We caught up with the brilliant and insightful X&ND a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

X&ND, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

The most meaningful project that I’ve worked on is my upcoming album/social movement entitled “WHO’S DANCING?™”

The project’s inception started when I started to unlock funk music within myself. From an early age, I was exposed to that kind of music and it always kept me moving, but I had never thought to swing at it myself within my artistry. It wasn’t until I had prioritized my autonomy, personal liberation, pleasure, and the art of discovery that grooves and melodies started to flow more freely and I was able to pull from the history of funk music within me and around me. The music was freeing – it gave me permission to be myself unapologetically and invite others to do the same despite what society tries to force us to be.

As I was writing the first couple songs for this project, I’d find myself in bar/club situations with a clear, WIDE OPEN dance floor, and nobody was dancing! Whether it be the collective consciousness only producing sad music lately as a result of the current socio-political climate, or that post-pandemic nightlife is harping on drink sales to make up for lack of business – things are just not as funky lately. No movement. I was literally inside clubs/bars asking friends, “who’s dancing???”

Now that WHO’S DANCING?™ the album has been completed, the time has come to span it into the social movement I’ve envisioned. WHO’S DANCING?™ events take the dance floor back by doing everything the album does – prioritizing authenticity, groove, freedom, joy, and giving a middle finger to anything and anyone that tells us not to dance. No event will be the same – it’s the only place where you can hear 100% funk music, and the only place where you can hear WHO’S DANCING?™ the album.

The first movement takes place on July 26th at Hart Bar in Brooklyn.

To get a taste, listen to FREAK wherever you stream music and head to https://whos-dancing.com to RSVP for the event

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I go by X&ND (pronounced “zand” — I’m a funk-soul provocateur based in NYC, and I’m here to bring the groove back. My work lives at the intersection of music, movement, and liberation. I got into this not just because I love funk — though I do, deeply — but because I felt the need for more joy, more sweat, and more truth on the dancefloor. I come from a bit of a performance background, so I’ve trained for years to bring the best performance possible to every studio session and every show.

I write and perform high-voltage funk anthems that celebrate self-expression, sexual freedom, and being unapologetically different. My music is for the freaks, the dreamers, the night crawlers — and for anyone who’s ever felt like they needed permission to be their full, loud self. I also throw shows and event series under the WHO’S DANCING™ movement, designed to reclaim nightlife as a space for expression and authentic connection.

I’m proud of building a cult following in New York within just a few months of arriving — packing venues for release shows, building my audience daily on Spotify/Apple Music, and landing Triple J support all while remaining fully independent. I self-fund everything through XANDYLAND LLC, and every piece of this — from the visuals to the buttons to the music — is crafted with intention.

What sets me apart is the world-building. The music, the visuals, the shows — it’s all one giant permission slip to be bad, be bold, be weird, be free. I feel like people have lost that in music and nightlife lately. It’s all about sales and extrapolating every last bit of attention and finances from someone possible. My music and the world I’m building is intentionally crafted to take back the reigns of self from anything and anyone that has tried to exploit it for profit.

If you’re just now tuning in, I invite you to dance with me. This is only the beginning

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Absolutely. The mission behind it all is to liberate the dancefloor around the world— to create music and moments that give people permission to be their fullest, freakiest selves. I’m driven by the belief that joy is a radical act, and that funk — in all its sweaty, soulful glory — is a form of protest, healing, and celebration.

I want my shows to feel like rallies for the spirit. I want the music to move your body and remind you of who you are when no one’s watching. Everything I create — from the songs to the visuals to the events — is about reclaiming space: for queer joy, for Black expression, for unfiltered truth. That’s the heartbeat of the mission.

So yeah – I’m here to build a movement. And I want people to know: if you’ve ever felt too loud, too soft, too much, or not enough, this groove is for you.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

Show up! Go to shows, share the music, wear the merch, get the word out!

And venues: stop charging for pay-to-play. that’s so dumb. In what world does the *artist* pay the venue to have live music? A delusional one. Without us you’re limited to an aux cord, a dead crowd, and poorly crafted Spotify playlist (without premium!).

Contact Info:

• Website: https://xandy.land
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/xandforshort
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@xandforshort
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/xandforshort
• Other: https://whos-dancing.com

Image Credits

Live photos by Josh Chin
Editorial photos by Jason Denison