The British musician Romy Madeley Croft, best known for her role in the indie rock quartet The xx, has stepped into the spotlight with a bold solo release titled “Enjoy Your Life,” issued under the stage name Romy. In addition to the audio release, she introduced a visual interpretation for a new track, expanding the experience beyond the studio and into a fuller artistic statement.
“Enjoy Your Life” draws its impetus from a lineage of musical homage. The track quotes the composition “La Vita” from Beverly Glenn-Copeland, an American creator who released the trackography through the 2004 album Primal Prayer under the alias Phynix. In Romy’s hands, the piece is reimagined through the lens of contemporary pop and electronic textures, a collaboration that includes Fred Again., Stuart Price, and Romy’s fellow xx member Jamie xx on production and arrangement. The result is a meeting point of intimate lyricism and expansive, shimmering soundscapes that color Romy’s personal artistic voice while nodding to a broader musical heritage.
Earlier in the year, Romy issued another standalone single, titled “Strong,” signaling a focused push toward a solo repertoire. By January 2023, she signaled the readiness of her debut solo album and teased forthcoming new material from The xx, suggesting a period of creative activity that would keep fans in anticipation for what lies ahead. This momentum reflects a broader trend among members of acclaimed indie acts who pursue distinct projects while maintaining the collaborative bonds that define their main bands.
As history shows, collaborations in this space aren’t limited to Romy’s circle. Previously, SQÜRL, the ensemble associated with filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, released a track called “John Ashbery Takes a Walk” featuring Charlotte Gainsbourg, illustrating how cross-pollination between cinema, poetry, and music continues to yield inventive, genre-blurring results. These kinds of partnerships enrich the discography of artists who move fluidly between groups and solo ventures, underscoring a modern musical ecosystem where boundaries are porous and experimentation is encouraged.