OLIVER SIM UNVEILS NEW SINGLE “FRUIT” WITH VIDEO BY YANN GONZALEZ

Oliver Sim—best known for his work as songwriter, bassist and vocalist for The xx—unveils a new Jamie xx-produced single, “Fruit,” today via Young with a video directed by French director Yann Gonzalez (Knife + Heart). Listen to the track, a joyful celebration of queer identity and self-acceptance penned to his younger self, here.

“My new song produced by Jamie xx. Music video directed by one of my absolute favourite directors: the sexy, hilarious, scary and soulful Yann Gonzalez,” says Sim. “Dig in and I hope you enjoy. In five weeks’ time I will be playing my first ever solo shows in London, Paris, Berlin, New York and L.A. Joined by some very talented new friends. I’ll be playing my extensive back catalogue of two songs and something extra ;) Come see me.”

“Oliver and I have so much in common: we love pop culture, horror films and we used to be femme kids before turning into proud queer adults,” says Gonzalez. “So, when he asked me to work on his poignant solo tracks, most of the ideas popped up quite naturally and the ‘Fruit’ video became this magic tale of liberation that the lyrics and the emotionally driven music already implied. The song and the TV show here are like a multi-faceted mirror where Oliver and the kid, the live performance with its crew and flirtatious TV host, the 35mm film and the Ikegami video all shine and merge in order to create the same exhilarating feeling of being freed.”

“Fruit” follows Sim’s solo debut single, “Romance With A Memory,” which debuted last month with a lyric video starring artists and drag performers Charity Kase, HoSo Terra Toma, Gena Marvin and more—watch here. Both tracks will feature on a forthcoming limited edition vinyl 12” available only via Oliver’s webstore and Young Store. Get it here.

Oliver Sim - Romance With A Memory

Oliver Sim—best known for his work as songwriter, bassist and vocalist for The xx— makes his solo debut with first-ever single “Romance With A Memory” today. The track, produced by Jamie xx, debuts alongside a lyric video starring artists and drag performers Charity Kase, HoSo Terra Toma, Gena Marvin—listen and watch here.

“I’m thrilled, excited, ecstatic, overcaffeinated and overjoyed to be sharing ‘Romance with a Memory’ with you all,” says Sim. “Terrifyingly, this is the first song I’ve ever released under my own name, I really hope you all enjoy it. Produced by my dear older brother Jamie xx. I’ve also made a compilation of some of my favourite monsters, killers and queers getting down. I hope both the music and monsters make you feel as happy as they make me—I cannot tell you how much joy it brings me to watch a ghoul having a good time. P.S. still very much in a loving and happy relationship/band with Romy and Jamie.”

Sim, born and raised in London, has been a member of The xx since its inception in 2005. After the success of their 2017 LP I See You, the band’s three members made a conscious decision to take some time to themselves. After a period of rest and reflection, and at the encouragement of friends, Sim began to work on solo material. Taking inspiration from his love of horror films and his own life, Sim put together a handful of demos and brought them to bandmate Jamie xx to flesh out. “Romance with a Memory” was one of the first songs Sim wrote, and the first song he and Jamie worked on together. More music from Sim is imminent.

“Romance with a Memory” was played earlier today on Interludes Radio, The xx's new monthly radio series airing on Apple Music’s global live-streaming radio station Apple Music 1. Listen to the first episode at apple.co/_InterludesRadio.