We can’t say we really understand what makes a video go viral. The finest minds all agree that it has something to do with cats, but that’s about all we’re going off of. So we can’t guarantee this new video from Jamie xx is going to light the intertubes aflame, but dammit, it should.
That last name isn’t just a coincidence. Jamie xx took the latter half of his stage name from his involvement with a certain world-conquering British indie act. He’s a made member of The xx, but has also drawn attention for his work as a remix artist and producer. Count Radiohead, Adele, Drake, and Alicia Keys among the other shoulders he’s brushed.
And, of course, he’s also a solo artist in his own right. “Sleep Sound” is already a neat piece of work – complex, meticulous, and hypnotic – but this new video…
Here’s the story: director Sofia Mattioli was listening to music during a train ride, and was “getting deep into it” when she noticed a girl staring at her. The girl eventually came forward and wrote her a note, explaining that she was deaf, but could “feel” the music through Mattioli’s movements.
The music video developed from there. Mattioli danced with members of the Manchester Deaf Centre. It’s an artistic, but very cool piece of work, and words don’t really do it justice – check it out below.