The xx member performed stripped back versions of solo lp cuts + q&a

A line full of fans awaited on one of the busiest streets in Los Angeles for a small theater to open its doors for what they called “An Evening with Oliver Sim.” The marquee of the new Brain Dead Studios featured said title as The xx singer walked by the upstairs window in a room I was about to shortly be in. My partner Paige and I shot a few photos of the entrance before we met with Sony rep and contributor to MMC*, Shelby Pfau. Once all together, we made our way to the beginning of the line where doors had opened and were escorted to the second story floor which acted as a store for the theater. Brain Dead shirts and hats lined the walls as Oliver Sim sat, catching up with friend and Q + A moderator Gregg Araki. We stood around, admiring the architecture and styling of the room when Jamie xx walked in with more friends. To be in a room with two of three members of such a integral band in the alternative scene and also fantastic solo artists in their own right; I never realize what I did to deserve such an opportunity.

Sim debuted tracks off his first solo album Hideous Bastard just a few hours prior to us being in the room. Shelby caught the earlier showing, stating how brilliant the film was despite not being a horror fan. She also mentioned me to Sim after a brief meet and greet that followed the screening which delighted me since Sim seemed eager to meet. I experienced his enthusiasm myself when he walked over to greet us. Sim opened his arms to a wide (and tall) hug before smiling ear to ear explaining if his home was in flames and could only grab three items, one would be the Hideous Bastard figurine I made for him a few months ago. In all my meetings and “don’t meet your heroes” moments, no artist had said that, so I took it as the ultimate praise. I’ve also been able to distinguish between who wants figures for a unique marketing ploy and who actually appreciates the idea of taking a concept and making it into a physical item that represents your love and support of a project.

We talked for a bit while my face bloomed with red blush before we went into photo mode. The team and Sim were nice enough to let MMC* take photos before his performance, something I hadn't done often, but with Paige and Shelby at my side, it made the experience casual and fun. Plus with Sim being such a genuine and kind being, I opened up to more movement and artistic drive. He stood tall, resting his elbows on shelves in a storage closet while mentioning to me that he was truly happy to help me cross himself off my list of artists I wanted to photograph within the year. It came as a surprise that he was keeping up with the list, noticing that I had knocked some artists off twice. “We did it,” he laughed off while he took his gloves featuring long black nails and held his face within. I followed him around while Shelby and Paige threw out options for us to try. Taking photos of Oliver Sim while supporting his record that dives deep into allegory and film appreciation at a theater seemed nothing short of apt. This especially hit harder considering MMC* has been anticipating a chance to capture Sim since his Hollywood Forever and Wiltern shows had to be canceled.

This time, I led with a hug and thanked Sim for his time and for the opportunity before Paige and I took our seats for the performance. Shelby parted ways as well and looked forward to our reactions of the film. We sat towards the back with the stage being small and a large classic red curtain with the title “Hideous” being beamed onto it. The house was packed and around 9:30pm, Gregg Araki came onstage with some nervous jitters, introducing Sim. The audience cheered and clapped while the house lights went down and a pianist helped Sim perform album cut “Hideous.” The stripped back version sounded more powerful in my opinion with the lack of instrumentation, but Sim’s voice delivered a real nuanced intensity. He truly has one of the best voices in music. The situation played out similar to the infamous scene of Blue Velvet.

From there, Sim sat and exchanged quips and insight with Araki, covering topics like the short film accompanying the album and working with Jimmy Somerville of Bronski Beat. Something that struck a chord with me was Sim mentioning how he wasn’t too enthused when artists present themselves as 100% authentic because it wasn’t really that achievable. He appreciates the idea of having some mystery into the way artists create their work, something I share as well. It’s a way more satisfying feeling when you want to make something so you do and then people see it and wonder, “how did they do that?” Sim performed “Fruit” and “Run the Credits” before playing the accompanying film.

It shared homages to 80s and 90s B-movie horror flicks and anthology series like Tales From the Crypt. It wasn’t a long music video that featured cool scenes; it was a film with narrative which featured music that inspired the scenes. To see Oliver Sim acting out a scenario resembling his childhood and grappling with a diagnosis that is deemed “hideous” due to its incurable status and portrayal in media and politics; truly something special and honest while having fun with the more whimsical side to movie-making (ie Jamie xx cameoing with “oh shit” before being slashed guts and all). People cheered while the credits rolled and we cleared out to the lobby where Sim awaited fans for photos and autographs. Paige snagged us a couple of free Oliver masks while Shelby grabbed a few film negatives from the short. We got Sim’s attention through a hoard of fans; he hugged us both and thanked us for coming and signed our masks to which he put “I bloody love you!” I told him if he ever needed anything from me like more figures for other projects, I’d be there for it always and he replied, “I’m going to hold you to that.” Please do, and thank you to him for the ultimate kindness and compelling storytelling in music that I’ve experienced in quite some time.