XOAN is an Athens-based alt-rock quartet that channels the raw intensity of the late ‘90s scene with an unmistakable modern twist. Formed in the heart of the Athenian music scene around 2017, the band emerged from humble beginnings and quickly honed a distinctive sound that fuses grit, melodic nuance, and a dash of punk energy. The band’s latest LP, Tensions, is set to arrive in the Spring of 2025.
With a hypnotic energy that radiates through everything they touch, “High Underwater” finds XOAN stretching the limits of their creativity. The band delves into the nuances of their influences and distills them down into unrecognizable chunks, only to use the leftovers as building blocks for something they can call their own. “High Underwater” seamlessly blends the band’s natural knack for crafting infectious melodies with their ambitious visions for their sonic soundscapes, resulting in a single that straddles the line between familiar and innovative. The dense, grunge-style guitars juxtapose with the subtle autotune in the chorus, while the verses highlight the band’s indie rock roots. With a new album on the horizon, XOAN hints at a sonic shift on “High Underwater.” Our latest preview of Tensions is a high-octane journey through the band’s maturity as they navigate their influences with an eye on the future and a mind full of lofty visions.
“This song came together during a stretch where everything felt kind of unreal and way too curated. We leaned into that dissonance and tried blending a heavy, slow-burning energy with modern touches like autotune to reflect how filtered everything feels,” explains the band when asked about their new single. “The result became an anthem for anyone who’s ever felt overshadowed by the world’s obsession with other people’s happiness while navigating their own chaos. It’s raw, unapologetic, and carries the notion of an underlying resilience. We hope that it is the kind of song that finds you when you need it the most.”
