XL.ME.NA - Before You
XI.Me.Na - vocals; John Kengla - bass; Joe Rogers - bass; Mason Ingram - drums; Mike Ramsey - percussion
XI.Me.Na ( Ximena Borges) is a Venezuelan/NewYork based singer and composer who has performed across America and Europe. She uses her multi-disciplinary background, personal life experience and incredible vocal abilities to create a truly original and eclectic sound. Her new EP release is 'Before You' and is one of the best vocal-led releases I have heard this year. Ximena uses her trained, mezzo soprano voice to create neoclassical, vocally-driven, ambient, electronica music. Of the EP she says, " A year ago today I became a mother. These songs talk about who I was before ("Before You"), who I have become ("There's Me"), and how being with my son has me constantly flying high ("High Moments"). ⠀'High Moments' opens with big, bold sounds from the band and gentle chorus before XI.ME.NA comes in with toned, honed vocals. Her mezzo-soprano voice is rich, trained and sumptuous in its sweetness and her high notes absolutely beautiful. She tells of her memories of times before her son and the now when her heart is full of joy and having her son means her life is full of high moments, the love and emotional changes shine through.
XI.Me.Na - vocals; John Kengla - bass; Joe Rogers - bass; Mason Ingram - drums; Mike Ramsey - percussion
XI.Me.Na ( Ximena Borges) is a Venezuelan/NewYork based singer and composer who has performed across America and Europe. She uses her multi-disciplinary background, personal life experience and incredible vocal abilities to create a truly original and eclectic sound. Her new EP release is 'Before You' and is one of the best vocal-led releases I have heard this year. Ximena uses her trained, mezzo soprano voice to create neoclassical, vocally-driven, ambient, electronica music. Of the EP she says, " A year ago today I became a mother. These songs talk about who I was before ("Before You"), who I have become ("There's Me"), and how being with my son has me constantly flying high ("High Moments"). ⠀'High Moments' opens with big, bold sounds from the band and gentle chorus before XI.ME.NA comes in with toned, honed vocals. Her mezzo-soprano voice is rich, trained and sumptuous in its sweetness and her high notes absolutely beautiful. She tells of her memories of times before her son and the now when her heart is full of joy and having her son means her life is full of high moments, the love and emotional changes shine through.
'Before You' begins with vocals with 'ahahah' repeated and looped before Ximena adds the vocal theme which defines the number. Emotive, the lyrics sad and reflective one moment and hopeful the next, it echoes the emotive highs, lows and changes that come with becoming a mother. All this is echoed in the voice, which soars one moment and dips into swirling patterns the next and the vocal interpretation of the lyrics is wonderful.
Behind this EP is the life-changing event which occurred in Xi.Me.Na.'s live just over a year ago when she became a mother. You can hear the pathos in her voice, the love and the changes in emotion. This is particularly apparent in 'There's Me', the third track on the EP where the singer reflects on the person she was before the birth of her son, over an almost subliminal ' I'm Not alone' heardin the backing vocals. There is deep joy and emotion in this number as she sings about all the changes she was not prepared for but her acceptance and overwhelming love as her child shows her what it means to truly love.
'Lions' is a change in direction and an absolute stonker of a track. It is beautiful, the vocals emotive, powerful, packed with a punch that the listener is not prepared for by what has gone before. Definitely the highlight of the album for its powerful delivery and strength or arrangement. the vocals are outstanding but so is the support.
This EP is filled with varied vocal and delivery styles and the sounds feel well-crafted and reveals her background which is multidisciplinary. Her vocal range is extensive and she combines her own musicality and clear operatic ability, with the technological availability of digital and analogue sound reproduction. It is virtually impossible to put on paper, the effect of this singer on the listener. She somehow links that void between jazz, pop and classical, which gives her wide ranging appeal.
Reviewed by Sammy Stein
Behind this EP is the life-changing event which occurred in Xi.Me.Na.'s live just over a year ago when she became a mother. You can hear the pathos in her voice, the love and the changes in emotion. This is particularly apparent in 'There's Me', the third track on the EP where the singer reflects on the person she was before the birth of her son, over an almost subliminal ' I'm Not alone' heardin the backing vocals. There is deep joy and emotion in this number as she sings about all the changes she was not prepared for but her acceptance and overwhelming love as her child shows her what it means to truly love.
'Lions' is a change in direction and an absolute stonker of a track. It is beautiful, the vocals emotive, powerful, packed with a punch that the listener is not prepared for by what has gone before. Definitely the highlight of the album for its powerful delivery and strength or arrangement. the vocals are outstanding but so is the support.
This EP is filled with varied vocal and delivery styles and the sounds feel well-crafted and reveals her background which is multidisciplinary. Her vocal range is extensive and she combines her own musicality and clear operatic ability, with the technological availability of digital and analogue sound reproduction. It is virtually impossible to put on paper, the effect of this singer on the listener. She somehow links that void between jazz, pop and classical, which gives her wide ranging appeal.
Reviewed by Sammy Stein
