The xx

The xx

The xx are a British group from Wandsworth, London, active since 2005. The line-up includes Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim and Jamie Smith, who also performs as Jamie xx, and Baria Qureshi, who is listed among the members in the group’s history. The band is associated with alternative dance, alternative pop, alternative R&B, dream pop, electronic and indie pop, and is also described as an indie/dream pop trio.

Style and sound

The xx develop a sparse, minimalist sound that draws on indie rock, indie electronic, indie pop, dream pop and electro-rock. Their music uses soft echoed guitar, prominent bass, light electronic beats and ambient backing textures. They are also known for the two-vocalist format shared by Madley Croft and Sim.

Releases and recognition

Their debut album, xx, appears on Young Turks and is recorded in a small garage and produced by the band. It receives strong critical attention and appears on year-end lists, including placements from Rolling Stone and NME. The album’s singles are “Crystalised”, “Basic Space”, “Islands” and “VCR”.

The group also remixes “You’ve Got The Love”, a song originally written by The Source and covered by Florence + the Machine, and adds their own vocals to the track. In 2010, The xx win the Mercury Prize for xx.

Later albums

“Angels” is the first single from the band’s second album, Coexist, and “Chained” is also issued from that record. Work on the third studio album takes place with producer Rodaidh McDonald at the Marfa Recording Company in Marfa, Texas, with further sessions in London, New York, Reykjavik and Los Angeles. The 2016 album I See You is later revealed, along with its title and tracklist, after audio clips are matched on Shazam, and “On Hold” is released from the record.