From traveling the world and sofa surfing across the US, London based singer-songwriter Xavier Collins has released his eagerly awaited EP Coastlines following a series of excellent singles. Released via Aperion Sound’s record label Two Key Records, Coastlines boasts a subtle yet powerful sound of acoustic guitars, steady drum beats, upright pianos and low frequencies from the warming sound of a double bass.
His story is one that stands out to most rising pop-folk musicians. From growing up in France, Australia and New Zealand, Xavier Collins went on to spend his early adult life running a business and working his way up as a successful entrepreneur. Collins found his love for songwriting and performing towards his early 30’s, writing about heartbreak and fractured relationships. He writes, “This EP I started writing when I turned 30 and realized my biggest regret was not pursuing music. I wrote this music whilst traveling the world – living in Mexico, Europe and the US following the end of a relationship that meant a lot to me”.
It’s clear to see Collin’s inspirations behind Coastlines, on the EP’s title track you can hear this folk singer-songwriter style often heard with artists such as Bob Dylan, The Lumineers, Nick Mulvey and Bon Iver. ‘Elegy ‘ shares this raw authentic style with a simple, gentle sound of female backing vocals and harmonies – demonstrating a perfect listening for a sunset drive. The EP finishes with the heart-warming sounds of ‘Lost In Time,’ a short 1:48 track that features eerie and mind drifting sounds of rolling strings, reverbs and subtle backing harmonies. Without doubt, this record is a spell of genius.
With Xavier Collin’s unique journey towards making this EP, he demonstrates overcoming his fears and breaking into new horizons. He writes, “It was my biggest fear to actually commit to creating music having spent my life as an entrepreneur building businesses like Deliveroo and now Turo. It’s an EP that was within me for years but took a crazy break up, a mid-life crisis and a hit of DMT of Mexico to actually create. The songs chart falling in love, a tumultuous and fractured relationship and the end. The EP closes with elegy – ‘I wrote this song like your elegy, to honour the disease you grew inside of me’ and an instrumental entitled “lost in time” — in reality it marks the closing of a chapter and the beginning of a new one.”
Coastlines is out now via Two Key Records.
