Oliver Sim

Romy and I, we're learning how to share the xx with people who aren't in the xx.

I don't know what I was expecting or what I was dreaming about the xx accomplishing.

It's a lot easier to play in front of quite a lot of strangers than a couple of your friends just because when it's someone that really knows you, it's much more scary.

I don't think it's good for people to know too much about you. With my favourite bands, I don't want to have the inside track on every single aspect of their personal lives.

You see bands putting ads in the paper: 'drummer wanted'. I could never be in a set-up like that.

As cliched as it sounds, I'm taking every day as it comes.

Music is something I can't stop. Whether people are going to hear it or not, I'm still going to make music.

When I finished school, I didn't continue to go to university, because I decided I wanted to do music.

Beyonce is very special. I think the super-pop thing that supposedly died with Michael Jackson is still there with her.

'Coexist' was tough to make.

I feel more confident and like I have more to say. I feel like I'm working more than ever, not just from fantasy, but actual experience. I'm an adult now - I actually have experience.

My own personal goal is I just hope to still write songs and kind of let that sustain me as a job. If I could never have a 9-to-5 job, and making a living doing this, it'd just be incredible.

My writing has changed a lot. From 16 to 19, I've changed a lot. My kind of writing in the beginning was very observational; now it's grown very personal for me. I use it as a diary in many ways.

I believe with a lot of support shows, people are very much there to see the headliner. You don't necessarily have their full attention, and some of what we do requires a lot of silence.

Not to flatter myself, but I know that you can influence people's opinion as a musician, and I don't want to.

When you write songs for your best friends and maybe two other people to hear, and then realize that a million other people are going to hear them, it can be a bit worrying. You get concerned about what you might reveal.

I was living with my dad, and I loved it. But I could totally imagine that if I didn't move out quickly, I would end up staying there well into my 30s.

Normally, I don't like explaining songs. I don't want to kill anyone's interpretation or the story they want to make for themselves.

In the studio, there's no tiptoeing. As opposed to big, blow-out arguments, there are just lots of little solutions.

I've never felt any huge intrusions into my personal life.

The xx do not condone guns!

To perform in front of a room full of people you go to school with would be terrifying. I couldn't do it now.

I don't find touring very creative. There's not much time to yourself with your instruments.

The darkness of clubs makes me feel much more secure, and you can hide behind smoke and lights.

In our school, there were lots of bands putting up posters saying 'Come to our gigs'.