Today we’d like to introduce you to XK.
Hi XK, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
The both of us, Kaleab Elias and Alex Menick, met back at J.E.B Stuart High-School in Northern Virginia. (Currently named Justice High-School.) We were introduced by a mutual friend also coincidentally named Alex. Kaleab had been rapping for a couple of years by that point but had never worked alongside another musician before, and Alex had been playing guitar for some time as well in other bands.
The both of us—on the day we first met—decided to skip the rest of school to go over to Alex’s place and jam. We don’t remember what we did, but it was enough to kindle an interest in exploring where this could go. After Kaleab left, Alex’s dad—who was eavesdropping in on the whole session—came into Alex’s room and asked “Who was that boy?” Alex explained to him how we had just met that day, afterwards his dad responds “Work with him.”
From there, work we did. We’ve played in different variations and names of the same group, but presently we are known as XK Scenario. A band that mixes Hip-Hop, Prog, Jazz, Punk, Funk, and whatever we choose to use as a vessel for our expression.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Hell no lol. We’ve had to figure out how to live in one of the highest cost areas in the country while not making zilch from the band and working day jobs that suck up a lot of energy that could’ve been used on creating more art, or doing all the boring un-sexy work that’s required to make a band successful. Plus data-centered NOVA isn’t the first place you would think that a band like us would sprout from.
But one thing that’s helped us a lot is to remember to be grateful for the fact that we can complain about something like this. That yea sure, we should and are striving for better, but at the same time we got roofs over our heads, food in our bellies, people that love us and we love in return, and this art that allows us to affirm our existence. What a blessing.
We’ve also suffered a lot of loss in our personal lives, people that held us up that aren’t with us anymore. But, at least what we think about is that even though they’re not here, they’re still here. The memory of them, and how it affects how we live, is how they still keep us going.
The other thing too is that since we make music that doesn’t neatly fit into a lane, it’s been hard trying to pin down who our audience is. Other people have struggled with figuring out how to recommend us to their friends and we’ve struggled with knowing how to present ourselves.
But recently, we’ve been making peace with the fact that the inability to pin us down, is exactly what defines us. And ay, with all this A.I bs running around making ready-made slop to fit the exact needs and desires of it’s victims, we think it’ll be healthy to give the world something it never knew it needed.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We make music that has a lot of stuff going on—sonically and lyrically—and also has a lotta of “edge” to it. Our favorite way someone has described us was “Rage Against the Machine on bath salts and with PhDs.”
Our live performances are explosive. We constantly leave people shocked—for better or worse— after they see us play. Seeing a band play at full send in 15/8 odd time signature with a drummer playing like his life depends on his performance, a vocalist rapping/singing/screaming on top of those rhythms, a 12 string guitarist riffing and soloing alongside, and a bassist holding everything together is something that is hard to describe and needs to be seen/heard to really understand what we’re pulling off.
We also have a heavy literary component to our music. There are dense layers of poetic and historical allusions/metaphors/wordplay in the lyrics that if you aren’t well read, will fly past your head.
And we do all of this while still focusing on having fun. This music is incredibly difficult to play/write and it constantly pushes our physical and mental limits, but god it’s sooo fun.
We think what sets us apart from other people is the respect we have for the audience. We want to give people the best show, and the best music possible. We would never want to give our listeners something we would ignore—and we got high standards. And again, with how serious we take our art, we’re still enjoying ourselves. Because what’s the point of doing anything if it doesn’t eventually make you happy?
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Kaleab likes to take photos on his point and shoot camera in his free time. Alex likes to go to dog races around the DMV.
Pricing:
- Albums $10
- E.Ps $5
- Shirts $25
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.xkscenario.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xk_scenario
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XKScenario
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@xkscenario
- Soundcloud: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1OWiBvmwwqBmy0X3qRY8eS
- Other: https://xkscenario.bandcamp.com/album/tone-paints-2
