Jamie xx Keeps It Honest on ‘In Waves’

On Jamie xx’s sophomore album, In Waves, the British producer shares his new outlook on life across 12 tracks.

In the middle of Jamie xx’s new album, In Waves, Robyn tells you a loud confession: “You’re giving me life / Shitty, pretty, wild, you’re giving me life.” The confession might stun you at first, given that it sounds a bit like an insult, but it’s an appreciative verse not targeted toward you—the listener—but to the universe.

Jamie xx’s sound has become more outward and celebratory in the past couple of years. “LET’S DO IT AGAIN,” released right before the first post-COVID return of Coachella, affirmed the excitement of reconnecting on the dancefloor. “KILL DEM,” which debuted in the second half of 2022, conjured the aftermath of our pent-up energy by expressing a restoredness of everyday experiences. “It’s So Good,” released in January, carries the familiar energy of our wishful, optimistic desires when we start a new year.

These singles offer an insight into the British producer’s journey of a post-pandemic life, one that conveys acceptance and celebration of the spectrum of experiences that existence offers. On In Waves, we hear Jamie xx’s new perspective through 12 tracks.

The 45-minute album kicks off with “Wanna,” a reflective ballad with swaying vocals that are punctuated by grand piano chords, slowly transitioning the song’s initial pensive ambiance into a riveting anthem that leads into the genre-bending “Treat Each Other Right.” The second song acts as a radio, switching its signal between old-school funk and futuristic UKG. Despite the sonic oscillations, the lyrics still maintain their comforting message—“I’ll be there” and “All we got to do is treat each other right”—perhaps a nod to the universal message of acceptance that is often heard through different kinds of music.

On “Waited All Night,” the 35-year-old taps his The xx bandmates Romy and Oliver Sim on a club-ready beat. Jamie xx challenges the soft, tranquil narrative that his band is known for by giving each singer the space to belt out their heartful admissions and layering their vocals with shuttering samples, progressive textures, and hazy synths.

A couple of songs later, “Breather” quickly hits the listener with an array of chaotic electronic instruments. Synth distortion, a haunting flanger, and aggressive modulators create a state of paralysis, but as the track progresses, the violent tempo stabilizes, and the once forceful instruments become soothing and free you from the agitation that was first there.

The uneasy elements featured in this record make it an honest body of work. They illustrate the complexities that life unexpectedly throws in our direction, but the record also details how we can endure and heal from difficult moments. From vibing with someone on the dance floor (“Baddy On the Floor feat. Honey Dijon”) and connecting with your surroundings (“Still Summer”) to finding comfort from those close to you (“The Feeling I Get From You”), the album encourages you to embrace the waves that life throws at you. In this way, it becomes a great reminder that, amid uncertainty, there’s always a wave worth catching.

Give In Waves a listen on Spotify or your preferred platform, and follow Jamie xx for the latest updates on his releases, tour dates, and more.

Stream Jamie xx – In Waves on Spotify:

Jamie xx – In Waves – Tracklist:

Wanna

Treat Each Other Right

Waited All Night (featuring Romy and Oliver Sim)

Baddy on the Floor (featuring Honey Dijon)

Dafodil (featuring Kelsey Lu, John Glacier, and Panda Bear)

Still Summer

Life (with Robyn)

The Feeling I Get from You

Breather

All You Children (featuring the Avalanches)

Every Single Weekend (Interlude)

Falling Together (featuring Oona Doherty)

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