Eccentricity and causticity are present in the recording studio’s gothic and gloomy visual sign. The XO logo shows the union of a group of people who share a love for heavy music styles.
XO: Brand overview
Founded: | 2011 |
Founder: | The Weeknd, Wassim Slaiby, Amir Esmailian, La Mar Taylor |
Headquarters: | Canada |
Meaning and History
This structure is maximally tied to music because it appeared at the initiative of the songwriter and performer from Canada, The Weeknd. Her priority was to release three mixtapes. This event dates back to 2011 when the releases of Echoes of Silence, Thursday, and House of Balloons made those around him pay attention to the singer and expand his profile. They also helped promote XO through live performances and internet links. Advertising projects with several retail outlets also contributed to the popularization.
But the studio experienced a real transition to the world of recording in 2012 when it signed an agreement with Republic Records. As a result, she became her parent company and a producer and distributor of any music. In 2015, XO signed a contract with Belly and Derek Wise and a year later with Nav. In 2018, Black Atlass appeared. After the brand became a subsidiary, it presented seven projects by various artists. The studio also signed a contract with 88Glam, which left after releasing the mixtape of the same name.
All this time, the logo of the music studio has accompanied each new work. It is so minimal that it embellishes, allowing the singers to stand out. An individual symbol is presented in two forms – mainly and negative. Moreover, “negative” in this case does not mean “bad” or “negative.” This is just a negative – like on photographic film, where dark places are seen as light, and light – on the contrary, dark.
There are only two letters, “X” and “O,” on the record company logo. They are both capital letters, written as if in chalk on a blackboard, and executed casually. In general, the name in its appearance resembles a chemical formula – in this case, an allegory for the formula of music. This is evidenced by a miniature heart located at the top between two symbols. It has a double function. The first one replaces the apostrophe when writing abbreviated concepts or names. The second – denotes valency, as in classical formulas.
There are two versions of the logo: with a white and black background. Accordingly, the inscriptions on them are like in photo-negative: light letters on a dark and, conversely, dark on light. This technique is called inversion.
XO: Interesting Facts
XO is a Canadian record label that’s made a big splash in the music world, especially in R&B and hip-hop. Started by The Weeknd (Abel Tesfaye) and his friends La Mar Taylor and Amir “Cash” Esmailian, XO has grown from a small group into a major cultural force.
- Beginnings: XO started as a way to identify the Weeknd’s crew and fans. The name “XO” might stand for ecstasy and oxycodone or hugs and kisses—the mystery is part of its charm. As the Weeknd’s career skyrocketed, XO became an official record label, aiming to support artists with similar vibes.
- The Weeknd’s Rise: The Weeknd’s early mixtapes in 2011, which he released for free, put XO on the map. Albums like “House of Balloons” blended R&B with dream pop, earning critical praise and bringing the Weeknd into the limelight.
- Growth: Although the Weeknd is the face of XO, the label now includes artists like NAV, Belly, and Black Atlass, each bringing their unique sound to the mix.
- Beyond Music: XO has branched into fashion and lifestyle, creating a brand beyond just tunes. With XO-branded clothing and accessories, it’s become a symbol of cool culture.
- Giving Back: The Weeknd and XO haven’t forgotten to donate to causes like Black Lives Matter and COVID-19 relief.
- Worldwide Impact: XO has fans all over the globe, thanks to the Weeknd’s collaborations with artists from different countries. This has helped spread XO’s distinctive sound far and wide.
- Breaking Records: The Weeknd has won Grammys, topped charts, and racked up billions of streams, proving XO’s huge influence in today’s music scene.
From its start as a small crew to becoming a trendsetter in music and culture, XO’s story is about vision, creativity, and community. Its impact continues to grow, making it a key player in music and beyond.
Font and Colors
It consists of three elements: two letters and one heart. As evidenced by uneven edges, the signs are executed in a sweeping and careless manner as if written in a hurry with a slate on a blackboard or on porous paper. They are vague and rough in appearance. In this case, “X” looks like a cross, which is sometimes replaced by a checkmark to indicate something. And the “O” looks like a zero because it is narrow, whereas the standard letter has a round shape. The heart in the middle is very tiny and denotes disposition, affection, love.
If we consider two capital letters as text, then it can be noted that they are written in an individual font, which has no analogs. The color palette is simple: it is monochrome and consists of a combination of black and white.
XO color codes
Black | Hex color: | #000000 |
---|---|---|
RGB: | 0 0 0 | |
CMYK: | 0 0 0 100 | |
Pantone: | PMS Process Black C |