Experimental stalwarts Xiu Xiu have released a haunting new rendition of Robyn’s pop masterpiece, “Dancing on My Own.” The cover serves as the final preview for their upcoming collection, Xiu Mutha Fuckin’ Xiu: Vol. 1, which arrives this Friday, January 16th, via Polyvinyl. Originally exclusive to subscribers, the album compiles a diverse range of reimagined tracks, a practice the band views as a “small honorific offering” to the music that has shaped their decades-long career.
Jamie Stewart shares:
“I was so afraid to do this one. An all-time favourite, but so beloved we didn’t want to upset anyone. A true masterpiece and emotional pop. I envy this song in the sweetest way.”
The project has already garnered significant buzz, earning a spot on Pitchfork’s most anticipated releases of 2026. This follows the December release of their covers of The Runaways’ “Cherry Bomb” and Daniel Johnston’s “Some Things Last a Long Time,” which received high praise from Stereogum for the band’s “provocative” and tasteful curation. Known for their ability to deconstruct pop structures into raw, emotional experiences, Xiu Xiu’s latest volume continues their tradition of deep musical exploration rather than simple imitation.
According to Jamie Stewart:
“We have a long history of doing covers and have done 3 albums of covers. The enduring and basic throughline with all of them is an attempt to say thank you to those songs. They are all, in one way or another, pieces of music that have moved us and exploring them in a deep way is a small honorific offering to the muse that created them. We never approach them thinking ‘How can we improve these’ but really “What can we learn from these?’”
With regard to the covers of The Runaways and Daniel Johnston, they add:
“Unexpectedly I (forgive this melodramatic admission) cried while singing the Daniel Johnston song. If there ever were a sincere and wounded voice in the world it is his.”
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