Xander Harris

Xander Harris is the recording alias of Austin-based musician Justin Sweatt, whose work represents a pivotal intersection of synthwave, witch house, and horror-soundtrack revivalism. Emerging in the early 2010s, Harris gained significant critical traction with his debut 'Urban Gothic,' which was lauded for its ability to bridge the gap between Giallo-inspired dread and Italo-disco camp.

His sound identity is defined by a meticulous use of analog synthesizers and a thematic obsession with the friction between gentrification and urban decay. Unlike many of his contemporaries who focus on escapist retro-futurism, Sweatt utilizes the 80s palette to comment on modern metropolitan anxieties. His evolution from the 'slasher' tropes of his early work toward the more expansive, dystopian 'cold-wave' of 'The New Dark Age of Love' demonstrates a maturing compositional voice. Influenced by the likes of Chris & Cosey and Klaus Schulze, Harris occupies a unique space in the electronic scene, blending the sinister with the celebratory. He is frequently associated with the 'Not Not Fun' and 'Rock Action' labels, positioning him within a global network of experimental and dark electronic music.