Analysis of The XX

The xx are an English minimal indie rock band formed in 2005 in Wandsworth, London. The group released its debut album, xx, in August 2009. The album was a commercial and critical success and was ranked highly on many best of 2009 lists, including number one on the list compiled by The Guardian and second for NME. In 2010, the band won the Mercury Music Prize for its debut album. Their second album, Coexist, was released on 10 September 2012.

Young Turks is a British independent record label owned by Beggars Group, launched by Caius Pawson as an imprint of XL Recordings in 2006. It has grown from an imprint into a successful and influential label, now partnered with XL and operates across a range of genres. The label's current roster includes The xx, FKA twigs, SBTRKT, Sampha, Jamie xx and Koreless. As well as releasing records, Young Turks throws parties and host radio shows.

In 2004, Caius Pawson supplied DJs and sound equipment for a series of all-night dance parties he called Young Turks. He enjoyed growing celebrity, until the police raided one of his parties and seized his gear. Pawson, then nineteen, took a job in A&R at XL Recordings, and quickly established his own small label within the company, also called Young Turks with Katie O'Neill and Tic. In 2009, Young Turks released The xx’s debut album, xx. It has sold more than a million copies, won the Mercury Prize and been awarded best British and Irish album of the year.

XL Recordings (or simply XL) is an English independent record label founded in 1989 by Richard Russell, Tim Palmer and Nick Halkes, and owned by Russell and Beggars Group. The label originated as a 1989 offshoot of Beggars Banquet Records. Though only releasing an average of six albums a year, XL Recordings has worked with Adele, Beck, Dizzee Rascal, Electric Six, FKA twigs, Gil Scott-Heron, Gotan Project, The Horrors, Jai Paul, M.I.A., The Prodigy, Peaches, Radiohead, Sampha, SBTRKT, Sigur Rós, Tyler, the Creator, Vampire Weekend, The White Stripes and The xx. The label releases albums worldwide and operates across a range of genres.