Xoe Wise

Xoe Wise is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer originally from a small town in NC, now based in Chicago. Her releases have spanned from folk to rock, to electronic. Her forthcoming (3rd) release Air features Xoe’s folk repertoire with lush yet intimate horns by Martin Wenk (Calexico, Nada Surf), string and synth arrangements and production by Wise and Minterm. The record includes love songs like “Park too Close” exploring the difficulties of paralleling parking while finding solace in the kindness of your partner. The first single Cross-Eyed Rose” tells an emotional story of wanderlust and finding out that you are not alone. Digital sales in August go to the Brave Space Alliance, the first Black-led, trans-led LGBTQ Center located on the South Side of Chicago, and designed to create and provide affirming and culturally competent services for the entire Chicago LGBTQ community.

You can also Join Chicago Tribune, WGN, and Chicago Reader featured Indie Musician, Xoe Wise, as she scoots on over to some of Chicago's favorite local music venues and businesses, for a pop-up live music set, in which 50% of donations go towards debilitated local businesses needing assistance due to the economic affects stemming from the Coronavirus pandemic. Wise will play pop-up shows at a curbside near you and pick a business per lottery drawing live on the Xoe Wise Facebook Page to determine which business will get 50% of all donations for the day. Wise sometimes plays multiple pop-up shows per day and donations can be made in-person by QR Code available for contact-less donations (social distancing is a must, so mask-up!), tip jar, and via Venmo, at @xoewise.

Her debut record Echo was produced by Ethan Stoller and released in 2010 to critical acclaim. Chicago Innerview recognized Wise as “easily the singer/songwriter and pop counterpart to Columbia native Chaz Bundick’s (a.k.a. Toro Y Moi) laconic chill-wave synth ballads.” The Chicago Tribune’s Redeye described her next single “Dear Sendai” as “spiritual.” Wise's sophomore album Archive of Illusions was written on the road with co-producer and friend Matt Ryd in 2011. The record attracted a sold-out crowd to Schubas. TuneCore called the record "new and noteworthy". Xoe has also been seen and heard in Netflix shows such as Sense8, and Showtimes Work in Progress. Wise was also a NPR Newsong finalist. Wise released the Breakfast EP in 2013 and RacecarO in 2015. She was featured on HuffPost for her single "Doctor" and in 2016 101WKQX featured her rock single "Dollhouse" produced by Howie Beno on air. 101 recruited her as a QUED Up Artist to perform for a sold-out Metro show supporting Wild Belle. She has shared the stage with artists Lisa Loeb, Guster, The Verve Pipe, Daley, St. Etienne, Greg Laswell, Andrew Belle, Tyrone Wells, Vera Blue, Verité (as Kinky Love), and Meg Myers. Previously Wise was also in synth pop act Kinky Love featured at TNK and Mamby Festival and NME Magazine. Xoe began playing music around 8 years old and when she was enlisted as a triangle player for a local Zydeco band. She then started playing flute and guitar and wrote her first song for a baby goat on the outer banks of NC. At 18 she moved to Chicago to pursue music and study psychology. She began connecting with musicians through open mics, further studying music, and working in film. She has worked on films/shows such as Jupiter Ascending, Cloud Atlas, and Sense8. Xoe not only enjoys making records, but also homemade hot sauce. Entering University of Chicago's graduate school for social work this coming fall, you can find her not only on stage, but developing songwriting programs for Chicago LGBTQ youth that help inspire self-exploration, like music did for her as a young queer artist looking for ways to heal.