Jamie xx is an unassuming figure and he knows it. “I’m still happy to be quiet,” he told FADER last month. In fact, the 26-year-old musician, born Jamie Smith, has built a living being quiet. Since 2009, Jamie has been the sonic mastermind behind famous British sulkers The xx. In live shows Smith lurks in the background behind his turntables and samplers, crafting the solemn, sparse soundscapes that gave the band its name.
If The xx is black and white, Smith’s solo work is technicolor. The producer weaves soulful samples over warm synths and makes music as fascinating as it is accessible. His new single, “Loud Places,” is the best thing he’s ever done. With help from Romy Croft, singer of The xx, Smith has crafted a remarkably triumphant track, one fit for both the club and headphones. Over a propulsive groove, Croft details a breakup and its lonely aftermath — “I go to loud places to search for someone to be quiet with.” Bringing the track to its stunning chorus is a sample from Idris Muhammad’s 1977 funk song “Could Heaven Ever Be Like This.” How Smith thinks up this magic is beyond everyone, but I suppose it’s best that way.
Jamie xx’s debut album, In Colour, is out June 1 on Young Turks.