Xaliman
Xavier, Francois
X-Drone
X-Engine-X
Xero Xero
X-Press
X-Quisite
XR 7
Xylon
XYZ
XALIMAN
Multi-instrumentalist Don Xaliman from British Columbia was the driving force behind 1980s electronic experimental group Melodic Energy Commission. “Beehive Jive” appeared on the ‘Taster’ compilation album in 1997 but would be re-worked by the reformed Melodic Energy Commission for their reunion album ‘This Is a Slippery Concept’ in 2005. [also see MELODIC ENERGY COMMISSION]
Albums
1985 Congenial Twist of a Mechanical Moonbeam (Energy Discs)
Compilation Tracks
1997 “Beehive Jive” on ‘Taster’
XAVIER, François
From Québec. Xavier released at least one single in June 1970 on Volt Records.
Singles
1970 Laisse-Moi t’aimer/C’était toi (Volt/Trans-Canada) VT-2504
X-DRONE
Adham Shaikh / Dan Handrabur
X-Drone were a British Columbia techno/trance duo who worked professionally under the names Atom 369 (Shaikh) and Dreamdoktor H (Handrabur). They initially submitted three songs for release on the KSM Records compilation ‘Raincreature’ before releasing their own 5 song 12″ EP in 1993. Later that year they were featured on German label Dossier’s ‘Coordinate 01’ compilation with the track “Sub-Lunar”. Shaikh has scored original soundtracks for numerous film and TV projects including ‘Sacred Planet’, ‘Velcrow Ripper’s Fierce Light’, ‘Rainbow Jaguars’ Earth Pilgrim’, ‘Word Love’, ‘Getting Married’, and ‘Secrets: A Parent’s Guide to the Teen Sexual Revolution’ for which he received a Leo Award nomination for ‘Best Musical Score in a Documentary Program’. His music has also been licensed for media production including ‘Suzuki Speaks’ and the television series ‘The Edge of the World: BC’s Early Years’; as a producer and composer, he has released ten albums including the 2004 release, ‘Fusion’, which was nominated for a JUNO Award. After working on several projects under various aliases (Weed, Mere Mortals) and remixes for labels like Outersanctum and Nettwerk Records, Handrabur returned to his native Romania for a visit and decide to settle in a mountain village. He continues to produce albums and tours in Europe.
Albums
1993 X Drone (X-Drone) L-41102
Compilation Tracks
1992 “1/0 Phlow” and “Phazik” on ‘Raincreature’ (KSM)
1993 “Sub-Lunar” on ‘Coordinate 01’ (Dossier – GERMANY) DCD-9044
X-ENGINE-X
Skelley (vocals, guitar) / Myke Kurnell (guitar) / Matt the Monster (bass, vocals) / Jerry Giesbrecht (drums)
Formed in 1998 from Winnipeg, Manitoba, the band has released three albums and done several mid- Western tours of Canada, sharing the stage with Godsmack, Noise Therapy, Jarr/Flybanger, Nickelback, Filter, and the Headstones.
Albums
2001 Distortia [EP]
2003 Inner Demons [EP]
2008 After the End
XERO XERO
New wave driven rock.
Singles
1982 There Is a Wish/Let Me Come In [bonus 7” with ‘Xcess Xpress’ LP]
Albums
1982 Xcess Xpress
X-PRESS
Disco act from Montréal, Québec.
Singles
1983 Side by Side/Cliché [12″] (Celsius) 12CLS-7009
X-QUISITE
Nicole Holness (vocals) / Nirvana Savoury (vocals) / Terri Oliver (vocals)
X-Quisite was a Destiny’s Child-like vocal act formed in 2002 with Nicole Holness as its star attraction. Signed to Linus Entertainment, the first single from their self-titled debut album was “No Regrets” and took over radio airwaves immediately after release in 2002. The second single, “Bad Girl”, climbed to the Top 30 on charts across Canada at CHR Radio. The song’s video was directed by Kevin Defreites (a multiple Much Music Award winner) in September 2003. The third single, “Sassy Thang”, became a top 10 single, hitting No.1 on many radio station countdowns while being nominated for a 2004 Juno Award for ‘R & B/Soul Recording of the Year’. Songs from the debut also found airplay on TV shows such as ‘Soul Food’, ‘Degrassi Junior High’ and ‘MTV Live’. In 2005 Holness was recruited by MTV Canada where she continues to co-host the hit show MTV-Live with Daryn Jones. X-Quisite trio was effectively shut down. In the summer of 2007, Holness began performing and recording solo as Nicole Holness aka X-Quisite. Her dance club release, “Watch Me”, hit the Top-20 on the National Club Chart and in January 2008 her club track “Hott Like a Mutha” also hit the Top-30 on the National Club Chart. Both songs were co-written by Holness. Here debut release, ‘Unreleased’, in March 2011 featured contributions from Hip Hop legend KRS-One, multi-platinum Grammy Award winning mix engineer Ken Lewis (Kanye West, Jay-Z, Mariah Carey), Latino rapper Frankie Biggz (Madonna, 50 Cent, Eminem) and production by fellow Canadian Trey Mills. She had chart success with several singles from the album including “Epic”, “The World Is Crumbling” and “Pop Yo Bottles”. As a solo artist Nirvana Savoury went on to work with Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins, singing the song hook for “J-A-D-A” on the soundtrack for the movie ‘Honey’ alongside rappers Jadakiss and Sheek. She also grace the soundtrack to the motion picture ‘Soulplane’. Her first commercial single was 2009’s “Chicken ‘n’ Waffles”. She also launched a complete kids line lifestyle brand based on her alter ego Kitty Ming; in 2011 she released a dance mixtape under the name Menage-A-Trois with Jester and Kid Kut through PPEG. It featured the dance tracks “Flavors”, “Lipstick Lover” and “Ambulance”. She is also an actress and is an outspoken advocate for the LGBTQ community. Terri Oliver pursued her roots in jazz and blues with the 2008 CD ‘Exponentially’ through All Of Her Soul Music. She was also featured in the movie ‘Anchor Baby’.
Singles
as X-QUISITE
2002 No Regrets (Linus/Maple Music/Universal)
2003 Bad Girl (Linus/Maple Music/Universal)
2003 Sassy Thang (Linus/Maple Music/Universal)
as NICOLE HOLNESS aka X-QUISITE
2007 Watch Me (OP3 Music)
2008 Hott Like A Mutha (OP3 Music)
2011 Epic (OP3 Music)
2011 The World Is Crumbling (OP3 Music)
2011 Pop You Bottles (OP3 Music)
Albums
as X-QUISITE
2003 X-Quisite (Linus/Maple Music/Universal)
as NICOLE HOLNESS aka X-QUISITE
2011 Unreleased (OP3 Music)
Compilation Tracks
as X-QUISITE
2002 “No Regrets” on ‘Planet Pop 4’
XR 7
An anonymous synth-pop project by Aldo Caporuscio who is better known internationally as rock guitarist and songwriter Aldo Nova. A 12” single of the song “XR7” was released on Quality Records shortly before Nova was signed to CBS Records as a pop rock guitarist. The instrumental version of “XR 7″ appeared on several 12” bootleg compilations in Europe in the 1980s and officially on Milestone Records’ compilation ‘The Original Masters – From The Past, Present And Future Vol.3’. [also see ALDO NOVA]
Singles
1980 XR 7 (vocal)/XR 7 (instr.) [12″] (Quality) QDC-22
Compilation Tracks
2009 “XR 7 (instrumental)” on ‘The Original Masters – From The Past, Present And Future Vol.3’ (Milestone) MSHA-1007
XYLON
Xylon (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica)
This enigmatic artist received various awards including a full scholarship to University of Saskatchewan’s Music and English program. His 1995 debut CD, ‘Xylon I’, was a throwback to the classic eclectic rock album era. Not to be confused with the Euro dance artist of the same name.
Albums
1995 Xylon I (Rockin’ Rod) ROD-202
XYZ
Philippe Lauzier (soprano saxophone, bass clarinet, electronics) / Pierre-Yves Martel (feedback) / Martin Tétreault (pick-up, electronics)
From Montréal, Québec, XYZ is also known as Lauzier/Martel/Tétreault. Their debut album, ‘La Formule XYZ’ is improvisational found sound and electronics. The song titles are variations on algebra equations. The album was recorded by Ross Murray in September and December of 2010 at Happyrock International in Chelsea, Québec.
Albums
2011 La formule XYZ (&records) ET-14
© 1998 – 2023 Jaimie Vernon.
All rights reserved. Duplication in whole or in part in any medium is prohibited without written permission. The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia and its logo are trademarks of Bullseye Records of Canada Inc.
The Canadian Pop Music Encyclopedia 