When The xx released their debut album xx in August of 2009, I was finishing up my junior year in art school at the Art Institute of Dallas. With its whispered vocals, minimalist guitar lines, deep bass grooves, and Jamie xx’s understated production, the album felt unlike anything else coming out of the indie scene at the time. All of these things made it an immediate addition to my project and homework playlist, as it was perfect background or foreground music inspiring creative sparks without drowning out the execution. It transformed Life Drawing into something sublime, recreating the male and female form while Oliver and Romy’s vocals intertwined and danced around each other. The music was simple and elegant with themes of longing, desire, uncertainty, heartbreak, and emotional vulnerability running throughout each track. The album earned exceptionally strong reviews from the moment it was released and has since been regarded as one of the defining indie albums of the 21st century. It won the 2010 Mercury Prize for Best British Album and became a million-selling album despite lacking a major hit single.
For Vinyl & Vibes, I can’t think of a better companion activity than drawing or painting. This isn’t simply background music, it’s music that quietly sparks creativity. Every guitar note, every beat, and every pause leaves room for your imagination to wander. Whether you’re filling a sketchbook with loose pencil lines or layering colors onto a canvas, xx encourages you to slow down, stop worrying about perfection, and simply create. There’s something incredibly calming about letting the album unfold while watching a blank page gradually become something uniquely your own and seeing your thoughts, feelings, and emotions “crystallize”. Sound becomes line, emotions become color.
Some albums demand your attention, while others invite you into their world. xx does the latter, rewarding patience with an emotional listening experience that somehow grows stronger with every spin. Pair it with a quiet room, a gin and tonic, a charcuterie board, and your favorite art supplies, and you’ve got an evening that feels less like entertainment and more like a reset for your soul. Sometimes the most powerful records are the ones that say the least, and xx is a beautiful reminder that silence can be just as expressive as sound.
Vibe Setup
Turntable: Set the volume just high enough that you can hear the soft crackle between tracks. That tiny bit of surface noise almost becomes another instrument on this album, adding warmth and reinforcing the feeling that you’re sharing a private moment with the band.
Supplies!: Sketchbook, pencils, charcoal, watercolor set, or acrylics
Night Time & Stars: Evening, preferably after sunset, is the best time to let go of the burdens of the day and lose yourself in the sound and the art.
In The Right Light: One lamp, warm light, or candles. Nothing too bright.
Unplug me, baby: Put away all screens and electronic devices. No outside distractions allowed. Just be in the moment with the music. Light some incense for good measure.
Goal: To create, not perfect. Let whatever comes out flow.
Creative Prompt
As each song plays, don’t try to draw a specific object. Instead, draw the feeling of the music. Rather than creating a painting of a landscape or portrait, create an abstract piece inspired by the album. Let each track influence your color choices, brushstrokes, and composition. By the time “Stars” fades out, you’ll have a visual interpretation of one of the most intimate indie albums ever recorded.
Lines for tension
Shapes for emotion
Colors for mood
Shadows for silence
The xx leaves so much space in its arrangements that your imagination naturally fills in the gaps. That’s exactly why it pairs so well with visual art.
Food Pairing
Charcuterie Board
Soft cheeses, aged cheddar, prosciutto, olives, figs, grapes, Marcona almonds, sea salt chocolates, crusty bread, and a little honey. Get creative here as well. This encourages grazing rather than sitting down for a heavy meal, matching the album’s slow, contemplative pace.
Drink Pairing
Elderflower Gin & Tonic
Floral, light, and airy. It has the same quiet elegance that defines the album.
2 oz gin
3 oz tonic
1/4 oz lime juice
float of St Germain elderflower liqueur
Pour gin, tonic, and lime juice in a rocks glass over ice. Stir lightly. Float St. Germain over the top of the ice. Garnish with cucumber slice or sprig of fresh rosemary.
For a solid non-alcoholic option, sparkling water or a nice, warm cup of chamomile tea also match the mood perfectly.
HIGHLIGHTS
Crystallized: The definitive xx song. It captures everything that makes the band unique: tension, intimacy, and restraint.
Intro: An instrumental that somehow became a cultural phenomenon through sports broadcasts, television, commercials, and film placements.
VCR: A perfect example of how the band creates emotional depth from the simplest musical ideas.
Heart Skipped A Beat: The album’s most infectious groove and one of Oliver Sim’s standout moments.
Shelter: One of Romy’s finest vocal performances and an emotional centerpiece of the album.
“And I’ll cross oceans like never before So you can feel the way I feel it too And I’ll mirror images back at you So you can see the way I feel it too”
-“Shelter”, The xx (2009)
Pairs well with:
Happy little trees, pastel smudged hands, fine lines, outlines, warm colors, cool colors, positive vibes, negative space, simple love, and complex feelings
Groove Rituals 