Jamie XX

Jamie xx, born James Thomas Smith in 1989, emerged from southwest London as both a founding member of The xx and a producer who helped recalibrate the relationship between indie introspection and club euphoria. His 2015 debut solo album In Colour arrived after years of nocturnal apprenticeship, blending garage, house and ambient textures with a restraint inherited from his band's minimalism. The record earned a Mercury Prize nomination and widespread critical praise, with tracks like "Gosh" and "Loud Places" demonstrating his ability to marry melancholy with kinetic energy.

His production work extends beyond The xx to collaborations with Gil Scott-Heron, whose I'm New Here remix album introduced Smith's touch to a generation unfamiliar with the poet's legacy. Influences range from UK garage pioneers to Four Tet's electronic pastoralism, creating a sonic vocabulary that feels simultaneously nostalgic and contemporary. Smith's DJ sets have become cultural events unto themselves, mapping the contours of British club culture onto festival stages worldwide. His second album In Waves followed in 2024, continuing his exploration of rhythm as emotional architecture.