The xx
The xx are an English indie rock band from Wandsworth, London, formed in 2005.[1] The band consists of Romy Madley Croft (guitar, vocals), Oliver Sim (bass guitar, vocals), Jamie Smith, also known as Jamie xx (beats, MPC, record production), and formerly Baria Qureshi (keyboard, guitar). They are known for their distinct and minimalist sound that blends indie rock, indie electronic, indie pop, dream pop and electro-rock and the dual vocalist setup of both Madley Croft and Sim. Their music employs soft, echoed guitar, prominent bass, light electronic beats and ambient soundscape backgrounds.
This article is about the English indie pop band. For other uses, see XX (disambiguation).
The xx
The band was formed when Madley Croft and Sim met during their time at Elliott School, with Baria Qureshi joining the same year and Smith a year later. After posting demos on their Myspace page, they drew the attention of the Beggars Group-owned label Young Turks (now Young). Working with producer Rodaidh McDonald, the band released their debut album, xx, in August 2009. The album was a commercial and critical success, reaching number three on the UK Albums Chart,[2] ranking first for The Guardian's and second for NME's best of the year lists among others,[3][4] and winning the Mercury Prize in 2010. After their debut, Qureshi left the group and their second album, Coexist, was released on 5 September 2012 to positive reviews, reaching number one in the UK and number five on the Billboard 200.[2][5] After a four-year lapse between releases, including Smith's solo debut in 2015, In Colour, the band released their third album, I See You, on 13 January 2017, which debuted to critical acclaim and peaked at number one in the UK and number two on the Billboard 200.[2][6]
History[edit]
2005–2009: Formation[edit]
The band members met while studying at Elliott School, the same school attended by Hot Chip, Burial, Four Tet, actor Pierce Brosnan, Fleetwood Mac founder Peter Green and singer Matt Monro.[7] The group has downplayed the influence of the school on its career: "A teacher from Elliott who had never even taught us said how great we were. It's a bit annoying. We were left alone, more than anything – although I'm sure that helped us in its own way."[8] Oliver Sim and Romy Madley Croft (born 1989)[9] started the band as a duo when they were 15. Guitarist Baria Qureshi joined once it began performing in 2005, with Jamie Smith, also known as Jamie xx, joining a year after. Smith, although schoolfriends with Madley Croft, Sim and Qureshi, joined the band after being formally introduced by their now label, Young Turks (now Young).[10][11]
Musical style and influences[edit]
The xx has been described as various genres, including indie rock,[48][49][50] indie pop, indie electronic,[51] R&B,[52][53] dream pop,[54] and electro-rock,[55][56] while incorporating elements of post-punk[56] and dance.[53] The band members have cited several artists in their influences. Madley Croft said: "Jamie started out very much into soul and then from there moved into hip-hop and UK-based dance music. He brings some much lower frequencies of bass into the band. And then I've grown up listening to Siouxsie and the Banshees, and The Cure. We're really quite a huge melting pot of different stuff."[57] She also had mentioned her liking for Jimi Hendrix, The Slits, Joy Division, Yazoo, Eurythmics and New Order.[58] Madley Croft also added that the xx have been inspired by CocoRosie, The Kills and Electrelane. When signing to their label, they discovered bands like Cocteau Twins. They also expressed admiration for Beyoncé.[59] Sim is an avid fan of Aaliyah, with the band covering her song "Hot Like Fire",[60] while Madley Croft enjoys Mariah Carey's music.[61]
Current members
Former members
