The Stranger’s Noise Complaint: XOË

Welcome to Noise Complaint, The Stranger‘s new audio and video music podcast featuring live performances right here at The Stranger HQ. Streamed live and released every other Friday, we invite a great band, musician, or wonderfully weird act to perform. Tune in, discover something new, and support art in your city.

Sweet Sensation of XOË

The output of XOË—Zoë Duarte (vocals), Max Irvine (keyboards, guitar), Saba Samakar (drums), Adrian Michael (bass, guitar, drums)—is small so far, but it instantly ensnares you in its charms. Capturing a big chunk of your attention is the slyly seductive grain of Duarte’s voice, which, incidentally, is summarized by the title of their fantastic song “Sweet Sensation.” XOË (pronounced “X-O-E”) really blossom on their most recent release, the stellar Blur of a Dream EP; the slow-motion whirlpool of “Feed Me” is as dankly alluring as early Tricky. The earlier track “Nighttime Blues” bears the erotic mesmerism as Scritti Politti’s “The ’Sweetest Girl.’” Boudoir-friendly R&B may be the band’s dominant mode, but Irvine’s capable of florid keyboard arabesques worthy of jazz legends George Duke and Chick Corea. XOË even have a savvy interpretation of Nick Drake’s dream-folk classic “Pink Moon” in their arsenal. It’s certain that they have even more wonderful surprises for us on the horizon. DAVE SEGAL

Read our interview with XOË in our November print issue here!

On Apple, you can subscribe to the video podcast here.

On YouTube here.

Get our email newsletter and episode alerts at thestranger.com/noisecomplaint. Thanks to Reanimated Music for the backline!

For Noise Complaint band submissions, email us at podcasts@noisycreek.com.

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