Romy’s “Lifetime” Reveals New Side Of The xx’s Singer
By John Saeger
The xx’s Romy Croft dropped “Lifetime,” on Tuesday. Not only is this a first glimpse of her new album, but it also shows a different side of the indie band’s typically reserved singer. The dance track was made to fill a disco, something the group have dabbled in when they spend time away from their studio albums. This single reveals a new and fun side of an artist with a reputation for more subdued music.
Her band’s work normally features subdued, yet beautiful arrangements bolstered by vocal interplay between Romy and bandmate Oliver Sim. Solitude does not come through in the dance music of “Lifetime,” but Romy’s lyrics return to the familiar territory. Romy sings romantically as she reaches out to a partner,
“If you’re ever lonely,
if you ever can’t find the way,
if this world comes to an end,
I wanna be there with you.”
Despite being in a band with a collection of emotional dream prop songs, dance music is something The xx primarily explore on the side. In addition to DJ work, member Jamie xx scored a big solo hit with “Loud Places” in 2015. Croft and Sim joined in on the promotional run of the track and the band organically mixed the song into their touring lineup.
Romy creating solo work on her own may have been inevitable, but the opportunity emerged as the band were due to start working on their fourth album. As it turns out, she is not alone in exploring projects separate from the band. “Lifetime” is one of multiple current solo projects from The xx as they wait out COVID-19.
The band members have not announced information details on their solo projects. The xx last visited Philadelphia during a tour in support of their 2017 album, I See You.
About the Author: John Saeger is a music and film writer from Philadelphia. Since 2017 he has been writing his pop-culture blog Long After Dark, a site dedicated to the arts in the City of Brotherly Love and beyond. Email / Twitter
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