Oliver Sim

“The day that you walk out in front of 30,000 people and don't get nervous is probably the day to give it up. It's inspiring to be a little terrified.”

“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.”

“'Coexist' was tough to make.”

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

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

“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 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.”

“I can see myself always writing songs - but I'm not sure if I'll always want to perform.”

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

“I can't even imagine how it must be to be a solo artist playing with session musicians.”

“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 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.”

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

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

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

“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.”

“The xx do not condone guns!”

“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 find touring very creative. There's not much time to yourself with your instruments.”

“I was just making music in my bedroom. I never wanted to be onstage.”