Xiu Xiu

Xiu Xiu is a combo led by Jamie Stewart, taking root in San José, California, in 2002. The name of the combo comes from the Japanese film Xiu Xiu: The Send Down Girl.
From Jamie Stewart and Cory McCulloch's association in 2002, with the help of Lauren Andrews and Yvonne Chen, the combo released a first album Knife Play followed by the EP Chapel Of The Chimes. The first jets then combine percussion and brass, mixing cacophony and melodies.
Shortly thereafter, Yvonne Chen withdrew from the combo, followed by Cory McCulloch, who continued to produce the following two works by Xiu Xiu , of which A Promise (2003) was strongly marked by the death of Jamie Stewart's father.
The latter recorded some new songs that will be released under Fag Patrol, including a cover of The Smiths. Limited to a few hundred copies, the record is soon followed by Fabulous Muscle, moving towards a more pop aspect carried by the single "I Luv the Valley OH!".

In 2003, Lauren Andrews returned to school and was quickly replaced by Carlee McElroy the following year. The Forest takes a darker turn thanks to Stewart's anxieties and instruments such as clarinet, keyboard, mandolin or tuba. Xiu Xiu joins the Italian band XXL for 2 albums ( ¡Ciaütistico! in 2005 and ¿Spicchiology? in 2007).

2006 is an opportunity for Stewart to permanently free himself from McCulloch to start working with Greg Saunier ( Deerhoof) on The Air Force. The sound turns out to be more massive and this new album is also an opportunity for Stewart to set the microphone for a song ("Hello from Eau Claire", sung by McElroy). Women as Lovers debunked in 2008, including a cover of Queen, "Under Pressure", sung with Michael Gira (Swans). The following year, Carlee McElroy planted Jamie Stewart to join Cold Cave (Darkwave). The remaining duo, Stewart and Ches Smith (arrived in 2005) recruited Angela Seo at the end of 2009 to record Dear God, I Hate Myself , which went so far as to include Nintendo DS sounds on some tracks. The single of the same name makes talk about him thanks to a video of Angela Seo shown vomiting over 3 minutes. In 2011, Always, Xiu Xiu's 11th opus, was announced. A first single debunked early 2012, "Hi", while the album filtered on the net at the end of January.
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