Transitioning from influencer to true stardom has been challenging for a few influencers. In contrast, international trailblazers Gary Grey and Mary Senn, who started vlogging and now own their own music label, XO Music Label, have become global sensations. On April 3, 2020, Gary and Mary created an Eastern European content group, the XO Team. This group comprises talented creators, producers, actors, and musicians who have established themselves as leaders in every industry, demonstrating their versatility through their 11.4M YouTube subscribers and 39M TikTok followers.
As well as being founders of the XO Team, Mary and Gary have also excelled in their solo careers as musicians. Each of them has released several hit singles in their first languages, Russian, Ukrainian, and now English. The duo has over 100 million followers across all platforms, making their global presence easily recognizable through reality television, the Metaverse, and modeling.
Furthermore, the XO Team was formed during the 2020 pandemic, which concerned Gary and Mary due to the global lockdown. During the same year, the duo launched their team, which gained them 100K followers on TikTok on the first day of their launch. After finding a beautiful 7,500-square-foot house, Gary, Mary, and the team moved in together while also shooting the content that made them a household name.
Reality Show Debut For The XO Team
Mary and Gary’s team has existed for five years and was first introduced to the public through the YouTube reality show XO Life YouTube House. Due to their familiarity with TikTok’s success 2.5 years ago, Mary and Gary decided to recreate the team concept. Their reality show has generated the most attention from all the team’s initiatives. To date, they have produced ten seasons. However, one of the teams’ goals for 2023 is to translate it into English and expand internationally. “I also will release weekly vlogs in English on my YouTube channel,” said Gary.
Since its inception, the XO Team has been on an excellent path. What is next on the agenda?
“We will keep creating content as well as work on our reality show here in the US & of course, release more music. We don’t want to reveal too much but stay tuned,” Gary says.
New Music Video By The XO Team
“Reason,” the group’s newest music video, was released three months ago and has already been viewed over 15 million times. The meaning behind XO Team’s music video wasn’t considered since they did not initially intend to produce one. Despite this, the song became viral in two days, and the founders were inspired and recognized an opportunity.
“Our goal was mainly to show our team members around the globe dancing to different TikTok trends & give our audience the happy vibes,” Mary said.
Often, it is a shock to some content creators when their projects receive a great deal of popularity. Mary and Gary, however, were not as surprised. Setting specific goals, keeping to their plan consistently, and following their program have always resulted in the sense of satisfaction for the duo. “We don’t see anything in our lives happening without effort,” the pair said. “It is all about the mindset, manifestation & hard work.
Moreover, the success of a project can be achieved through a collaborative effort or an individual effort. According to Mary and Gary, it depends since working as part of a team is advantageous, even if some members are independent artists. At times, the team encounters a conflict of interest, making it difficult to reach an agreement. “There are pros and cons, but overall, being in a group setting makes us more creative and inspirational,” said the duo.
Musical Inspirations
Online viewing of your favorite inspirations’ performances can be rewarding, but it does not compare to seeing them live. While the XO Team has performed a 13 series tour in Russia once, they have not yet performed in the United States. But once their streams increase and their tracks become viral, this is undoubtedly one of their main objectives.
“One of my hobbies is watching different artists’ performances – it really inspires me (I even have a vintage DVD collection that includes unique shows you won’t find online), said Gary. “I also used to perform a lot in festivals back in Russia – I’m wild on stage!”
Inspiration in music is someone who has been recognized and appreciated for their skill. Among Gary’s musical influences is the legendary Michael Jackson. As a child, he was captivated by MJ’s music and possessed one of his first MJ albums, “HIStory: Past, Present, and Future, Book I.”
“I also like Justin Timberlake (and his music is inspired by MJ as well), but I have lots of inspirations in the hip-hop industry,” Gary explained.
However, Mary’s greatest inspiration is Ariana Grande. For quite some time, she has followed Ariana’s music and style. “Out of all artists, she’d be my number 1 to potentially work with in the future if I had a chance,” she said.
Collaborations We’d Like To Do
Instead of having visions of the artists of our choice, working with them is the ideal approach. During the interview, Gary stated that he enjoyed the music of Charlie Puth as well as his attitude. “I also enjoy what he’s doing on TikTok. The guy’s a genius,” he said. “I definitely have a longer list, but a few others are Justin Timberlake, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Bruno Mars & Shawn Mendes.”
As for Mary, Ariana Grande is her preferred collaboration partner as well. “Definitely Ariana Grande. It would be one of my dreamiest collaborations. And I’d also be thrilled to work with The Weeknd,” she said.
Experienced, dedicated, and goal-oriented writer with a flair for producing informative and captivating content. Experience spanning 5+ years in writing includes correct grammar, fact-checking, and adaptability.
Throughout my life, I've been exposed to many opportunities. I have played the piano, participated in many recitals, and won numerous awards throughout my life. I have been honing my writing skills for years in my spare time. As an example, I have completed writing exercises and created my own stories in this regard.
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