XOHA is a profound young woman of inner and outer strength, academic excellence, societal awareness, and blood that’s laced with the sweet melodies of rich musicology.
Ever since she was 5, music and performance, as a whole, have been part of her being. Recognizing this, she was able to get a spot at one of the oldest independent schools in Los Angeles, which enabled her to flourish in the arts and academics in balance.
Over the years, she was frequently selected to play the lead in musicals, sang at school events, performed at talent shows, and many outside opportunities. This balanced approach to arts and academics as part of her schooling engrained a daily discipline.
Aside from having the vocal capabilities and great mentors, from a young age, she learned that the confluence of instruction, research, practice, daily time commitment to her craft, health, diet, etc. would allow her to be the best version of herself as an artist.
Along with her passion for music came the natural talent of writing and poetry, which opened the door to songwriting very early on, enabling her to release her thoughts to the world through intentional sounds.
She recalls being influenced by a wide variety of music from choir & theatrical music, to jamming out to Guns n Roses and Dire Straits on full blast down the freeway with her dad.
Whether analyzing the lyrics of Lauryn Hill’s greatest hits, or dancing to the sweet tones of Whitney Houston in her bedroom, XOHA has always been a sucker for 80’s inspired music. These influences appear in her creations, as her catchy, retro-contemporary pop tunes are interlaced with vibrations of the past with inspirations from the last several decades.
Tell us about your story as XOHA the artist
My name is XOHA, and I’m a teen retro-contemporary pop artist. Along with being a singer-songwriter, I often accompany myself with the guitar and piano. Although so much has happened, my story has just begun.
What do you think is the most important aspect of your life right now?
Being a full-time student while making music, balance has definitely been hard to achieve. However, using proper time management, I am able to put my full energy and effort into my singing and songwriting.
What makes your new single “TOO LATE” special in your opinion?
“TOO LATE” is special in the fact that it’s a universal dance tune. It’s fun, upbeat, and filled with electric energy. Whether you’re blasting it down the highway or getting ready for a party.
What inspired you to write this track?
My inspiration for “TOO LATE” came about after lots of self-reflection during quarantine. The more I thought about my morals in comparison to the people I surrounded myself with, I realized they didn’t align in a way that was beneficial to my wellbeing. Many of my relationships were laced with toxicity, and it simply wasn’t worth feeling bad. So, after an extensive reflection process, the song unraveled and developed into what it is today!
What are some of the core messages and themes you write about?
Although it varies from song to song, I typically write about either a social justice issue that I’m passionate about or simply a personal experience that sparked a fire in me. Additionally, these themes are not necessarily serious, as it’s good to have balance. Regardless, I tend to let my emotions organically guide my writing process.
How do you think TikTok and social media are contributing to changing an artist’s career?
As our society advances, technology and social media are becoming the most prominent sources of promotion for artists. Although there are many pros to this new concept of branding, it also shortens the attention span of consumers, as they are viewing hundreds of artist pages daily. Plus, artists are tasked with extensive planning and deciphering of each algorithm to find a pattern that works for them.
What excites you about your life?
Waking up every day with a new melody bubbling in my mind is truly such a blessing that motivates me to continue writing and dreaming. There truly is nothing better than spending the night.
What are some of your core values as a human being?
I hold myself to key morals such as respect, kindness, and persistence, which is so necessary in many regions of life.
What are your projects for this year?
I have a lot of exciting projects coming soon that feature everything from fun, retro pop tunes, to smooth, jazzy melodies. I hope you guys are excited for what’s to come!! Stay tuned and follow my socials @XOHAmusic to keep up with my day-to-day life.
