XL Middleton

XL has toured internationally in Japan, China, Canada, and throughout Europe, notably contributing to a revival of synth-based ‘modern funk’ music. He is also one of the organizers of the LA-based Modern Funk Fest, which provides a live platform for the scene as a whole.

XL has released volumes of work, the sound of which largely embodies a party feel mixed with a futuristic brand of funk inspired by legends such as George Clinton, Roger Troutman, & Cameo, not to mention hip hop funksters like Battlecat & DJ Quik. He has sought to bridge the gap between fans of the modern funk/80’s boogie sound and 90’s g-funk, inspired by the music he once sampled in the course of creating hip hop beats. At an XL show, you might find him singing notes through a vocoder, rapping, playing records from his extensive vinyl collection, or shredding solos on a shoulder synth, or “keytar.” He operates his own label, MoFunk Records, dedicated to furthering the modern funk sound. He has also released music in conjunction with noteworthy labels & collectives such as Bastard Jazz, Soul Clap, Star Creature, and Omega Supreme, as well as contributing to HHV’s “For The Culture” series which released music on vinyl to benefit Berlin’s club scene during covid times.

Additionally, XL’s interest in Japanese city pop music has opened a new lane for him as a producer, having collaborated with Japanese music acts including Milk Talk, Hannah Warm, Schuwa Schuwa, & Minoru ‘Hoodoo’ Fushimi. Additionally, XL and partner Kaistar do a bimonthly event called Tokyo Love Song, sharing rare and obscure city pop vinyl with an enthusiastic following that shares their passion. In addition to his own solo material, XL produces music for labelmate and modern funk songstress Moniquea, as well as Zackey Force Funk. He has also done remixes and production for noteworthy artists including Soul Clap, Funkadelic, Lynda Dawn, Howard Johnson, Libretto & Buscrates, B. Bravo, and many others.