by Shamel Anderson
Published on: October 10, 2025
Chicago native and musical artist Xella Red, recently performed her hottest single “STEPMOM” on On The Radar. The performance was uploaded on Oct 9th, 2025 featuring the young unsigned rapper. At 19, her trailblazing was anticipated since her debut with multiple media outlets, industry professionals, and the entire city of Illinois behind her. She took to New York to record her set with On The Radar, but prior the artist also filmed an open mic performance on August 18th, 2025. During her New York excursion she also rekindled with fellow musical artist TJiinae. TJiinae, is an active artist in the New York scene with several features, solidifying her spot as yet another promising talent. “STEPMOM” was released under her self-published imprint of SOULEDIN, on August 15th, 2025. The single gained traction as well as the visualizer, but her feature has now introduced the SOULEDIN founder to the masses. The open mic performances essentially continued a theme of stylistic, professional, and timely delivery followed by execution. Within the first day of release the performance “STEPMOM” by Xella Red on On The Radar has amassed over 60,000 views collectively. Although, this is just one of the many times the star has gone viral, with many more to come.
Origin of Xella Red's Cult-like Base
Xella Red’s almost cult-like fan base stems primarily from her embodying the typical monomyth. Unlike many rising acts, Xella tailored her entire body of work on realism, hustle, passion, and pain. She imbued the deeper conceptual ideas of the emotional spectrum such as struggles with depression, anxiety, and lonesome. The seemingly subtle and timid demeanor completely shifts when she starts delivering her music. That’s when the titan, the bravado, the bare rawness of and transparency becomes therapeutic or empowering to the fans. Several forums, outlets, and average listeners continue to praise Xella’s artistry because her innate adherence to her success. The contrarians have tried ceaselessly to deter Kamyah; the review bombs, spam, shadow bans, and blackballing since her debut. She made the most of the unwarranted backlash by being transparent and incentivizing her base to just support the art. In doing so she began to gain recognition.
Pioneering Introspective and Genre-Bending Music
Xella is widely credited with fusing hip-hop with alternative genres like psychedelic rock, indie, and pop, which for the uninitiated can be coined "emo rap." Despite her age, Xella had made others feel seen and heard, through her career. Her versatility alone had Hip-hop heads, punk fans, and singer-songwriters in agreement. A relatable, overlooked powerhouse that became a touchstone through consistency, authenticity, convection, and her strong belief in God. From Gen Z to Millennials, the masses back and support Xella undoubtedly. For five years, Xella has pioneered the SOULEDIN movement with almost one thousand (quantifiable) supporters. Her platform is also synonymous with positive daily affirmations and open-ended questions to gauge her audience. Giving followers a reminder that they are all “souled in.” This approach appealed to fans who valued acknowledgement and felt unheard. Her signature brash yet endearing sentiments continue to sow support to her niche. As an upcoming artist Xella Red displayed courage and openness with her fans about mental health, and the current state of the world which made her a major figure in the local scene. This transparency made her not only an artist but somewhat of a modern angsty activist, today’s example of a rock star. By openly earning all of her successes and refusal to adhere to limitations, Xella is beginning to become the face and voice of this generation.
Musical Inspirations
Inspired by a diverse group of artists such as Ye (formerly known as Kanye West), Adele, and Radiohead, she has blended elements from alternative to trap. Her inspiration vary, including iconic names like Rihanna, Kendrick Lamar, and Amy Winehouse, alongside classic soul artists such as Marvin Gaye and The Temptations. Beyond musical influences, Xella is also driven by collaboration and shared creativity. She expresses admiration for fellow artists who play with words and lyrics, like Mello and Star Bands, recognizing their lyrical prowess and expressive energies. Xella appreciates Mello for her exceptional vocabulary and intricate wordplay, qualities often overlooked but greatly valued in the music scene. Meanwhile, Star’s dynamic energy and content-rich music allow her to stand out, sparking Xella's interest for a potential collaboration.
Unsigned to Co-Signed
Xella Red’s trajectory from February 2021 through 2025 has been a calculated path, from online competitions to local popularity through performances and gracing some of one of music’s largest platforms. She’s credited her upbringing in a musically-inclined household due to a family of musicians. Her earliest professional feature was on the online radio station NIMF (New and Independent Music First) on July 06th, 2021. Following the budding buzz the credible WTTU (Welcome to The Underground) platform recognized Xella Red as one of the most promising and underrated artists. Later being announced as one of the top twenty best female artists by Off Record Sounds. On October 13th, 2023 media outlet The United Underground hosted a blunt interview with Xella, who exclaimed she will always be herself unapologetically. However, a pivotal moment that stunted her professional career—her early equivalent of a major success—was the recognition by Summrs with her 2023 track, "SOULED IN ((swing yo pole remix))," which led to notice from SOXO Radio. Her associate Athina Kosmas, professionally known as “athiiko” curated new opportunities for the rising star. Since 2024 Xella Red began to venture into her live performance era and PR phase. On May 18th 2024 Xella Red performed at the social club Studio 424. She also made an appearance at the Deadman Wonderland Live Show at The Quarry Chi on October 19th, 2024. That same year, she released a video her hit single “#BANDIT”, on October 7th. She established herself amongst the chicago circuit, with shows, festivals, and other open mic performances. On April 27th, Xella performed at The NextGen Takeover Fest presented by NextGenRap at Orland Park House of Music. Xella Red headlined a series/event VIDEO GAMES X VIBES show on July 26th, of 2025. In September, NextGenRap presented the Chicago Suburbs Fall Fest with Xella also performing once more alongside the initiative. UGR (Underground Rap) hosted an event called “UGR WORLD” on the third of October, with Xella being interviewed shortly after by Garret Smith of MIHGBO. The next scheduled show for Xella Red post On The Radar performance, is Heads Will Roll LIVE with the esteemed artist Your Stepdad.
Why Xella Red?
At SOXO Radio, we've covered rising stars in the music, and Xella Red stands out as an artist with great talent, star power, and a pioneering spirit. Within a very short span of time, this artists has impacted hundreds of people, traveled to work alongside industry giants, while getting recognition from both the fans, the stars, and the taste makers. We advocate individualism, commitment, perseverance and quality, she has exhibited this since her entry. There’s something human about her rise to fame, ironically coining her cult-like fan base “Kult.” You can see an artist that knows her purpose and intent, not getting caught in the toxicity, and monotony of the music community. She among all artists we have supported possess unique qualities that will in fact continue to evolve in due time. The evolution of an intangible dream, to a physical manifestation is a pathway that only some people commit to , with guaranteed scrutiny and doubt. Seeing the resurgence of art, and creativity it’s almost that of a renaissance, which we cherish from the our own base (as a platform). Even now, there will be someone that is impacted by this singular artist, and that’s a testament to the impact of Xella Red.
Kamyah Williams reflects on the emotional challenges of balancing her personal life and career in a 2025 post on Instagram:
"I broke down and cried at the sight of the water and the sand and lights. Life is so beautiful. God always humbles me even when I’m on top. Thank you so much to everyone actively supporting my music. Thank you to my friends who record my street performances. Thank you to kult for continuously showing up for me even though college is eating a lot of my time. Thank you mom for supporting my career. Thank you God for a second chance everyday. Take this as a sign that if you need to cry let it out. If you wanna scream let it out. If you wanna drop an experimental sound drop it. It doesn’t matter if people don’t like it at first do what you want to do and do what makes you happy. I love you, souledin sht 4 life."
(Kamyah Williams, 2025)
Social Media Handles
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1L0cXYzWFWoPTyKLHRtORm?si=7xHqTQVeTDyjs7gTdDKD_g
SoundCloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/EzLNATqCYioWFKnMPT
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xellared?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==