K. Flay and Writer/Producer Jason Suwito team up for a new project titled 2XT, and have released their debut album titled Special Feelings.
Who’s behind 2XT and their mysterious dancing mascot? Back in February, a new instagram account named 2xtsounds posted a teaser for the album’s lead single, “ANGEL” featuring pulsing EDM synths and a familiar voice rapping over the beat. The mascot, Beam, transforms as it dances, matching the fluid and spontaneous production behind the track.
The account later revealed that K. Flay (Kristine Flaherty) and Jason Suwito were the brains behind the operation. The two have worked together before on some of K. Flay’s solo work, and both have extensive discographies writing for other artists. K. Flay has written for Two Feet, Macklemore, and Mike Shinoda while Jason Suwito is the instrumentalist for Sir Sly, one half of Best Frenz, and written for Imagine Dragons, Benson Boone, and Martin Garrix.
SPECIAL FEELINGS marks the duo’s first full-length collaboration as well as K. Flay’s first EDM-focused album. She has covered several different genres in her career, moving from rap to pop to rock, and even featured many EDM songs like “It’s Strange” with Louis the Child and “Hurting on Purpose” with Whethan.
The album starts out strong with “PAINKILL,” a track that you can easily picture hyping up the crowd as the first song on the setlist. Its gradual builds and hard drops are a great foundation for the rest of the album.
2XT picks up the pace with “ALL IN,” “Y HESITATE,” and “ANGEL,” hype songs that could hit just as hard at a rave or a workout.
Things slow down a bit for “RINGING IN MY HEAD,” and for good reason. The track is about K. Flay’s sudden hearing loss in one ear and the toll that’s taken on her in the years since. When she initially lost her hearing, she wasn’t sure that she would ever release music again. But SPECIAL FEELINGS marks her second album post-hearing loss, and the first album since receiving her cochlear implant. It makes sense that this visceral, lifechanging event would have an impact on her music and her new, digital way of hearing the world with the implant has led to a more digital album.
The album overall is very strong and should make for a great return to live shows since K. Flay has been on a touring hiatus. “TOYOTA” has such a deliberate, slow build that would be incredible to hear live. Hopefully, K. Flay and Jason Suwito’s fans will find this album and get to experience it with them across the world.
I am an Austin, TX-based photographer and filmmaker. I moved from Houston to attend the University of Texas at Austin, where I graduated in 2022. I'm a lifelong music lover and spend tons of time attending shows and making music. Some current favorites are Sophie May, Farmer’s Wife, and K. Flay.
