The xx have attained international fame in the last few months, and now the London three-piece is bringing its talents to Baton Rouge.
The band, which will appear at Spanish Moon on Monday, was placed on SPIN Magazine’s list of the top 10 bands to watch for in 2010, and songs from their 2009 self-titled debut album have been featured on popular TV shows such as “Gossip Girl” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
“We had no idea or expectation of what would happen,” said Jamie Smith, who mixes backing tracks for the trio, in a phone interview with The Daily Reveille.
Smith said the members of The xx, now 20 and 21 years old, have been friends since childhood and decided to start recording music together when they were 16. The band’s lead singers, Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim, have known each other since they were 4 years old, said Smith, who met the pair when he was 11.
“The xx started when we were 16 with just Romy and Oli,” Smith said. “I made their backing tracks because I didn’t want to be on stage. Then, when I was 18, I joined full-time.”
Each member of the band records his or her part individually before they come together to revise their material in the studio, Smith said.
The band’s popularity has become widespread across the indie -rock music scene, but its name recognition came gradually.
“The first gigs we played were night clubs,” Smith said. “We were playing at 1 a.m.”
The crowds were comprised of rowdy bar-goers, he said.
“People just wanted to dance and drink,” Smith said. “But you’ve got to start somewhere.”
The xx landed a spot at this summer’s Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, part of a lineup that includes Stevie Wonder, Jay Z and Kings of Leon
“We’ve done a couple [outdoor music festivals],” Smith said. “We were used to playing at night, so it’s quite a change, but it felt pretty good actually.”
Bonnaroo is one of the later stops on the band’s international tour, which kicks off today at the South by Southwest music festival in Austin, Texas.
“We’ve all got really fond memories of [touring in America],” Smith said. “I think it’s the most fun we’ve ever had while touring.”
Smith said the band enjoys touring in America because it’s different from their normal U.K. routine — without a language barrier.
And the band may see a spike in accolades and CD sales — its debut album currently holds a spot on Tower Records’ list of top 100 bestsellers — but members still credit their live performances as the source of their love for music.
“We started out writing songs to play live, so that’s what we’ve always done,” Smith said. “We didn’t expect anyone to listen to us. Everything that’s happened since has been amazing.”
The xx will return to the studio to record a sophomore album after the band finishes its tour in September, Smith said. But the band doesn’t feel as much pressure this time around, he said.
“We used to have no pressure and no intentions,” Smith said. “We just need to get back and do what we love, and hopefully it’ll come out well and people will like it.”
The xx will perform at The Spanish Moon on Monday at 9 p.m. Tickets are $12, and pre-sale tickets are sold out.
Contact Matthew Jacobs at [email protected]