This next-big-thing band is a cool playground story. Born and raised in south West London, “The XX” founders Oliver Sim and Romy Madley Croft have known each other for more time than they can even remember. “Probably sharing a xylophone at 3, according to a picture I have”, Romy confesses.

From the sandbox of their childhood to the upcoming 50 gigs waiting for them across the old continent and the US, these two musicians attended the Elliott School where a bunch of bands such as Burial and Hot Chip also met. Even though bassist Oliver doesn’t think much of the school’s creative credentials, this is where the XX seed was planted where they were all but 16 years old. A dark mixture of The Smith, Siouxsie Sioux aesthetic, Fever Ray and the Cocteau Twins is well thought through and reassembled in their eponymous record released by Young Turks (Wavves, El Gincho, Kid Harpoon). And so here they are today, singing romantic teen love songs at sold out venues and soon turning 20, which should give the XX’s name a whole new meaning.

- Shot @ Le Point Ephémère