On "I Dare You," a single from the xx's third album, the London trio found a poppier sound, building a suitable dancefloor atop their minimalist foundation.
In our exclusive interview with indie-pop trio the xx, the London-based group discusses the evolution of their minimalist, atmospheric sound on their third album, I See You, focusing on the writing process for "I Dare You," which took the band all the way to Iceland.
"I Dare You" had many incarnations," said guitarist/vocalist Romy Madley Croft. "An aspect of the song began as a demo that I wrote on a piano like five years ago, and then it was never going anywhere."
"That song really took form in Iceland, in Reykjavik," added bassist/vocalist Oliver Sim. "During that time we were just listening to pop radio, so much pop radio and remixes. … It turned your ballad into a pop song. I think it's the poppiest song we've ever written."
