The xx perform tracks from their album 'I See You'
by Mac Wilson
April 28, 2017
For The xx, home is where the art is. After recording their latest album, I See You, in several far-flung places, the album seemed to jell in a familiar locale. "For me, at least, it felt like London," says The xx DJ and producer Jamie Smith. "We'd had a lot of fun in all the new places we'd been to, like Texas and Iceland and L.A. and stuff. After … we were back home all together, it felt like everything was coming into place. It was actually my favorite part, even though it was not the most exotic place."
I See You was released in January 2017, and now the The xx are on tour in support of the album. In town for a show at the Palace Theatre in downtown St. Paul, The xx stopped at The Current — just a couple blocks from the Palace — for an in-studio session hosted by Mac Wilson.
Before the album's release, The xx dropped the lead single, "Hold On," on Nov. 10, 2016, and they performed the song as the musical guests on Saturday Night Live just nine days later. "The whole experience on Saturday Night Live was incredibly intimidating," says bassist and vocalist Oliver Sim. "I think the whole novelty of walking down those corridors and seeing the portraits of everyone that's played there … it was quite amazing that we were there, but I definitely felt a bit out of place, in a good way."
Guitarist/vocalist Romy Madley Croft felt bolstered by the SNL experience. "That was like our first big thing we did for the album," she recalls. "And I think if we had done it in England, there wouldn't have been so many people being so encouraging, and it really helped. I don't know if it's stereotypical — and especially with SNL and all the comedians — but it was definitely a light, encouraging mood that's not very typical in England. So we were grateful to come and do it in the U.S."
Use the audio player above to hear the complete in-studio session with The xx, including their thoughts on the Velvet Underground's inspiration, and the band's insights on the unlikely yet vibrant artistic community in the remote village of Marfa, Texas.
Songs Performed
"Say Something Loving"
"I Dare You"
"On Hold"
All songs from The xx's 2017 album, I See You, available on the Young Turks label.
Hosted by Mac Wilson
Produced by Derrick Stevens
Engineered by Michael DeMark
Visuals by Nate Ryan
Web feature by Luke Taylor
Resources
The xx - official website
