Xiu Xiu’s latest effort, ‘Dear God: I Hate Myself’ was released on Kill Rock Stars earlier this year. Currently they are on tour through the end of November in support of the new album. The Indie Machine recently had the opportunity to chat with Jamie Stewart about this, that and the other thing. Check out what he had to say below.

1. You took your name from the the 1998 film Xiu Xiu: The Sent Down Girl. Why did you choose to name your project after the film?
We related to the character Xiu Xiu trying so hard to improve her life but only making things worse for her attempts. Our lives were like that too at that time.

2. Seven studio albums later, which one did you enjoy making the most and why?
Oh…they all mean something different to me. I could never pick a favorite.

3. With that being said, tell us five albums you can’t live without?
It would be great to be able to live without records!!!!!!!

4. Often you embrace unconventional instruments; most notably the integration of the NDS on the new album. Do you find that you are more drawn to writing music around one particular element that draws you in, or does the process inform which instruments to use?
More often than not a sound will generate an attempt to work that into a song form. I worked hard at learning to engineer before I worked hard to try and write songs so sounds in and of themselves really touch me. Most of my favorite records right now are all field recordings of bugs, or cheetahs or grass or things like that. Unusual instruments are very inspiring to me.

5. You’ve gone through a number of line-up changes since your first LP. Would you rather things remained constant or are you satisfied with the way things have gone over the years?
Constant!!!!! It is hard changing all the time. That said it is exciting getting to play with so many different talented people.

6. What is diffrent about Jamie Stewart now as opposed to this time last year?
I have been working out so I think I look a little better without a shirt on.

7. If tomorrow was your last day on earth, what would you do with today?
See my family.

8. The best way I can describe a Xiu Xiu show, is to say that it can be rather intense and sometimes uncomfortable. Do you think this is an accurate description? Why or why not?
That is what it feels like to play one too.

9. You played Toronto recently. When you think of the city, what do you think of?
Cool clothes and good guitar stores. Nuclear bombs!!!!! That is a better answer.

10. The stories explored in a Xiu Xiu song range from taking on completely disparate roles to exploring the deeply, intimately personal; yet both of these are examined with the same emotional quality. Where do these lyrical characters originate? Do you feel the same connection with their stories as you do your own?
They are not characters they are about real people. They originate from experiences.

11. When you first started making music as Xiu Xiu, what did you hope to accomplish?
To try to be as open as possible.

12. If you weren’t playing music for a living, what would you be doing?
Rotting in a grave.

13. You have a new album out and you’ll be on tour until the end of November. What can we expect from Xiu Xiu going forward?
We are starting work on a new record with a couple of new members, touring with Former Ghosts, working on a collaboration with Eugene Robinson of Oxbow and another with Carla Bouzlich, making a focused attempt at making an experimental record, going to Guyana to go bird watching, releasing a digital single on our blog.

14. Any last words?
I didn’t do it!

For tour dates and more, be sure to check out Xiu Xiu on Myspace.