Chxrry22 on Top: Touring with The Weeknd and Reigning as XO’s Rising Queen

Chxrry22 might be XO Records’ latest breakout star, but she’s no newcomer to R&B.

As the first woman signed to The Weeknd’s label, the Canadian singer recently took centre stage opening for The Weeknd for his After Hours Til Dawn Australian tour alongside Mike Dean and Sydney’s own Anna Lunoe, wowing fans with her sultry sound.

“I just say ‘Cherry,’” she explains with a laugh when asked about her stage name Rolling Stone AUNZ catch up with the rising talent ahead of The Weeknd’s Sydney shows. “Like, I’m Cherry, you know? Yeah, that’s your girl.”

Her journey from Scarborough, Toronto, to stadiums around the world has been as surprising to her as it has been for her fans. “I put out a song, and [XO Records co-founder] Cash heard it,” she shares.

“He reached out, asked to sign me, and we met, and the rest is history. Here we are.”

Now, with two EPs—The Other Side and Siren—under her belt, Chxrry22 is preparing for her next album. “Girl, my album’s crazy,” she teases. “It’s very different; it’s a different world. My album is more fun, more dancey—like, get ready to dance. Yeah, and it’s a lot of new stories.”

Chxrry22 is already building momentum with her latest single, “Poppin Out“, and has fans anticipating her next release, “Just Like Me”. “I just released ‘Poppin Out’, my newest single, and I’m about to release my next single, ‘Just Like Me’, and then maybe a couple more,” she shares, hinting at more new music on the way. “You guys will get it next year for sure.”

With an impressive lineup of collaborators, including Offset and Vory, Chxrry22 is already building her musical credentials. “They were fire!” she exclaims, recalling the experience of working on Siren.

“Honestly, I feel really lucky to have had those collaborations, especially for my second EP ever. Those are some big names and some incredible artists. So, shout out to them, because they really came through.”

Touring with The Weeknd has offered Chxrry22 not just exposure to massive audiences but also a model for how she’d like to shape her career.

“We talk often, and he gives me a lot of advice,” she reflects. “But I think more than anything, he’s a living example of how I’d want to be. Seeing him interact with people and seeing him on stage, how gracious he is with everyone—from the smallest person to the biggest person. He’s an example without having to say it, you know?”

As the “XO queen,” she’s also found a welcoming family within The Weeknd’s fanbase. “I feel like I’m like the leader of the girls, and they really are like, ‘She’s our XO queen!’” she laughs.

“The boys are also amazing, and The Weeknd and I have talked about how welcoming and kind his fan base is. I’m like, ‘Wow, you’ve built a really great fan base.’”

In Australia, Chxrry22 has been soaking up the culture and immersing herself in the local experience. “I try to do that everywhere we go, immerse myself in the local culture. So I’ve been to the zoo—Taronga Zoo—and had Tim Tams. I even went on the ferry!”

She’s found a new favourite in Sydney’s Manly Ferry. “If I could take that every day to work, it’d heal me,” she laughs.

Chxrry22’s openness, humour, and vibrant personality shine through as she discusses life on tour and future plans. She’s even willing to joke about her love life, recently throwing a playful call out to potential Aussie suitors during a Melbourne show.

“I’m always looking for a boyfriend in every city,” she says with a laugh. “No, I’m kidding. I said a girlfriend too. So, ladies and gentlemen, call me.”