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By David Farrell
Yes, the FYI gang is off for the Canada Day weekend and won't be back in your inbox until Wednesday, barring major breaking news when we can be counted to ditch our whatevers and tap out a bulletin to keep you in the loop.
So from us to you, enjoy; drive safe, act wisely and have a blast.
DF
Xav
The new song from the rising pop and R&B singer — and the son of the former Canadian Prime Minister — debuts at No. 36 on the Contemporary Hit Radio/Top 40 Airplay chart.
Rising pop and R&B singer XAV is scoring his first-ever entry on the Billboard Canada Airplay charts.
The new track from the artist born Xavier Trudeau — yes, he’s the son of former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau — “Downtown,” arrives at No. 36 on the CHR/Top 40 Airplay chart, dated Aug. 15.
The chart news hot on the heels of the announcement of his global distribution deal with Toronto record label 907 Records and ADA Canada — the distribution and artist services division of Warner Music Canada. The partnership will reportedly “leverage ADA Canada’s extensive global infrastructure and artist services team to support XAV's ambitious international rollout and rapidly growing artist brand.”
Drawing inspiration from the likes of The Weeknd, Drake and Don Toliver, “Downtown” is "a hook-driven blend of melodic R&B, pop and hip-hop" that pairs ambient production with youthful songwriting, highlighting the vibrant feeling of a new relationship and comparing it to the feeling of “buzzing on tequila no chase,” as he sings.
“Instead of being buzzed from tequila, you’re buzzing from the way they make your heart feel,” he says. “I wanted to capture that mix of excitement, nerves, and being completely consumed by one person. I hope listeners hear it and think of someone who’s made them feel that way.
On Instagram, XAV shared a clip of his mother, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, reacting to the song for the first time. "I love the hook, catchy beat. I want to play this in my car," she said.
It’s been a whirlwind year for XAV. Last February, he released his debut single, “Til The Nights Done,” a moody R&B cut that featured background vocals from his sister, Ella-Grace Trudeau. It wasn’t until his third single, “Back Me Up,” that his music received some significant traction.
The song’s release was accompanied by a viral clip of XAV watching the video with his dad, in which the elder Trudeau playfully critiqued his son's dance moves.
Earlier this year, XAV performed his first-ever live show at the Ottawa BlackJacks and Calgary Surge home opener game of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. He performed a selection of songs from his debut EP, When Does It End?, released last summer.
XAV’s global distribution deal with 907 Records adds to ADA Canada and WMC’s expansive global distribution portfolio, much of which has brought Canadian talent and initiatives onto its roster. Most recently, they inked a deal with Toronto R&B label Escape Records, cementing the extension of the R&B-pop music discovery platform EscapeTracks.
