Listen to Jamie xx's new track "Dafodil", featuring Kelsey Lu, John Glacier, and Panda Bear
Laura Jane Coulson

Listen to Jamie xx's new track "Dafodil", featuring Kelsey Lu, John Glacier, and Panda Bear

Alan Pedder

Jamie xx continues the rollout of his second solo album, In Waves, with the release of a long-awaited studio version of fan favorite "Dafodil", featuring contributions from avant-pop artist Kelsey Lu, British rapper John Glacier, and Animal Collective co-founder Panda Bear.

The soulful dance track samples a 1973 hit by American R&B singer J.J. Barnes, and was first teased as early as 2020 when Jamie included it in an 'Essential Mix' he made for BBC Radio 1. At the start of 2024, that "early version" found its way onto Jamie's Soundcloud, suggesting that something else might be coming.

Fans' expectations were reinforced in May when John Glacier joined Jamie to perform the song in London in May, and then came the confirmation in early June with the announcement of In Waves. Listen to both versions below:

"Dafodil" is the fifth single to be taken from In Waves, which drops on 20 September via Young Records. It follows "Baddy on the Floor" featuring Honey Dijon, "Treat Each Other Right", "Life" featuring Robyn, and "All You Children" featuring The Avalanches. Other guests on the album include his xx bandmates Romy and Oliver Sim ("Waited All Night"), Irish dancer and choreographer Oona Doherty ("Falling Together"), and Erykah Badu (on bonus track "F U").

In a press release for the single, Jamie says: 

“Dafodil was one of the first pieces of music that I made for this album, it was actually the song that made me realise I could finally make another album. I am forever grateful to Kelsey Lu, with whom this song began as voice notes about a hazy night we both remembered. Thank you to John Glacier and Panda Bear whose voices perfectly evoke the unique feeling of summer nights in London.”

Kelsey Lu adds:

"Dafodil. A fun ride into a cute sexy hazy night in London shared with my dear friend Jamie xx. Memories of my first London summer I’ll cherish forever that are now encapsulated for us all to be in ecstasy together. See you on the dance floor.”

In Waves is out September 20 via Young. Pre-order here.

Jamie kicks off a new tour during release week, including two huge hometown shows at London's Alexandra Palace. He'll then spend October in North and South America. Full list of dates below:

09/22 Brighton, UK @ Concorde 2
09/25 London, UK @ Alexandra Palace
09/26 London, UK @ Alexandra Palace
09/27 Las Vegas, NV @ Life is Beautiful Block Party
10/02 Mexico City, Mexico @ Pepsi Center WTC
10/04 Mayer, AZ @ FORM
10/18 Miami, FL @ Ill Points Festival
10/22 Buenos Aires, Argentina @ C Complejo Art Media
10/23 Santiago, Chile @ Paraiso
10/25 Curitiba, Brazil @ Opera de Arame
10/26 São Paulo, Brazil @ Praça das Artes


The Needle Drop may earn an affiliate commission via purchases on ticket links through this article.

Alan Pedder

Södra Öland, Sweden

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