James Thomas Smith[1] (born 28 October 1988), known professionally as Jamie xx, is an English musician, DJ, record producer, and remixer. He is known for both his solo work and as a member of the indie pop band the xx.
He has been described as a "driving force" behind the xx,[2] contributing to the group's significant commercial and critical success. As a solo artist, he has been recognised with a 2015 Mercury Prize nomination, and a 2016 Grammy Award for Best Dance/Electronic Album nomination for In Colour.[3]
Career
2006–2009
Smith was born in London on 28 October 1988.[4] His musical career began in 2006 when he joined the xx accompanying old schoolmates Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim, and Baria Qureshi of the Elliott School in London, notable for alumni including Hot Chip, Burial, and Four Tet.[5] He first used the stage name Jamie xx in July 2009 in a promotional mix for the band's debut album xx released on the FACT magazine mix series.[6] The mixtape was compiled by Jamie Smith and featured, amongst others, four tracks credited to Jamie xx – one self-production and three remixes. The xx album went on to become platinum in the UK.[7] Afterward, Jamie Smith went on to do more remix work for artists like Florence + The Machine, Adele, Jack Peñate and Glasser.[8]
In late 2010, a Jamie xx remix of the song "NY Is Killing Me" from Gil Scott-Heron's last album I'm New Here aired on radio stations across the UK and Europe. The remix of "I'll Take Care of U" followed in January 2011. Both singles drew the attention of the general public and the critics. They set the way for a 13-track remix album entitled We're New Here, produced entirely by Jamie xx and credited to "Gil Scott-Heron and Jamie xx". The album was released on 21 February 2011 on the XL Recordings label, but a full-album preview could be streamed on the website of The Guardian as early as 14 February.[9]We're New Here received critical acclaim and was named "a cohesive, considered masterpiece in its own right" by BBC's Ele Beattie.[10]
On 6 June 2011, the two-track self-produced single "Far Nearer / Beat For" was released. The song "Far Nearer" was selected Best New Track by Pitchfork,[11] and the double A-side single charted at number 128 on the UK Singles Chart.[12] Later the same year, Smith produced the title track off Drake's second album, Take Care, which features Rihanna. In addition, Smith helped create several reworks for Radiohead's song "Bloom" which were released on a remix album entitled TKOL RMX 1234567. He also co-produced the song "When It's All Over" with Alicia Keys on her Girl on Fire album. In 2014, he announced an upcoming collaboration with John Talabot on Tim Sweeney's Beats in Space online radio show. In 2014, he released the singles "Girl/Sleep Sound" and "All Under One Roof Raving".
On 27 March 2015, he released two singles: "Loud Places", featuring the xx's Romy Madley Croft, and "Gosh". On the same day he also announced that his debut album, In Colour, would be out on 1 June 2015.[13] Ahead of its release, In Colour was streamed on iTunes as a preview with album-spanning visuals that 'reacted' to each sound.[14] It was ultimately released on 29 May 2015 to widespread critical acclaim, debuting at number three on the UK Albums Chart and receiving nominations for the 2015 Mercury Prize and for Best Dance/Electronic Album at the 58th Grammy Awards.
In 2020, he released his first single in five years, "Idontknow", which received positive to lukewarm reception from critics.[16][17][18] He was credited on Tyler, the Creator's 2021 album Call Me If You Get Lost as a co-producer on the track "RISE!".[19]
Jamie xx has worked on each of his The xx bandmates' respective solo albums: he produced Oliver Sim's Hideous Bastard (2022),[20] and co-produced Romy's Mid Air (2023).[21]
On 20 September 2024, Jamie xx released his second opus In Waves on the independent Young record label.[22][23]
"Loud Places", "I Know There's Gonna Be Good Times", "Gosh", "Sleep Sound", "Seesaw", "Girl", "Obvs", "Stranger in a Room", "The Rest is Noise", "Hold Tight" & "Just Saying": "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
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