Xavier drops his long awaited visual "Lil Gardener"
A masterful visual from the talented musician
In a dry barren forest, we are treated to a perfectly executed juxtaposition: A lone gardener hovers over a picture of a lush flower filled utopia, with nothing but his two hands and his wits to make it his reality. This is the visual that the rising musician Xavier paints for us, and like most good art, there’s layers of meaning within it. “The plantless version is a representation of the reality we face where we spend a lot of time working and ‘planting’ something we’re passionate about but not receiving the instant reward and gratification that would make us feel good about doing it again,” Xavier says. “The picture is a representation of the goals we set for ourselves and the motivation to keep ‘moving’ and ‘planting’.”To the backdrop of his music, Xavier takes us on a metaphorical journey through the process of creatives worldwide. By the end of his short film, we come to a better understanding of both Xavier, and our own psyche.
“If you believe in yourself, the right time to take risks is when someone says don’t.”
When asked to describe his signature sound, Xavier wisely passed, opting to refrain from setting limitations on where he can take things sonically. Perhaps this mindset stems from his upbringing in which he spent a large chunk of his life in music hotbeds like Atlanta and New York. However it was in Orlando (Where Xavier lived from 4th to 9th grade) that he first began proclaiming music as an interest. “I was a student of music and clarinet player throughout late elementary and middle school” He says. “My younger brothers and I also began writing together and showcasing our skills to family members.”
Xavier went on to refine who he was as a musician at Georgia Tech, meeting many of the artists who he’d later collaborate with on ‘Lil Gardener’. It was when he graduated and began working at a corporate job in Texas though, that may have supplied him with the inspiration for the project. “Had I not taken the risk of leaving that job to divert full attention to my craft, the opportunities and growth received may not have been,” He says. “If you believe in yourself, the right time to take risks is when someone says don’t.” Xavier’s divulgence into his craft may be viewed as a risk to some, but to him it was another seed laid towards his ultimate vision.
With a ‘Keep moving & planting’ mindset in tow and an all star team of collaborators including Chelsi Cocking (Photographer, Producer, Partner), Kamryn Harris (Director and Editor), Apollo (Sound Designer) and Ta Nycia Wooden (Production Assistant), Lil Gardener was born. The film was over a year in the making but in Xavier’s eyes, something that needed to be created before moving on to future projects. Shot at Sole Farm in North GA, it features a number of songs from Xavier’s discography, each creating a shift in tone as the Lil Gardener carries out his purpose. Going forward, Xavier plans to continue to crank out content from numerous mediums including more films, an LP and some creative projects that remain under wraps for now. All in all, his plan remains to keep growing and never hold out on his wild ideas.
"Had I not taken the risk of leaving that job to divert full attention to my craft, the opportunities and growth received may not have been”
As for Lil Gardener, the film ends with our protagonist laid out motionless, with a single flower in his grips. We had to ask, did the gardener finally see his work pay off or did he collapse before his dreams were realized? Xavier was nice enough to provide some clarification, stating: “I like to think that he eventually realizes his dream and understands the sacrifice and everything it can take out of him to get there.” Here at Gritty Vibes, we’re all for happy endings, and something tells us that Xavier’s reality will be more like that flower filled utopia in no time.Check out the full visual below!https://youtu.be/Au-trDWA1to
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