Romy of The xx’s solo album is ‘very close to being finished’

Romy of The xx has shared an update on the progress of her long-awaited debut solo record.

The singer-songwriter has been hinting at a full-length of her own since dropping her first single, ‘Lifetime’, in September of 2020, although it has yet to materialise. Last year saw her focusing mainly on collaboration, releasing singles with the likes of HAAi and Fred again..

Now, though, she appears to be readying her first record in her own right. Speaking during a BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge session that aired yesterday (January 17), she said: “It is actually, and I can say this now, very close to being finished. And it took a bit longer than I thought, and thank you for being patient.

She went on to say that she was “glad we took our time”. Asked if the album was slated for a 2023 release, she said: “I mean, yeah, I really hope so. That’s not in my control, but I’m really excited and it’s been really fun working with the people I’ve worked with on it. And I’m excited for people to hear it.” 

She suggested that listeners can find a “clue” as to the musical direction of the album in her recent link-up with Fred again.. for last November’s single ‘Strong’, which was strongly influenced by trance. The record, she said, will be “club-inspired, dance-y, emotional”. 

Meanwhile, she also confirmed that new music from The xx is forthcoming; the trio’s most recent record, I See You, turned six last Friday (January 13), and in December, Romy meet up with bandmates Oliver Sim and Jamie xx to write towards a follow-up. “There’s so much love there. It’s been really fun to do some new stuff and learn and have a new experiences like this.”

Romy played ‘Strong’ as part of the Live Lounge session, as well as a mash-up of Stormzy’s ‘Firebird’ and Harry Styles’ ‘As It Was’ that worked in a snippet of Alice Deejay’s ‘Better Off Alone’. Her solo debut will follow Sim’s Hideous Bastard, which landed last September, and Jamie xx’s 2015 lone effort In Colour.