Feature / One Question Interviews
Xiu Xiu

Words: Loren • July 17, 2014

Xiu Xiu
Xiu Xiu

Jamie Stewart (Xiu Xiu)

Stewart: What part of your live show is the hardest on sound engineers?

SPB: Getting the vocals loud enough in the monitors. We have really loud stage volume as I like to be pummeled sonically and we use a drum machine. There are almost always some issues with feedback but we work them out. I need to have the voice be really loud so I am not singing harder than I need to hear myself. This leads to blowing out my voice.

This is a very juvenile problem, but I do not care. It has to be loud.

Loren • July 17, 2014

Xiu Xiu
Xiu Xiu

Related features

Xiu Xiu

Interviews

Over the past few years, Xiu Xiu have been slowly but surely making great waves in the indie world with a unique sound that takes equal parts from Bauhaus, Gamelan, 80's New Wave, and early video game soundtracks while bringing it all together with a deadpan countenance that suggests Ian … Read more

Related news

Graveface Revival Series

Posted in Labels on February 7, 2026

New Zum Audio compilation to come

Posted in Records on October 17, 2021

Hyunhye Seo (Xiu Xiu) solo debut

Posted in Records on May 1, 2021

Related reviews

Xiu Xiu

Angel Guts: Red Classroom
Polyvinyl (2014)

Xiu Xiu (pronounced “shoo shoo”) is a critically-acclaimed, Los Angeles-based, avant-garde duo. It’s comprised of founder James Stewart and Angela Seo, a member since 2009.Their melancholy, Bowie Low-esque sound can be heard in the music of contemporaries like Majical Cloudz and Grimes.Angel Guts: Red Classroom, Xiu Xiu’s latest release from Polyvinyl Records, makes up for Nina, their horrid, cringeworthy Nina … Read more

Xiu Xiu / Devendra Banhart

Split
5 Rue Christine (2005)

Take two of the indie music world's hottest acts, stick them together on a split release on one of the best record labels in America, make the vinyl any number of pretty colors and patterns and you have a recipe for success. Along with a ridiculously predictable, by numbers, 'I can't be bothered thinking too hard' way of opening a … Read more

Xiu Xiu

La Forét
5 Rue Christine (2005)

Xiu Xiu is one of those bands you either love or hate. They are hard to get into; they talk about some of the most socially taboo topics, and in general are just out there. To me, their music is a cacophony of amazing music. On their latest outing, La Forét, meaning 'the forest' or 'the drill', the band returns … Read more

More from this section

Sacrosanta Decadencia Occidental

One Question Interviews • April 16, 2026

Maria (Sacrosanta Decadencia Occidental – vocals/artist) SPB: The artwork of your album took over a year to make. What was this long experience like for you? Maria: If I were to put it shortly, the first thing that comes to mind is a long and winding road: exhausting but exciting … Read more

Brux

One Question Interviews • April 14, 2026

Brux SPB: You choose to skip English and sing in your mother tongue. What are the pros and cons of this choice for you? Brux: Our songs are mostly in our mother tongue (spanish / catalan), we just have a few in English. Pros: they sound more natural, the link … Read more

The Goons

One Question Interviews • April 13, 2026

Serge (The Goons - vocals) SPB: How did writing the new material compare to when you sat down and started work on your last record – 19 years ago? Serge: The old stuff was written more collaboratively than the recent songs. These days we don’t get together as often as … Read more