Latest news with #Thexx
Refinery29
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
I Charged My Old iPod — & Found Unexpected Comfort In The Nostalgia
Every time I board a plane and the person sitting next to me is a stranger, I notice them clock the noughties relic in my palm: my iPod Classic. Yes, I still have the same one from over 15 years ago, and I still have my even older Nano too. They both work and they both house a collection of my favourite music from way back when. Some songs are cringeworthy to scroll past using the click-wheel (does anyone remember watching 'Britannia High'? Well, I have the soundtrack), others are a nice trip down memory lane, and some are surprises — apparently I was already into Oasis and The xx while still listening to Hilary Duff and Jamelia. Who knew? It's not just me; there's a lot of people with an appetite to press rewind when it comes to our tech. Gen Z has brought back the digi camera from my youth; brick phones are cool; and there's increasingly been discourse around owning media again instead of renting or streaming it, so DVDs are no longer defunct. As for iPods, my colleague Esther Newman has purchased a secondhand one so she doesn't have to worry about seeing texts or emails come in while connecting with nature on walks and listening to The Last Dinner Party. Gadgets like iPods gave us freedom to carry lots of the music we loved around with us. The iPod is the perfect spot in history: not so far back that you have to carry bulky CDs and a Walkman, but just far enough that texts, calls and emails won't interrupt your listening. Years' worth of bangers (and memories) all on one small device — magic. Old tech is helping us disconnect from the always-on bombardment of the present, while reconnecting with our younger selves and less overwhelming pasts. I love my iPod for this reason too. It doesn't rely on the internet, I don't need to frantically download stuff for a long flight, and the cool feeling of the stainless steel in my hand is oddly comforting. Essentially it gives me a deep sense of who I was as a child. It's a reminder of a time when my biggest concern was which albums to spend my pocket money on; building a wishlist on iTunes I slowly worked through. Lady Gaga's Telephone music video? Bought it. Soundgarden's Black Hole Sun? A gateway to the dad rock I'd be hooked on for the next decade. None of the jazz-adjacent genres I listen to now feature, but my iPod is a sweet reminder of how much my tastes have evolved with my personality. When there's so much to digest and absorb constantly — be it through social media, search engines, news alerts and seemingly endless notifications — it's a luxury to be able to turn it all off for a moment. Maybe old devices are an antidote to some of the mental health problems connected with modern tech. The BBC reported that people had turned to dumbphones to lower their screentime and be more present, which contributes to improved mental health, relationships, sleep quality, and general wellbeing. Having written about how hard reducing your screen time can be with a smartphone, I can only imagine how much less stressed and time-rich I would be if I made the switch to an old-school phone. On Reddit, people have discussed how swapping has helped them enjoy activities more, like going on a hike without the internet featuring. Nostalgia helps with our wellbeing. Research from 2023, conducted by the Human Flourishing Lab at the Archbridge Institute, found that 84% of people use nostalgia to help them remember what's important in their lives, and 60% said nostalgic memories offer guidance when they feel stuck in life. 'After studying this topic for more than 20 years, I've discovered that nostalgia actually helps people move forward,' said social psychologist Clay Routledge, PhD, vice president of research and director of the Human Flourishing Lab, to the American Psychological Association. 'It makes people more optimistic about the future, it boosts wellbeing, it reduces anxiety, it increases positive mood and self-esteem and meaning in life. But more than that, it makes people thankful, and it energises them.' Using old tech isn't a meaningless decision, or a trend for trend's sake. Whether we realise it or not, we can benefit from both the nostalgia it brings and the remedy it delivers when modern tech feels too much. When I use my iPod, I get to have the decisions about what to listen to made by my younger self for present day me. I can hit 'shuffle' and avoid incoming notifications on other devices. It's just me, the music, and the inevitable memories that appear as each song begins to play. It's the soundtrack of my early teens.
Wales Online
09-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Jamie xx reunites with bandmates at LIDO festival
Jamie xx reunites with bandmates at LIDO festival The electronic DJ made famous for his band The xx brought on fellow members Romy and Oliver Sim to play some of their biggest hits, including Waited All Night Jamie xx played his best loved songs to the 25,000 strong crowd in London (Image: Kieran Frost/Redferns/GettyImages ) Jamie xx reunited his iconic band to the joy of fans at the LIDO festival in London on Saturday. The electronic DJ made famous for his band The xx brought on fellow members Romy and Oliver Sim to play some of their biggest hits, including Waited All Night. The 25,000-strong crowd were not deterred by the miserable weather, with showers and dark, grey skies throughout the day, and braved the downpour to see the 36-year-old play his best-loved songs. He managed to captivate the crowd without a word, playing favourites like Life featuring Swedish singer Robyn, Dafodil featuring Kelsey Lu and Loud Places with bandmate Romy. After singing together, Romy waved to the crowd, shouting: "We love you, London," and kissed her friend on the cheek as she departed the stage, having already performed earlier in the festival as a solo act. At one point, he launched into a remix of I Hate Hate, which featured a dancer wearing what appeared to be a keffiyeh with colours of the Palestinian flag around the neck, dancing enthusiastically in the background visuals of his set. Article continues below Dressed in a chequered shirt and a gold chain, the DJ nonchalantly took to the stage, occasionally waving or raising his beer to the audience, before rolling up his sleeves and turning around to flick between the vinyl records he might use next. After beginning his solo set with a piano-based song, he increased the tempo and played a mix of garage, house, dubstep and techno tunes. Jamie xx managed to stir the crowd with songs such as F.U. featuring Erykah Badu and Baddy On The Floor featuring Honey Dijon. The 36-year-old had already set off the festival, which began at around 2pm, playing a back-to-back set with Skrillex in the production tent. The graphics around the main stage for the DJ's closing set began as a black and white checkerboard – styled like a nightclub – before featuring the audience dancing in slow motion and honing in on certain dancers. Before his main show, Jamie xx performed his first-ever back-to-back set with DJ Nia Archives, with whom he collaborated on a remix of Waited All Night. The pair took it in turns to perform tracks to the full crowd's thundering cheers underneath the big top tent. Hailing from London, the DJ – real name James Thomas Smith – found fame as part of the trio The xx, which was hugely popular throughout the 2010s for its breathy indie pop. Named after Victoria Park's historic Lido Field, the music series was announced last autumn in East London. Article continues below Charli XCX, Massive Attack and London Grammar are also headlining across the festival's weekends. The artist curated the line-up for today's festival, inviting former bandmates such as Romy, friends and people he says he admires, including Sampha, Arca and Shy FX. For the first time, the club stage The Floor – inspired by Jamie xx's club residencies – was available to fans, featuring smoke, dark lights and acts such as DJ Harvey.
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jamie xx brings ‘good times' to Victoria Park for first ever LIDO festival
If you have ever watched old videos of 90s raves taken on VHS and felt a pang of nostalgia for a time you weren't even alive, Jamie xx is the musical equivalent. The DJ and member of indie trio The xx had curated the music lineup for the second day of LIDO festival in Victoria Park on June 7, and saw off the event as headliner. His music will always be nostalgic for me. Not because it is associated with any particular time, nor did it play a pivotal moment in my life. The lightshow brought the crowd on stage with Jamie xx with huge screens (Image: Miles Rebeiro) But something about the echoing sounds coming through the beats, like a party heard next door, makes you sentimental about old times. A sunny day turned soggy with rain in typical festival style. Fortunately, the two smaller stages were sheltered from the elements. As Romy appeared on stage, the sky seemed to lower the lights, and a downpour created a claustrophobic crush under the tent. Romy drew a huge crowd for her retro-infused synth (Image: Miles Rebeiro) Like Jamie xx, her retro synths also blurred the lines between looking back and living in the now. Walking over to the main stage, some drops still fell but a faint sunset cracked through the gloom. The main stage was a feat of engineering, with a huge movable ceiling that lowered itself just above the DJ. LIDO has three stages and a capacity of 32,000 people (Image: Miles Rebeiro) All over and behind, drone shots of the crowd and close-ups of people looking like they are having the best time of their lives are projected, flickering and fading in and out, adding to the sense of being in a good memory in the present. Jamie does not just play his album live, but plays a set of solid, original dance music that would be more suited to a club than a concert venue. The past had not escaped him as he was joined on stage by xx bandmates Romy and Oliver Sim. The festival avoided becoming a mudslide in the rain (Image: Miles Rebeiro) But for someone with so many collaborations on his albums, he was mainly alone, apart from the huge images of the crowd dancing all around him. There were the recognisable hits - Girl, Loud Places - woven in enough to grab a friend and sing the lyrics you know. But seeing him play was not just a play-through of his music but a very different experience from listening to his album. This is music to dance to and to create those good times his songs sing about. Even as you watch him, you are always aware that this is going to be a good memory. Jamie xx may evoke a time you are not sure you were a part of, but this was a party everyone could join.
South Wales Guardian
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- South Wales Guardian
Jamiexx reunites with bandmates at LIDO festival
The electronic DJ made famous for his band The xx brought on fellow members Romy and Oliver Sim to play some of their biggest hits, including Waited All Night. The 25,000-strong crowd were not deterred by the miserable weather, with showers and dark, grey skies throughout the day, and braved the downpour to see the 36-year-old play his best-loved songs. He managed to captivate the crowd without a word, playing favourites like Life featuring Swedish singer Robyn, Dafodil featuring Kelsey Lu and Loud Places with bandmate Romy. A post shared by LIDO Festival (@lidofestival) At one point, he launched into a remix of I Hate Hate, which featured a dancer wearing what appeared to be a keffiyeh with colours of the Palestinian flag around the neck, dancing enthusiastically in the background visuals of his set. Dressed in a chequered shirt and a gold chain, the DJ nonchalantly took to the stage, occasionally waving or raising his beer to the audience, before rolling up his sleeves and turning around to flick between the vinyl records he might use next. After beginning his solo set with a piano-based song, he increased the tempo and played a mix of garage, house, dubstep and techno tunes. Jamie xx managed to stir the crowd with songs such as F.U. featuring Erykah Badu and Baddy On The Floor featuring Honey Dijon. The 36-year-old had already set off the festival, which began at around 2pm, playing a back-to-back set with Skrillex in the production tent. The graphics around the main stage for the DJ's closing set began as a black and white checkerboard – styled like a nightclub – before featuring the audience dancing in slow motion and honing in on certain dancers. Before his main show, Jamie xx performed his first-ever back-to-back set with DJ Nia Archives, with whom he collaborated on a remix of Waited All Night. The pair took it in turns to perform tracks to the full crowd's thundering cheers underneath the big top tent. .@sampha, what a beautiful performance! Photo: Isha Shah #LIDO #Sampha — lidofestival (@lidofestival) June 7, 2025 Hailing from London, the DJ – real name James Thomas Smith – found fame as part of the trio The xx, which was hugely popular throughout the 2010s for its breathy indie pop. Named after Victoria Park's historic Lido Field, the music series was announced last autumn in East London. Charli XCX, Massive Attack and London Grammar are also headlining across the festival's weekends. The artist curated the line-up for today's festival, inviting former bandmates such as Romy, friends and people he says he admires, including Sampha, Arca and Shy FX. For the first time, the club stage The Floor – inspired by Jamie xx's club residencies – was available to fans, featuring smoke, dark lights and acts such as DJ Harvey.
North Wales Chronicle
08-06-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Chronicle
Jamiexx reunites with bandmates at LIDO festival
The electronic DJ made famous for his band The xx brought on fellow members Romy and Oliver Sim to play some of their biggest hits, including Waited All Night. The 25,000-strong crowd were not deterred by the miserable weather, with showers and dark, grey skies throughout the day, and braved the downpour to see the 36-year-old play his best-loved songs. He managed to captivate the crowd without a word, playing favourites like Life featuring Swedish singer Robyn, Dafodil featuring Kelsey Lu and Loud Places with bandmate Romy. A post shared by LIDO Festival (@lidofestival) At one point, he launched into a remix of I Hate Hate, which featured a dancer wearing what appeared to be a keffiyeh with colours of the Palestinian flag around the neck, dancing enthusiastically in the background visuals of his set. Dressed in a chequered shirt and a gold chain, the DJ nonchalantly took to the stage, occasionally waving or raising his beer to the audience, before rolling up his sleeves and turning around to flick between the vinyl records he might use next. After beginning his solo set with a piano-based song, he increased the tempo and played a mix of garage, house, dubstep and techno tunes. Jamie xx managed to stir the crowd with songs such as F.U. featuring Erykah Badu and Baddy On The Floor featuring Honey Dijon. The 36-year-old had already set off the festival, which began at around 2pm, playing a back-to-back set with Skrillex in the production tent. The graphics around the main stage for the DJ's closing set began as a black and white checkerboard – styled like a nightclub – before featuring the audience dancing in slow motion and honing in on certain dancers. Before his main show, Jamie xx performed his first-ever back-to-back set with DJ Nia Archives, with whom he collaborated on a remix of Waited All Night. The pair took it in turns to perform tracks to the full crowd's thundering cheers underneath the big top tent. .@sampha, what a beautiful performance! Photo: Isha Shah #LIDO #Sampha — lidofestival (@lidofestival) June 7, 2025 Hailing from London, the DJ – real name James Thomas Smith – found fame as part of the trio The xx, which was hugely popular throughout the 2010s for its breathy indie pop. Named after Victoria Park's historic Lido Field, the music series was announced last autumn in East London. Charli XCX, Massive Attack and London Grammar are also headlining across the festival's weekends. The artist curated the line-up for today's festival, inviting former bandmates such as Romy, friends and people he says he admires, including Sampha, Arca and Shy FX. For the first time, the club stage The Floor – inspired by Jamie xx's club residencies – was available to fans, featuring smoke, dark lights and acts such as DJ Harvey.
