Jamie xx & The Avalanches

Biography

James Thomas Smith, known professionally as Jamie xx, was born on 28 October 1988 in South London, England. He began his musical career in 2006 by joining the indie pop band the xx with schoolmates Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim from the Elliott School in London, a hub for talents like Hot Chip, Burial, and Four Tet. The band's debut album xx (2009) achieved platinum status in the UK and won the Mercury Prize, establishing a minimalist pop sound blending indie, R&B, and electronic elements, with Jamie xx as a driving force in production using tools like the MPC he received for his 18th birthday[1][2].

As a solo artist, Jamie xx adopted the moniker in 2009 with a promotional mix for xx, followed by acclaimed remixes for artists like Florence + the Machine, Adele, Radiohead, and Gil Scott-Heron's We're New Here (2011), which influenced tracks like Drake and Rihanna's 'Take Care'. His debut album In Colour (2015) earned a Mercury Prize nomination and a Grammy nod for Best Dance/Electronic Album, while his 2024 release In Waves featured a darker, broodier electronic style with club-ready production[1][2][4]. He has also produced for major artists including Drake, Alicia Keys, Tyler, the Creator, and his xx bandmates' solo projects like Oliver Sim's Hideous Bastard (2022) and Romy's Mid Air (2023)[1][4][5].

Jamie xx's style fuses UK garage, house, R&B, and indie, pioneering minimalist electronic pop and becoming a defining DJ and producer of his generation. His legacy includes shaping dancefloor soundtracks, collaborating across genres, and evolving from band member to solo innovator, with ongoing work hinted at for future xx material despite diverging solo paths[1][2][4].

Fun Facts

• Jamie xx received an MPC for his 18th birthday, which he used extensively in the xx's early productions[1].
• He was starstruck meeting The Avalanches, whose album Since I Left You (released when he was 11) taught him how to produce[4].
• Jamie xx built and ran his own pop-up club in London for 10 nights to celebrate In Colour, finding it intensely rewarding yet exhausting[4].
• He turned down aspects of working with Drake due to late nights and weed smoke, as he doesn't partake[4].

Musical Connections

Mentors/Influences

• Robyn - Mentor in the studio providing insight due to her long career ('Life' featuring Robyn on In Waves) [2024]

Key Collaborators

• The Avalanches - Production collaboration on tracks ('All You Children' and 'Every Single Weekend' on In Waves; their contribution to We Will Always Love You) [2020, 2024]
• Romy Madley Croft - Bandmate in the xx and co-produces her solo work (Mid Air (2023), In Waves features) [2005-present]
• Oliver Sim - Bandmate in the xx and produces his solo album (Hideous Bastard (2022), In Waves features) [2005-present]
• Tyler, the Creator - Co-producer on track ('RISE!' on Call Me If You Get Lost) [2021]

Artists Influenced

• Drake - Sampled Jamie xx's production in hit track ('Take Care' sampling 'I'll Take Care of U' from We're New Here) [2011]
• Rihanna - Sampled Jamie xx's production ('Take Care' with Drake) [2011]

External Links

• Spotify
• Wikipedia