Q: Hey, can you tell us a bit about where you come from, and what made you want to start a career in music?
A: I was born and raised in Nashville, Tennessee. It didn’t take long for music to hook me. I was in piano lessons at age 6 and voice lessons soon after. At 12 I started writing songs with friends, and from 17-19, I was in a local indie rock band. Songwriting is how I process my lived experiences. The songs come whether or not I release them, so I finally decided to put them out in the world.
Q: Did you have any formal training, or are you self-taught?
A: I studied classical piano for 10 years and classical and jazz voice for 7 years, and I’m a self-taught guitarist.
Q: Who were your first and strongest musical influences, and why the name ‘Xan Palma’?
A: My earliest musical influences as a singer are Sam Cooke, Louis Prima, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, and Mariah Carey. As a songwriter, John Prine, Dolly Parton, Townes Van Zandt, and Shania Twain.
Xan is my nickname, and Palma was my grandmother’s maiden name. She encouraged my musical career and loved music, especially if she could dance to it.
Q: You have just released your new single, ‘Kiss Me Through the Phone’. Is there a story behind it?
A: I wrote ‘Kiss Me Through the Phone’ when my boyfriend (now fiancé) was on a 6-month deployment. It’s about yearning for your other half. Phone calls are nice, but you want to be physical too. It’s a fun, upbeat track about hope, desire, and faith in true love.
Q: Can we expect a new EP or even an album from you in the near future?
A: More singles are on the horizon in 2024. We’ll see what 2025 brings… 🙂
Q: What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
A: I try to keep my lyrics direct and relatable, which I hope evokes listeners’ memories of similar experiences. My music tends to have vocal harmonies, an upbeat tempo, guitar, and soaring vocals that evolve with the story.
Q: Do you feel that your music is giving you back just as much fulfillment as the amount of work you are putting into it, or are you expecting something more?
A: Making music for the sake of making music is one of the most rewarding parts of the process. Completing a song feels even better. Once a track is recorded, I feel fulfilled and full of gratitude for the process, the people with whom I work, and the experiences that inspired the song. I’m excited to see where ‘Kiss Me Through the Phone’ goes, as it’s my debut single.
Q: Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song?
A: Usually a melody and line will pop into my head at once. It typically happens when I’m driving or in the shower. I record a voice memo and hum melody variations that go with the original idea. Then I’ll figure out the key and add music. Sometimes I finish the song quickly, but some partially finished songs have been waiting in my notebook for years.
Q: What has been the most difficult thing you’ve had to endure in your life or music career so far?
A: My own self-doubt has to be the most difficult thing I’ve endured in my music career thus far. Working with people I trust and admire as musicians, and seeing their positive reactions to my ideas, helps assuage that doubt.
Q: On the contrary, what would you consider a successful, proud or significant point in your life or music career so far?
A: I’m proud to be here right now, about to release my first single, filing out this interview. I am so excited for everyone to hear ‘Kiss Me Through the Phone’ and look forward to the building blocks to come in my music career!
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