Xtrah will release his second album – entitled XI – in spring 2023. Following his remarkable and highly explorative and experimental debut album X in 2021, the Cyberfunk bossman promises yet another extraordinary experience.
“After my first album being very much a solo project apart from having some great vocalists like DRS and Sense MC, I decided to push in more of a collaborative direction with this project,” explains the London artist.
“XI is very much a continuation from where I left off with X in terms of reoccurring themes and in a sense that’s exactly what I want to do with my own work on the label. I want everything to connect in some way which it has for me since my debut EP New perspective.”
Revealing plans for XI on the XI day of the XI month, the album hype fittingly starts today with No More, a collaboration with his longstanding friend Freddie Moylett AKA Simple Technique.
“Working with Freddie over the years has been a real journey,” says Xtrah. “We’ve been many places together and spent years in each other’s company from driving up and down the UK to 2-3 gigs in one night to touring in Puerto Rico and seeing our names on billboards! It’s been incredible and he’s played a huge part in the label since our first release; the Existence EP.”
Madly though, No More is the first time the pair have successfully completed a collaboration. “We’ve been friends for over 10 years,” explains Xtrah, real name Yasin. “We’ve shared studios, had endless nights making ideas and sounds but nothing ever fully clicked between us until this record. I’d also like to take a moment to mention our amazing vocalist Zoë Rose she absolutely nailed the vocals and it took hardly any time at all. This is her first release but I have a feeling that there is going to be more from her in the future and I’m excited to keep working with her too.”
No More marks the start of an exciting new chapter for Cyberfunk. Not just in the build up to the release of XI, but across the board. Following No More comes The Prowler from Simple Technique on November 23, then in December we can expect more big league collabos from Xtrah, including link-ups with the likes of Submotive and SPMC, plus music from new signing, emerging London duo &?.
“It’s been a hell of a journey so far and I am super proud of some of the things we’ve been able to achieve over the years,” says Xtrah. “It’s amazing to look back at some of these things we’ve achieved and to know that we are yet again pushing forward and releasing music from some of the realest players in our scene and I’m very excited to start presenting the album to the public. We’ve had some incredible artists involved with Cyberfunk so far and when it comes to adding to that roster and releasing music I don’t plan to stop raising the bar any time soon.”
In the meantime, all eyes are on No More. Already given the thumbs-up on air by Thys on Vision Radio, start counting down the days until Xtrah reveals more from XI. “This project is some of my favourite work to date,” he tells 1 More Thing. “I look forward to sharing more music with you and the world very soon but for now I hope you enjoy this release.”
Xtrah & Simple Technique – No More (Feat Zoe Rose) is out now
