The xx: Pioneers of Intimate Indie Pop

The xx are an English indie pop band from London, formed in 2005. Their atmospheric and minimalist debut album, xx, won the 2010 Mercury Prize, establishing them as a defining voice in 21st-century alternative music.

Early career

The band's founding members-Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim, and Jamie Smith (later known as Jamie xx)-met at London's Elliott School, which has a notable music alumni. They began crafting their signature sparse sound in a garage, blending whispered vocals, dueting basslines, and skeletal guitar work. Their early demos caught the attention of the independent label Young Turks, leading to their first single, Crystalised, in 2009.

Breakthrough

The xx's self-titled debut album, xx, was released in August 2009 to widespread critical acclaim. Its intimate, reverb-drenched sound, characterized by the interplay between Croft and Sim's vocals, stood in stark contrast to the maximalist pop of the era. The album's commercial and artistic success was cemented when it won the prestigious Mercury Prize in 2010, eventually being certified Platinum in the UK.

Key tracks

Crystalised - The band's debut single perfectly introduced their signature sound of intertwined vocals and minimalist instrumentation.

Intro - This instrumental track became a cultural phenomenon, widely licensed in film, TV, and advertising for its evocative and cinematic quality.

Angels - The lead single from their second album, it showcased a more direct and emotionally raw songwriting style from Romy Madley Croft.

On Hold - This single from their third album incorporated a Hall & Oates sample, signaling Jamie xx's growing production influence and a brighter, more dance-oriented direction.

Following their debut, the band's second album, Coexist (2012), refined their minimalist aesthetic while exploring themes of distance and connection. Their third studio album, I See You (2017), marked a significant evolution, incorporating brighter production, brass sections, and samples, largely driven by Jamie xx's successful solo ventures in electronic music. This period saw the members balancing the band with individual projects, with Jamie xx releasing the acclaimed solo album In Colour in 2015.

Fans of The xx's atmospheric and emotionally resonant style also appreciate the work of Jamie xx for his intricate electronic productions. Beach House shares a similar dream-pop sensibility and hazy melodic warmth. The introspective lyricism and minimalist arrangements can be found in the music of Perfume Genius. Meanwhile, London Grammar offers a comparable blend of soaring vocals and spacious, atmospheric indie pop.

The xx's distinctive catalog remains a staple on alternative and indie pop radio stations, frequently featured in programming that highlights innovative and atmospheric modern music. Their evolution from whispered intimacy to dancefloor-adjacent pop ensures their songs connect across a spectrum of alternative radio formats.

Listeners can explore the nuanced discography of The xx through the radio stations available on onairium.com, discovering the band's influential journey within the indie pop genre.