JAMIE XX
COMPOSER
BIOGRAPHY
When Manchester International Festival’s then
Artistic Director Alex Poots gave me a copy of Tree
of Codes, the book, it was the physicality rather than
the content that interested me. The reaction I had to
it was really visceral.
It suddenly sparked all these ideas: I could
immediately see patterns and rhythms in it, even
melodies. Instantly. The music I’ve made closely
matches those first reactions I had to the book.
The collaboration started with the three of us
just discussing ideas, passing demos and plans
back and forth between us. I went to a company
rehearsal before I really had much music—just
ideas. Coming back to dance rehearsals later, with
the music more advanced, it was so different.
Time passes so differently in space when you add
the movement.
Olafur and Wayne are both very inspiring people,
inspirational artists. It’s been a pleasure just to
meet them, just to hang out. I knew Olafur’s work
pretty well before we were introduced. I didn’t
know Wayne’s as well until after I’d met him, but
I now have a real appreciation for it. They’re both
just so good at what they do, and they love it—you
can see that they’re so passionate about it. And it’s
fascinating to meet and work with somebody from
outside your field who’s just as passionate as you
are about what they do.
For the music, I didn’t want to purposefully do
something that didn’t sound like me. But I’ve been
able to do things that I would never put out on a
record. It’s been exciting to have the opportunity
to run away with my own thoughts and ideas. I’ve
been able to get so much out of this. I’ve never
made so much music in my life. It’s been great to
know that I have to get that much music out—just
to keep going.
—JAMIE XX
Jamie xx is an English composer, performer,
music producer and remix artist, and is one of
three members of The xx. The group formed in
London in 2005, and released their debut album
xx four years later. The album reached number
three in the UK charts and won the Mercury Music
Prize. In 2011 Jamie released We’re New Here, the
album-length remix of Gil Scott-Heron’s album I’m
New Here, which received huge acclaim. Coexist,
The xx’s second album, was released in 2012 and
reached number one in the UK and number five on
the Billboard album chart in the US. Both albums
have sold over three million copies between them.
Jamie has toured widely with The xx and as a solo
artist, and has worked extensively as a producer
and remixer for acts such as Florence + the
Machine, Drake, Adele and Alicia Keys. In Colour
is Jamie’s first solo album, released in 2015. In
Colour would go on to become one of the year’s
most commercially successful and critically
acclaimed electronic albums, shortlisted as one
of the 2015 Mercury Music Prize Albums of the
Year and receiving nominations at the 2015 BRIT
Awards and 2016 Grammy Awards.
This year Jamie has reunited with The xx to
release I See You which again entered the UK
album charts at number one on release. The
album marks a new era for the band, both
sonically and in terms of process: xx and Coexist
were made in relative isolation in London; I See You
was recorded in New York, Marfa Texas, Reykjavik,
Los Angeles and London, and is characterised
by a more outward-looking, open and expansive
approach. Produced by Jamie and Rodaidh
McDonald, I See You is The xx at their boldest yet,
performing with more clarity and ambition than
ever before.
jamiexx.com