Oliver Sim

Oliver Sim is a singer and songwriter in the xx, sharing vocals with Romy Madley Croft in songs built around intimacy and emotional restraint. His work with the group led to a solo collaboration with bandmate Jamie xx, who produced his debut album Hideous Bastard.

Released by Young in 2022, the album explores shame, fear, loneliness and the possibilities of speaking more openly. Jimmy Somerville contributes vocals to “Hideous”, while the project’s accompanying film was directed by Yann Gonzalez. Sim uses the imagery of horror and performance to examine ideas about beauty and self-presentation, expanding the personal territory of his writing beyond the xx’s shared vocal exchanges.