Xiu Xiu

Xiu Xiu
Angela Seo and Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu, 2010
Angela Seo and Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu, 2010
Background information
OriginSan Jose, California, U.S.
Genres
DiscographyXiu Xiu discography
Years active2002–present
Labels
Spinoffs
  • XXL
Members
Past members
Websitexiuxiu.org

Xiu Xiu (/ˈʃʃ/ SHOO-shoo)[1] is an American experimental rock band, formed in 2002 by singer-songwriter Jamie Stewart in San Jose, California.[2][3] Currently, the line-up consists of multi-instrumentalists Stewart (the only constant member since formation), Angela Seo, and percussionist David Kendrick. The band's name comes from the Chinese film Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl, which has influenced the sound of their music, according to Stewart.

Xiu Xiu released their first two albums, Knife Play (2002) and A Promise (2003), on 5 Rue Christine to positive critical reception. In-between the two, the EP Chapel of the Chimes was released via Absolutely Kosher. The compilation album Fag Patrol was released shortly after, and their third studio album Fabulous Muscles was released in 2004. La Forêt was released in 2005 after Caralee McElroy joined the group, and The Air Force followed in 2006. 2008's Women as Lovers was released via the main Kill Rock Stars label in 2008, and McElroy departed the group shortly afterwards.

Dear God, I Hate Myself was released in 2010 and was the first Xiu Xiu album to prominently feature longtime member Angela Seo. Following a signing to Polyvinyl and Bella Union, Xiu Xiu released Always (2012) and Angel Guts: Red Classroom (2014). In between those two projects, the group released a Nina Simone tribute project, Nina, in late 2013 via Graveface Records.

Plays the Music of Twin Peaks (2016) followed, an album consisting of covers from the Twin Peaks soundtracks originally as a Record Store Day exclusive release but re-released by Polyvinyl later that year. Forget (2017) and Girl with Basket of Fruit (2019) were released afterwards, and Xiu Xiu released their twelfth album Oh No in 2021. Their thirteenth album, Ignore Grief, was released in March 2023, and their fourteenth, 13" Frank Beltrame Italian Stiletto with Bison Horn Grips, was released in September 2024.[4]

  1. ^ Moroz, Ross (June 16, 2005). "Xiu Xiu Ch-Boogie". Vue Weekly. Archived from the original on June 16, 2022. Retrieved February 1, 2008.
  2. ^ Chan, Janna (October 9, 2006) [October 9, 2006]. "Knife Players". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  3. ^ Williams, Nick (June 24, 2019). "Listen to Xiu Xiu's Summer of Pride Playlist for the 'Introverted & Unsocial'". Billboard. Retrieved October 30, 2024.
  4. ^ "XIU XIU – Motorco Music Hall". Retrieved January 12, 2023.