Reel History #008: The xx's "Intro"
Plus some occult Latin-American connections
When The xx released their self-titled debut album in August 2009, most of the promotional focus fell on tracks like “Crystalised”, “Islands” and “VCR”—singles that embodied the band’s sparse, genre-blending style and helped define the indie pop landscape of the early 2010s. But in an unexpected twist, it’s the album’s wordless opener “Intro”, that has gone on to become their most recognizable track—both globally and across Latin America.
Despite never being released as a single and receiving no major push from their label, “Intro” has quietly become the project’s most streamed song by far.
An Anthem Is Born: Canal Sony and the World Cup
As far as the band’s relationship with Latin America, it didn’t brew overnight. Following the release of xx, their fanbase in the region steadily grew thanks to organic word-of-mouth, relentless touring, and crucial media exposure at a time when social media alone wasn’t enough. One key moment was their 2013 Latin American tour, during which they appeared on SesioneS con Alejandro Franco, a Mexican-produced TV show, broadcast across Latin America via Canal Sony.
Though this was unfortunately one of the last episodes released, SesioneS marked an era in Latin music TV, with an authentic format that blended high-quality live performances with in-depth artist interviews. By then it had developed a cult following in countries like Mexico, Argentina, Chile, and Colombia.
Featuring live renditions of early songs like "VCR", "Sunset", "Angels" and of course "Intro", their appearance exposed them to a wider audience that wasn’t necessarily plugged into music blogs or international festival circuits. Thanks to Canal Sony’s massive distribution footprint, the band was showcased to a generation that discovered music visually and emotionally, not just algorithmically.
In recent years, "Intro" has found new life on platforms like TikTok, where its dramatic build and emotive sound have made it a go-to soundtrack for everything from sports clips to personal stories. The song’s revival on short-form content has not only introduced it to a younger generation but also rekindled its association with pivotal moments in music and culture, where it continues to be used in creative and unexpected ways.
While the track has been licensed heavily for TV series, ads, and films like Project X and It's Kind of a Funny Story, it reached a surreal new height of visibility during the 2022 FIFA World Cup Final between Argentina and France.
Before the legendary penalty shootout—one of the most watched TV events in history—the stadium speakers at Lusail Stadium played "Intro", setting an eerily calm, tension-filled mood before the chaos. For millions watching across Argentina and elsewhere, this wasn’t just another soundtrack. It was a familiar, deeply emotional song, resurfacing at one of the most culturally defining moments in recent times.
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Beyond the World Cup, "Intro" was also used as the lead-in music for UEFA European competition finals during the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons, confirming its unlikely transformation: from an indie afterthought to a stadium-scale emotional trigger.
Jamie xx’s Affinity for Latin America
The regional connection isn't accidental either. Jamie xx — producer, DJ, and sonic architect behind the band — has long shown deep admiration for Latin American and Afro-Caribbean music traditions. His solo debut album In Colour (2015) brims with Caribbean-tinged house, dub, and calypso influences.
More recently, Jamie’s Spotify-curated Track IDs playlist reflects his broad, serious approach to the region’s music. The playlist currently features Brazilian classics like Astrud Gilberto and contemporary acts such as Os Pilukas, as well as global underground heavyweights like Israel Toledo — a Mexican techno producer now based in Germany, whose work connects European club culture with Latin American experimentalism.
Jamie’s ongoing engagement with these sounds suggests that The xx’s music, even when minimalist, doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It’s quietly part of a larger, cross-Atlantic conversation — one that Latin American audiences have responded to deeply and intuitively.
"Intro" was never intended to be the star of The xx’s debut album, yet it has become one of the most iconic tracks of the last decade. From television screens to live performances and TikTok videos, the piece has woven itself into the world’s cultural fabric in ways that no one could have predicted. It’s a testament to the power of music to transcend borders and genres, connecting people through a shared emotional experience, even in places far from its original home.
This May, we’re diving deeper. Stay tuned for a new edition of our New Music Vault, exclusive coverage from BIME Bogotá 2025, and the next chapters of our Reel History series—where we’ll unearth the hidden roots of Colombia’s vibrant Ritmo Exótico and beyond.
The map keeps expanding. See you on the next stop