Breakout artist XO releases ‘Through the Night’ EP

by: Lizzie Renck Dec 6, 2014

Say hello to Sunil Heera, a 19-year-old, Staffordshire-based DJ and producer. Some more accurately recognize Heera by his stage name, XO: a moniker that he arrived at because “aesthetically XO just looked really cool,” he told The Telegraph.

Having landed on Annie Mac and Mistajam’s watch list, performed at Radio 1’s Big Weekend Glasgow and curated a two hour show for R1 Dance, the adolescent has captivated quite a bit of attention in 2014. Heera, whose Through The Night EP was released December 1 on He Loves You Not Recordings, self-defines his music as “refined electronica with relatable songwriting.”

“Through The Night,” the title track and older sibling of the two, layers suave piano with RobLaw’s charming vocals and a refined framework composed of house, trip hop and R&B with impossibly cool grooves and pops.

Conversely, “Pulling Me Under” flaunts XO’s more profound side, showcasing his multifaceted abilities as a growing producer . Leo Kalyan’s ethereal singing complements its melodic essence and deeper undertones compared to the EP’s title track . “Pulling Me Under’s” piano-laden backbone, perhaps most recently recognized as The Magician‘s opening track in his 47th ‘Magic Tape’ series, breathes a refreshing new life into house music and the directions it may delve into next.