will soon be able to hear on her upcoming EP Tedious & Brief. The project is all about finding your voice in this world, especially as a woman, which could mean processing past traumas and complications. On her new single “Inner Child,” Xondra explores the pain she experienced as a child in order to move forward.
The track starts off with minimal production, drawing attention to Xondra’s contemplative vocals. She gives us lines like “I was hiding under tables, you were hiding in your Gameboy” and “I miss my friends, I hate myself, can never really ask for help,” realizing that her past has influenced her present. She lets it all out in the defiant alt-rock choruses, singing, “Can’t fix a rotting family tree when the roots are all dug up.” You can check it out below.
Giving us more details about the single, Xondra shares,
“‘Inner Child’ is about how someone can have the same experience as you and come out with a completely different perspective. In this case in particular, it’s about siblings who cope differently after growing up in a toxic home environment. I have always been very reluctant to write about this kind of thing because it is so personal. ‘Inner Child’ is me validating what I went through, even if it’s too difficult for the other people involved to do the same. We all heal at our pace and in our own way. This is me giving myself permission to be honest about my experience and how it impacted me. I am still moving through it and granting myself grace as I continue to heal because healing is never linear.”
Xondra’s upcoming EP Tedious & Brief is set to be released in November. It contains “Inner Child,” previous release “Dead Girl,” and other powerful tracks that are “for all the people learning to speak up even if their voice trembles.”
You can listen to “Inner Child” on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music.
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