The xx's Jamie Smith is set to release his debut solo single.

The track, entitled 'Far Nearer', will be released on Numbers Records in the coming weeks.

Smith played down fears that the song might mark a move away from the Mercury-Prize winning band.

“It's a tune I made on one of our short breaks from touring and I was eager to make some new music,” he said. “I got a steel pan and made this track and it is coming out on Numbers Records in about a month or so."

The song will be played for the first time on XFM at 10pm tonight (September 28).

As previously reported, The xx's self-titled debut album collected the Mercury Prize earlier this month.

(by Jason Gregory)