Since the release of his acclaimed 2015 album In Colour, Jamie xx has been celebrated as a defining figure in the UK electronic underground. With his highly anticipated new record, In Waves, set to drop on September 20th, Jamie xx is exploring new sonic landscapes and featuring an exciting range of collaborators. Ahead of the album’s release, Jonah Orbach sat down with him to discuss performing in DIY venues, the non-linear nature of his creative process, and the personal evolution he experienced while making this album. Here's what he shared.

JONAH ORBACH How are you going? What’ve you been up to?

JAIME XX I’m good! Mainly doing press stuff and I also went on a little holiday, which was nice.

JO Has the record been finished for a while?

JXX I finished it in July, and I’ve been doing a few shows since then.

JO You put out In Colour in 2015. Creatively, what’s been keeping you busy?

JXX I’ve been working a lot on other people’s records and playing live. After lockdown, I got back into DJing, and that’s been great fun.

JO Can you tell me about your residency, The Floor, which you ran and London’s MOT? What is special about DIY spaces?

JXX I always dreamed of having my own club. A few times over the years, I have almost bought buildings in London. In hindsight, I’m so glad I didn’t do that because it’s so much work and I wouldn’t have had time for anything else. I’d probably be a wreck.

Being able to recreate these DIY spaces has been amazing. I hope people will remember them and also that they encourage people who usually only go to big shows to attend smaller ones. Those spaces got me into dance music in the first place, and that’s where I always dreamt about going, even before I was old enough to go to raves.

JO Are you planning on exploring these ideas in a more permanent setting?

JXX I’m hoping to do more of them around the world. I know Floating Points is building his own sound system. It’s being tested out this week. I hope that turns into something permanent. And well, if anyone’s going to do it, it’d probably be him. It’s a very similar setup to the sound system that I was using in my club in New York, which was built by this guy Shorty, who is a New York legend. It looks awesome. I haven’t heard it yet but I’m going to try and have a sneak peek.

JO We’ve been getting some big singles from you over the last couple of years. Did these influence the creation of the record in any way?

JXX There was definitely a point where every time I made and released one of those tracks, I thought that it was going to be part of the record, and I felt one step closer to being finished. But I got to the point that I wanted everything on the album to be new. That kind of pushed me to keep going and keep trying new things. I finished the album probably eight times, and then went back and did more.

JO Was there a consistent process of creation within Waves?

JXX I tried every process possible. I tried being super healthy and doing a 9 to 5 every day in the studio, even if no music was being produced. I tried staying up for days on end and losing my mind. I tried going on surfing holidays and having a studio by the beach. Certain things worked and certain things didn’t. But it’s been the most enjoyable experience, even though it took so long. I also went back to trying to make music how I did when I was a kid, which was buying and sampling records, and just listening to a lot of music.

JO Did you set up many limitations throughout the process?

JXX I think the journey of making a record is usually just making stuff until something feels really good and then you’re just sort of honing in on all of the limitations that define the record. Towards the end, you have these limitations that direct you to finishing the music. When I was making those singles, I was still searching for what exactly the record would be.

JO Do you take your time with each song or do tracks come together quickly in shorter bursts?

JXX Both. I’m always searching for those quick moments, but I feel like whenever I’m searching for it, it never happens. It’s only happened a handful of times. Some bits of music can take five years and you just grind away at it. I really wish that I knew the answer to how to make those things happen quicker, but it’s kind of just getting into a flow state and making a bunch of mistakes that all seem to work together.

JO The thing that struck me about In Waves is the depth in its sound. Were you fine tuning as you went or was there a big mixdown phase at the end?

JXX I do a lot of it during the production. It’s for my own satisfaction because I do it again at the end of the mix for the final master. During the production it is helpful because it shows me what the track is going to be. I like to keep going on the details and I think that’s one of the reasons why a lot of things take so long. I spend a lot of extra time on stuff that is probably going to be changed in the end, I’m glad that you noticed the depth. It means that maybe it was worth doing.

JO Do you find this process can sometimes divert you from the finish line?

JXX Oh, yeah, for sure. There’s a lot of music that I love because of the detail. I really don’t know what’s going to work until I play it to people or play it in a DJ set. Sometimes the things that are the most basic, that I’m not particularly proud of are the things that hit, so it’s always a learning process.

JO Were you inspired by anything when creating the album?  

JXX I have been touring since I was a teenager. I never had a chance to stop. And then lockdown happened, and everybody stopped. Everybody was in the same situation. I always felt like I was doing different things to everyone else, which was amazing. But to have the chance to just stop and kind of feel some sort of kinship with everyone and work out what else in my life there was other than music was really helpful. It made me so excited about what I get to do. That’s kind of why I started making music more like I did when I was a kid, because that was the way I most enjoyed it.

JO It sounds like there was a lot of self-growth throughout the process.

JXX I think so. Even aside from making the records, just growing up and being in my 30s. I’m sure it happens to most people when they turn 30. You have to take stock and work out what you want to do with the next bit of your life.

JO The record’s dynamism feels very representative of the underground UK electronic scene at the moment.

JXX I think it is, or even just worldwide really. The way that people consume all media is quite fast. I’ve noticed that, especially with the young producers in the UK and Europe, it’s a little bit more schizophrenic the way that tracks are being made, and I really love that. It’s something that I would have never done before. I feel like I’m learning from the kids and it’s super inspiring.

JO What else did you learn from the album process?

JXX I think it's always about trying to listen to as much as possible, especially staying up to date with what's happening in the super underground dance music scene, more than the mainstream popular stuff. In recent years, that has really seeped into the record. The biggest lesson I took away from making this album was that whenever I tried to directly adapt an idea or a song I heard, it never quite turned out the way I wanted. But when I just made music for fun and followed the mistakes, that's when all the good stuff happened.

JO Now that it’s done, when you listen back, is there a track you’re most excited about?

JXX I haven’t listened to the record since I mastered it. I’m excited for it to come out as a full body of work because there’s been a lot of singles leading up to it. I think I prefer a slow rollout. But I guess the last track on the album has always gone down well at live shows, so I’m excited for that to exist.

JO Is there something you are wanting to leave your audiences with on this album?

JXX I like people to make up their own minds, but with all the spoken word elements, I was definitely reflecting on my own journey and what I’ve observed in my generation—this constant search for healthier minds and a better way of living, while also wrestling with the desire to go out, party, and relive the things we did in our 20s. I like the idea that the record can be experienced in different ways, depending on the situation. You can listen to it through headphones and have one experience, or if you're high on a dance floor, it can take you somewhere completely different.

JO In early December, you’re playing a range of shows in Australia, including at Melbourne’s PICA and Sydney’s Carriageworks. Do you have a favourite kind of venue to play in?

JXX I love playing in venues with small, dark rooms and amazing sound. I love playing the big shows as well, it’s just a very different thing. I’m very grateful that I get to do both, but I mean, anything that feels a little bit illegal or a little bit edgy is kind of great because that’s what I was dreaming about as a kid.

JO Very excited to have you back!

JXX Yeah! I’m very excited about coming back and I’m going to spend a lot of time there. I think I’m going to try and spend the whole of December and Christmas there. Go do some exploring for a bit. I can’t wait.