After a three day weekend of swearing in, balls, surprise superstar concerts and more libations that we should have enjoyed, Washington, DC we know you are suffering from the worst hangover in four years this morning. We have the answer to your presidential sized hangover – Del Marquis & Xavier.
Del Marquis has taken the Scissor Sister’s hiatus as an opportunity to make music of his own, teaming up with New York vocalist and long time friend Xavier for a new mix-tape. The two first met in the summer of 2002 just before Del joined the Scissor Sisters. As Del explains, “We both ended up in Electroclash events and became friendly, so that when I decide to write in between SS records a few years ago, I asked him to sing toplines on some songs.” Xavier adds, “Del was living with close friends of mine right after he joined Scissor Sisters, and I’d already worked with Scott/Babydaddy, so it seemed kind of inevitable.”
Post hiatus Del began working on a full length solo record when he had a “few tracks that didn’t quite fit – “Let Me Tickle Your Fancy” was the anchor to that.” From that starting point Del and Xavier came together and began writing new material that focused on their “mutual love of funk and R&B – The System, Cherrelle, Chaka Khan, and kind of geared our minds towards that.” Del adds, “Once we shot the video [for 'Let Me Tickle Your Fancy], which turned out obscene (in a good way) I looked for a way to build a release around it.” With fresh inspiration Del began to experiment with new sounds that he says lead him to “throw as much as I can into a bowl.” while Xavier had the strategic ear to edit out sounds to make it all perfectly come together.
The six track mix-tape is a unexpected collection of high energy funk, sexy base lines and playful R&B. Each track will attach itself to your hips and force them to move like they had a mind of their very own. Del tells us that the mix-tape is “a collection cohesive in its absurdity – reflected in the cover art & video; Plus its free, and mix-tapes always make me think of something random and unexpected…and free.” Del beat us to the punch, the whole Mixtape is free for fans right now on his official website. We are very happy to exclusively premiere the Vince Prince remix for the track that kick started the entire mix-tape, ‘Let Me Tickle Your Fancy’.