My uncle, who gave me my first turntables when I was ten, also gave me records to mix, but I never understood house music. I thought it was boring until I was old enough to go to a club and feel it, the fact that it actually makes you just want to dance.

Jamie xx

At festivals, you can go a lot bigger than a club and have massive euphoric moments because there are so many people there all feeling the same thing.

Jamie xx

I begged and begged, and my uncle gave me his old turntables. It was one hi-fi and one old Stereo Lab turntable and a rusty mixer. I was really chuffed. I kept that for five years - that's where I learned to mix.

Jamie xx

People always think the xx are, like, moody and all dressed in black. We do all dress in black, but we're actually quite fun people - and we've come out of our shells a lot since the first album.

Jamie xx

When I go in the studio, I put myself into a place where I'm feeling something I want to portray, which is often being sad, lonely. But as soon as I'm starting to make something, it's when I'm the happiest. Ever. I think that comes out at the same time, so there's that juxtaposition.

Jamie xx

I never really learnt from anyone. I just spent a lot of time at home, knocking things out. It has been interesting going into proper studios, working with people who know everything. But I find it doesn't hinder me.

Jamie xx

I just like the lineage and the heritage and the fact that British dance music is still progressing. I'm from London; I love London, and I wouldn't know how else to show that love in musical terms. There's something about British stuff that's a bit faster, a bit harder-hitting. Just tough.

Jamie xx

All music is escapism for me, but I like the way that, on a good night, that sense of escapism can be shared.

Jamie xx

I started using vinyl because I stole all my parents' records when I was 10. I didn't think about sound quality then, but I always loved how they sounded.

Jamie xx

I can't imagine doing a DJ set and playing all my own stuff; it'd just be awkward.

Jamie xx

I like the contrast in making something that sounds sunny but also has an element of melancholy to it.

Jamie xx

Floating Points plays a lot of music that I don't know, and I like geeking out and trying to find out what the tracks are. His knowledge of house music is pretty deep, and his selection is just amazing. And I think it's a pleasure to listen to his music because it's so perfectly produced.

Jamie xx

I don't hate on the whole EDM thing happening in America because, although the music is not of my taste - a little bit brash for me - I think it's also introducing a lot of young people to dance music, and then they're discovering better dance music through it.

Jamie xx

I don't want my music to be of its time; I want it to be timeless.

Jamie xx

I always just experiment with different sounds and styles until I find something that evokes the feeling I'm going for. I'm not trying to think too much about what anyone else is doing.

Jamie xx

I'm used to making songs; that's how I learned to make music. My structures will always be more like pop songs than dance tracks.

Jamie xx

When I hear something new, mostly in rhythms, I often find it interesting to recreate it in a studio in a completely different way.

Jamie xx

My uncle, who gave me my first turntables when I was ten, also gave me records to mix, but I never understood house music. I thought it was boring until I was old enough to go to a club and feel it, the fact that it actually makes you just want to dance.

Jamie xx

At Coachella, I want to start separating how I do a big festival set from how I do a club set.

Jamie xx

I think Young Thug has such a weird style I love, especially the things he does with his voice. It just sounds different.

Jamie xx

I'm always getting sent new stuff, so I have to incorporate digital equipment into my sets, but I try to play vinyl as much as possible. It's just the best-sounding format still. And I've been using vinyl since I started deejaying, for over 15 years, so it also just feels the most natural for me.

Jamie xx