The XX

The XX biography

In September 2010, the band's debut album won the Barclaycard Mercury Prize, acquiring best British and Irish album of the year. After the live ceremony screening, the album jumped from 16 to 3 on the September 12th U.K. albums chart, accompanying an 269% sales increase. XL's marketing campaign drastically expanded after this substantial win, with day-time TV advertisements and billboard campaigns on some of UK's highest-profile digital billboards. Thanks to the highlighted publicity, XL Recordings says it has shipped more than 40,000 CDs in the days following the Mercury Prize. XL Managing director Ben Beardsworth explained,"Thanks to the Mercury win...things are accelerating dramatically and the band will be reaching a bigger and bigger audience with their music." In another promotional initiative, the label sent out Saam Farahmand's audio/visual sculpture of the album when the band toured at Bestival 2010, a sculpture also appearing in an event at Seoul.

The band was nominated for 'Best British Album', 'Best British Breakthrough' and 'Best British Band' at the 2011 BRIT Awards held on 15 February 2011 at the O2 Arena in London; however, they did not win in any of the categories.

Next album

In December 2011, Smith revealed that he wants to release their second LP ahead of their festival appearances next year and that it is inspired by "club music". "The majority of stuff I'm working on now is The xx stuff. We're just about to start recording. Hopefully we'll get it done in time for most festivals next year, because that's the most fun." Discussing the sound of the album, he said: "We've all come back off tour and been partying a bit more. We left when we were 17 and we missed out on that chunk of our lives when everyone else was partying. Club music has definitely had an influence on the next record."

Other

"Intro" from The xx first album is the background music for Rihanna's song "Drunk On Love" from her 2011 Talk That Talk album. Jamie also produced Drake's track ft. Rihanna for "Take Care"

Guest appearances

• Kwesachu Mixtape Vol.1 by Kwes & Micachu (5 June 2009)
• "Days" by Creep feat Romy xx (2010)

Official demos, covers, and remixes

• "See me Now" - Spit Syndicate (Best Intentions Part I)
• "Crystalised" - Gorillaz (Gorillaz cover from BBC Radio Radio Live Lounge - Videos on youtube)
• "the notorious xx" - wait what (11 Track Album Mashup of The Notorious B.I.G. v. The xx)
• "Reckless Abandon" - DJ Bahler (Mashup of "Crystalised")
• "Blood Red Moon" - Sandra D ("Basic Space" B-side & xx Bonus CD)
• "Hot Like Fire" - Aaliyah ("Crystalised" B-side & xx bonus CD)
• "Teardrops" - Womack and Womack (xx Bonus CD)
• "Do You Mind?" - E. Reid/P.Reid/K. Smith ("Islands" B-side & xx Bonus CD)
• "You've Got The Love" - The Source/Florence and the Machine - (The xx Remix)
• "Space Bass" (Jamie xx's Basic Space Remix)
• "Closer" - Ne-Yo - (Romy xx - produced by Kwes & Micachu)
• "Pull My Heart Away" - Jack Peí±ate - (Jamie xx Remix)
• "Insects" ("VCR" B-side & xx Bonus CD)
• "Warrior - Magic Wands (Magic, Love & Dreams EP) - (The xx Remix)"
• "The Afterlife - YACHT (The Afterlife EP) - (The xx Remix)"
• "Tremel" - Glasser - (Jamie xx remix)
• "NY Is Killing Me" - Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx
• "Lumiere" - Blue Scholars
• "VCR" - OMD (unreleased)
• "I'll Take Care Of U" - Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx
• "Rolling in the Deep" (Jamie xx Shuffle) - Adele
• "VCR (kiss kiss bang bang mix) - Lookleft + Bearight
• "Islands" - Shakira - Sale el Sol (The xx Cover)
• "The XX Gon Give It To Ya" - The Hood Internet
• "Shelter" - Hercules and Love Affair
• "I Remember Shelter (Austin Eterno Mash-up)" - The xx vs Deadmau5 & Kaskade
• "Shelter" - Birdy (The xx Cover)
• "Krystal" (Shelter Remix) - Alcohol&Ecstasy
• "Night Time" - Tracey Thorn
• "VCR" - The Antlers
• "Open Eyes" (Demo)
• "Bloom" - Radiohead (Jamie xx Rework)

References

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