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Photo: Carmen Triana

A stroll through an intergalactic soundscape, Berlin-based artist Xades’ latest single “Locked In” is a pleasure ride through the subconscious.

Garnished with a euphoric blend of flutes and spaced-out synths, “Locked In” is a track so wavy it can almost distract you from the depth of its subject matter. “A cycle that’s cruel bound,” this single is a story of self-imprisonment, being trapped in the fear of escaping the comfort of stagnancy. 

Xades has the ability to encapsulate this dread in the most poetic way, highlighting her abilities as a songwriter. Wanting to introduce the world to the heartbeat beneath her DJ persona MSJY, her true essence is reflective, raw, and hypnotic. While she’s set the world ablaze with her bass-heavy DJ sets, the layer of her we’re greeting now has a much softer strength.

Colored in by various cultures, from Brazilian to Argentinian to Swiss, you can taste just how seasoned Xades’ palate is. She builds something brand new with remnants of the many parts of her, which is what makes her sauce so uniquely layered.

Though your body would be defenseless against the infectious groove of “Locked In,” Xades invites those mesmerized by her vocals to sit down with their own fears and ask themselves which ones they’ve made a bed in.

Listen to "Locked In" below: