pure xtc is the brainchild of Kansas City-based artist Taylor Hughes, powerhouse multi-instrumentalist and producer who built a world where brooding soundscapes meet stark vulnerability. Originally from Baltimore, MD, she spent years in NYC before relocating to Kansas City in 2020, where pure xtc was born. Her sound thrives in the shadows—dark, immersive, and unapologetically raw.
Her upcoming single, Drive, is the final piece in a trilogy that began with Fall Apart and Mood Ring. A project spanning both music and film, it tells a story of unraveling, transformation, and escape. Set to drop in April 2025, Drive brings the journey full circle, with the trilogy's short films forming a complete, enigmatic narrative.
pure xtc’s music has traveled beyond the underground, landing in UK and European retail soundscapes like Birkenstock and Harvey Nichols, while get lost hit the big screen in AMC Theaters as part of the award-winning comedy Midwest Skidmark. She also scored Rangoon, a short film that premiered to a sold-out crowd in Kansas City. Her work has been championed by Apple Music’s New in Alternative and Proud Radio, with performances alongside Fletcher, Slayyyter, Jenny Lewis, and Dashboard Confessional solidifying her place in the alternative pop world. She has also performed on ABC 27 and FOX 21.
With Drive, pure xtc isn’t just releasing a song—she’s closing a chapter and opening something new.
