Meet Xiya D | Songwriter, Singer, Rapper

We had the good fortune of connecting with Xiya D and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Xiya, what’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?
Celebrate the small wins! Throughout my life, I have tried to work hard and push myself to the limit. After completing projects or winning awards, I would immediately move on to the next thing. I did not take any time to pause or process the hard work and effort I put into getting things done. It wasn’t until after I started making music that I allowed myself to take things slow and practice gratitude. I put every “win” that I get – whether it’s securing an interview like this one, having a radio station play my music, or getting positive feedback on my songs – in a Wins folder. I visit this folder when I am feeling discouraged, or I am nervous about what my next steps are. I need a reminder of the progress and impact that my art is making. It’s also an easy way to get excited about life in general.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I am a multi-genre artist, and that is what makes my music distinctive. When you hear one of my songs, you know what emotions I am trying to convey within the first few seconds of the track. Last year I released my debut music EP, “Thankful Carols,” a thanksgiving holiday project. On it, I have pop, RnB, country-rap, melancholy, hip hop, Spanglish, and pop-punk songs that the entire family can enjoy. Each track talks about the Thanksgiving holiday from a different perspective.

I am excited about my new music single, “A Count A Bull, ” which I will release this summer. The song is a feminist anthem that discusses the challenges of living in a male-driven society. It has been fun to perform because I am rapping and singing on the Hip-Hop and RnB track.

My career is the byproduct of fear turned into action. My entire life, I have written songs on scrap pieces of paper and hid them away. During the pandemic, as an overwhelmed graduate student, I knew I needed a creative outlet – I knew it was time to share my art. With the help of my support system, I began to share song snippets on social media. Then, after a few months, I formally released “Thankful Carols”. I want to be honest and say that I am nervous and scared about each new step that I take with my music career. However, I am so much happier as a music artist than I was as a secret songwriter. One of the things I keep reminding myself is to “Do it Scared.” When I make mistakes, those are lessons learned. When I want to procrastinate on a project because I am unsure how it will turn out – I do it anyway.

As I share my musical journey, I want people to know that I am always learning. I am always trying to learn about the music industry, ways to fine-tune my creative process, and how I can be a more effective spokesperson for my music. So the two things that have been most important to me are my love for learning and my phenomenal support system. Without either of these things, I would not be making music.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.

My love for Houston runs deep! Okay, so if I were entertaining a friend from out of town – I am telling them to come hungry and well-rested! Monday, we go to the Galleria Mall to do some shopping. Later that night, we will eat dinner at the Houston aquarium. All of my friends are goofy, so we would probably spend dinner narrating the fishes movements throughout the meal. Tuesday, we are going to get a quick breakfast at First Watch. Next, we are getting dressed super cute to go to Selfie World – Houston to take pictures because what is a trip without tons of fun photos? Then since it’s nearby, we would watch a movie and eat dinner somewhere nearby – probably at Whataburger if they’re not from Texas. Tuesday was jam-packed, so Wednesday, we are going to pack some food and have a picnic at Hermann Park.

Thursday would be museum day – and we are museum hopping for as long as possible. After we have worked up an appetite, we eat dinner at one of my favorite restaurants – Aga’s, for delicious Indian – Pakistani food. After dinner, we will go to Mo’ Better Brews for the open mic night hosted by the Writer’s Block creative team. Friday, we are looking at Eventbrite to see if there are any silent parties. Saturday, we are heading to grand luxe for brunch and are heading to a day party hosted by my favorite promoters – Team Rock Wit It. That would be the action-packed Houston weekend that my best friend and I would enjoy.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would not be making music at all if it were not for my mother Benita, sister Maria, best friend Summer, and music mentor Dara JT. All of these people have been so supportive and have believed in me when I did not have the courage to believe in myself.

I am also a huge fan of Issa Rae and her book “The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl.” Issa shared her process about how she wanted to do her creative projects, and she did so without a budget – just the help of her friends. She is the prime example of authentic art that comes from independent creatives.

Website: https://xiyacontent.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xiya.content/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Xiya.Content/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqfFPALGkhbZPDg28B3D97g