XL Syndicate out of Toronto, Ontario, Canada is a collective whose sound was influenced by multiple genres including Soca, Reggae, and R&B — consistent with the group’s Caribbean upbringing. “Caribbean vibes run deep in our veins,” they write on their Instagram page, which is generating quite the following. Their latest track and music video, “Lights Go Down,” is a fitting ode to the prime days of house music and warehouse parties that continued all night until the sun came up. The collective has retooled that classic sound for our current era.
This is a song that could be played in the rocking clubs of Toronto, Miami, Vegas, and Ibiza. However, XL Syndicate says that the genesis of the song was much more intimate and revolves around the universal theme of seeking refuge in music and dance.
“Move/Till the lights down/Move/Get lost in the crowd/Move/You can’t make a sound,” begins the addictive hook, which includes vocals from RAENE out of London.
XL Syndicate themselves have an intense love of dance and wanted to bring that same spirit dance floors around the world. “Recording ‘Lights Go Down’ was a celebration of music’s ability to spark joy and unbridled enthusiasm. We channeled our creative energy into infusing the track with an irresistible groove, utilizing a mix of instruments that amplify the song’s dance-inducing qualities,” XL Syndicate said. Ultimately, the group put together “Lights Go Down” so that others could experience a similar release. It’s the perfect song to round out a long summer of raging.
