Xavier Trudeau might be most widely known for his last name but he’s on a mission to change that and carve a path of his own.
Known by his stage name, “Xav”, the 17-year-old recently sat down with Brandon Gonez to spill all the tea on his new music career.
At just 17, Xav has already dropped three tracks and gave The Brandon Gonez show an exclusive, saying he’s gearing up for his first full album release this summer.
From BandLab to the Studio
Xav’s musical journey began in childhood and was shaped by early lessons in drums, guitar, and piano. “My parents wanted me to be exposed to music from a young age,” he explains. But the real spark came when he discovered the BandLab app. “That’s where I started experimenting—just playing around, creating tracks, and realizing I could actually make something that sounded good.”
His first studio session at Audio Valley in Ottawa was a pivotal moment. Working with his now manager, Joey, and later connecting with producer and manager Duava, Xav recorded his first official tracks. “Hearing myself professionally mixed was surreal,” he recalls. “It was like, ‘Okay, I can really do this.’
Musical Roots and Influences
While Xav’s personal taste leans toward R&B and melodic rap, citing Don Toliver, Drake, and Travis Scott as major influences, his upbringing offered a diverse sonic palette. “My mom loves Celine Dion, and my dad’s into rock—The Tragically Hip and that vibe,” he says. “It helped me appreciate different genres.”
He also credits his mom’s singing talent: “She’s amazing.”
Walking His Own Path
Being a Trudeau comes with a long lineage of being in the spotlight, but Xav is determined to stand on his own. “There’spressure, for sure. But I want people to know me for my work, not just my last name,” he says. “ I’ve always, sort of been just the son with his dad, the son of.. I want to create what I want to create. I want to create it because I did it.”
Creative Process: Beats and Emotion
Xav’s songwriting starts with the beat and a melody. “I gotta find a melody, and once I have that, I can start writing a little bit.”
His lyrical goal? Relatability. “I want people to hear my music and relate.” Whether it’s about relationships, self-doubt, or chasing your dreams, Xav says he tries to write from a place of honesty.
Balancing Dreams and Real Life
Despite his success, Xav is still a full-time student and athlete. Xav plays basketball back in Ottawa as a power forward. When looking to the future, Xav says despite a growing music career, university is still in the plan. “Education’s always been important in my family,” he says. “I’m thinking McGil… Montreal feels like home.”
Canadian Collaborations
We asked Xav which Canadian artists he would most want to collaborate with, and he said he chose Drake. “I feel like our styles would probably match the best,” he explained, reflecting on how their musical approaches could naturally blend. “It would mesh together super well,” he said. Though he hasn’t spoken directly with Drake about a potential collab, Xav hinted that conversations have started through mutual connections, though he’s staying tight-lipped for now. He also expressed interest in working with Jessie Reyez and Jamie Fine, noting that he feels he would have creative chemistry with these artists.
Writing His Own Legacy
What makes Xav Trudeau stand out isn’t just his talent—it’s his authenticity. Xav is driven, authentic, and ready to pave his own path in the world. Host Brandon Gonez asked Xav What is one thing that people don’t know about you? He answered, “I really feel for people, I see someone on the street, I wonder what their stories like, I wonder what’s going on in their brain. I wonder what happened to them as a kid. I just love people like you know, people who support me, people who hate me, people anything, really don’t care. I’ll always, like, don’t judge a book by its cover, right?
With a debut album on the horizon and a growing fanbase cheering him on, Xav Trudeau is more than ready for what comes next.
Make sure to check out the full interview on our YouTube
