Being unexpectedly thrust into the spotlight at an early age certainly has its disadvantages. After speaking to two members of the xx, an ambient pop trio from London, England, it's clear that they know this all too well.
When their self-titled 2009 debut took off, winning the prestigious Mercury Prize, Romy Madley-Croft, Oliver Sim and Jamie Smith allowed their songs to be featured on television and in films, and some were even blasted through stadium sound systems during soccer matches.
Now in their early 20s, the xx began as a musical outlet for wide-eyed 15 year olds. There’s a raw emotion about their work and, on their gorgeous, airy new album Coexist, out on Sept. 11, there are songs that come across as shy admissions. As it happens, these are extensions of how the band's members genuinely communicate with people, particularly in interviews.
“It’s been a long process,” Smith says quietly, “and we’re all getting a bit better at doing things like this.”
“The weird thing about interviews is, it’s often the case that we’re having to analyze and talk about stuff that we didn’t even think about in the moment,” Sim explains. “So you’re having to go back and explain something that was maybe impulsive at the time, which is a bit unusual.
“I guess it’s the bit that can sometimes feel most like work,” he continues, “Because right now we’re not playing very much; we’re just talking a lot. So, this maybe isn’t the most creative part. But this record’s still fresh on our mind so it’s fine. It’s nice to be able to talk to people who’ve heard these songs. Maybe after a year of this, we’ll be feeling a bit different. But right now, it’s good.”
Pre-order Coexist by the xx here. Stay tuned for more from our interview with the band.
Related: