The xx

United Kingdom, 2005–now

London trio formed in 2005 (Romy Madley Croft, Oliver Sim, Jamie xx). Their spare, hushed debut xx paired boy-girl vocals and skeletal guitar with R&B-informed space and restraint, a hugely influential template for late-2000s minimalist pop.

MusicRoots documents 3 artists who influenced The xx and 2 artists The xx influenced in turn. Every connection cites a published source.

Who influenced The xx?

• The Cure — The Cure's spare, atmospheric post-punk is a stated influence on the xx's hushed, melancholic minimalism.
• Pixies — The Pixies' quiet-loud guitar spareness is among the alternative-rock touchstones the xx name behind their skeletal sound.
• Rihanna — The R&B end of the xx's influences, against the Cure and Pixies at the other.

Which artists did The xx influence?

• Glass Animals — The xx's spare, R&B-informed minimalism is kin to Glass Animals' slinky, spacious productions.
• Bastille — The xx's delicate, atmospheric minimalism is a cited influence on Bastille's brooding side.