Before she wrote a pop hook or shared a stage with Eric Benét, XANDi was a four-year-old who loved performing and dreamed big in Houston.
Now, with her latest album Pop It generating major buzz, the local singer-songwriter-producer is ready for her next act.
“I genuinely grew up listening to the artists that have shaped the Houston sound,” she says. “It influenced everything, my voice, the beats I pick, even the producers I vibe with.”
A proud hometown girl, she’s quick to name-check the city’s musical legacy, from Beyoncé to Megan Thee Stallion and Solange. Yet, when it comes to pop music, she’s carving her own lane.
Though her roots are in R&B and hip hop, Pop It marks a deliberate and joyful pivot.
“I got burnt out,” she says. “I’d been doing R&B my whole life. Performing covers, recording it all felt like a loop.”
Curiosity sparked change. She started experimenting with pop and rock beats, eventually landing on “Rewind,” a track that garnered early Grammy consideration and ignited a new creative fire.
“That record changed my perspective,” she says. “I realized, okay, I’m actually good at this.”
XANDi took the reins from there, locking in with her producers and refining the project’s sound, aesthetic and message.
“I put so much time and energy into the visuals, the tracklist, everything. I was intentional.”
That duality, exploration rooted in self-awareness, is a throughline in her life. As a Howard University alum, she’s not just a performer but a scholar of craft.
“College taught me you have to get it done or it doesn’t get done. You have to stay in control of your business and priorities,” she says. “That’s vital as an artist, especially when you’re signing contracts and navigating the industry.”
Howard also opened up other creative paths, leading her to major in television and film. She recently wrapped filming for Black Influence, a series where she served as lead producer and co-director. The show debuts this fall.
Music remains her foundation even as she steps into new roles behind the camera. XANDi is currently enrolled in an audio engineering program to deepen her understanding of sound design and production.
“I’m learning beat-making, mixing, mastering, everything. I want to know how to build a record from the ground up,” she says.
Her drive comes with intention.
“I don’t want to just be a source of noise in the industry,” she said. “I want to be a good light source and someone the city can be proud of.”
That pride runs deep in her family. Her parents, local business owners, have operated Emancipation Park’s The Spot for nearly two decades.
“They’ve always served the community and I’ve had opportunities to perform and grow through them,” she says.
Her father, Aaron Gray, watched her journey unfold from the beginning.
“She was maybe preschool age, entertaining guests at the house,” he says. “She wasn’t just singing, she had the voice. We knew it was a gift early on.”
Gray, who co-owns The Spot with his wife, has been instrumental in giving XANDi grassroots support.
“We were able to play her first song there when she was 16,” he says. “Customers gave feedback, DJs spun her music and she got to see the crowd’s reaction in real time.”
As a former engineer, Gray says he always wanted his children to have the freedom to follow their dreams.
“I worked a job I wasn’t excited about. I wanted to be in a place financially where my kids didn’t have to do the same,” he says. “XANDi’s smart. Even if she never becomes a #1 artist, she’s already learning production, engineering, she’s building something that lasts.”
That longevity is what he hopes young creatives in Houston take away from her story.
“You can’t chase trends. You have to do what’s in your heart,” Gray says. “Even if the city doesn’t catch on right away, someone will. And when that moment comes, you’ll have a catalog ready for the world.”
What sets XANDi apart in 2025’s competitive music landscape isn’t just her sound; it’s her clarity.
“I’ve learned there’s an audience for everyone. You don’t have to fit into anyone else’s mold,” she says. “People respond to authenticity. That’s why Pop It means so much to me, it’s mine, through and through.”
XANDi has music videos for the album on the way and a Christmas album in development.
For more information visit: xandiofficial.com
