WYWY

WYWY is a dream pop couple based in the United Arab Emirates and featuring X as vocalist, synth, and xylophone player, and Mckie on synth, bass, and guitar. Since 2015, the duo have made a name for themselves with their dream-like yet dark and ethereal sound and visual live performances. In 2017, they released their first EP album Within You Without You, featuring five original tracks.

WYWY have played numerous events in the United Arab Emirates: RiseDCH, The Sound Gaarden, The Losing Party Party, JBR Street Beats, Freshly Ground Sounds, Bad House Party, Yard01, and some well-known art festivals: Sikka Art Fest, Quoz Arts, and ING-Creative. They have also performed at international festivals such as Mutek.AE, Fête de la Musique in the Philippines, Aqtushetti Music Festival in Georgia, and Museland in Bahrain. As a couple, they were recognized in Illustrado Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf in 2016 and 2018, and in 300 Most Influential Filipinos in the Gulf in 2019, while Muzies Gulf granted them the award for Best Live Act 2020. They were also featured in Hype Magazine and diverse radio stations in the US, including DKFM, and on Polskie Radio.

WYWY: "Our song Dead Inside was written in 2018; it was inspired by people suffering from depression. During that time, there was a lot of news on social media about people taking their own lives because of depression, and it was at a point in our lives when we also feel empty and worthless. When we wrote the song, it was what we personally felt at that moment… empty, dark, and as if we were doing the same thing over and over every day, making us really fed up. But despite all that happened, we realized that we must fight our own demons. 

We have been living far away from our family for a very long time; life always challenges us, and each trial teaches us to be stronger. One factor that makes us strong is our music, it is our outlet for the frustrations in life. All our songs are based on our story, and most were written in the moment of whatever situation we were in. WYWY is our journal, it is about us, our kids, our friends, our loved ones. WYWY is us."

Dead Inside

By WYWY, recorded live at The Fridge concert series, released independently in 2018

Feeling of sadness
Crashes my fears
Swim in the ocean
That doesn’t heal

When I die
Don’t Cry
When I die
It’s not your fault

Chasing the rainbow
Seems there’s no end
Smile in the mirror
That wasn’t me

When I die
Don’t cry
When I die
It’s not your fault