Dazed & Confused unveils a new look for its April ‘Music x Fashion’ special, featuring the hottest band of the last 12 months The xx as a unique ‘video cover’ (see the accompanying XX fashion film on DazedDigital), charting their rise since they first appeared as ones to watch in the magazine a year ago. Pierre Debusschere’s dramatic film stills introduce the new visual direction for the title, following the appointment of Christopher Simmonds as art director.

"I want to focus on great photography, whether through established names, or new talent such as Pierre,” says Simmonds. “When I think back, I remember so many great covers from Terry Richardson's blood donor shoot, to Eminem smoking a bong, to the amazing Alexander McQueen-edited issue. I see this cover with The xx as being the first of many iconic images taking the title into the next decade.”

Elsewhere, music meets fashion as Dazed presents an incredible shoot with a Depeche Mode-obsessed family in Germany, an intimate encounter with the granddaughter of Elvis Presley Riley Keough, LA pop starlet Sky Ferreira posing for Rankin, an 80s pop-inspired shoot with Serge Leblon, and today’s hottest electro duo Hurts modelling menswear.

Dazed also has a rare interview with Japanese director-artist Takeshi Kitano, meets south London’s new king of rap Giggs, goes to the beach with Sian Alice Group, and psychs out in California with Gonjasufi, the Gaslamp Killer and Flying Lotus. The issue also rolls back the years with Salt-n-Pepa, talks film with Massive Attack, profiles Lady Gaga designer Rachael Barrett, chats chicken meat-dresses with feminist designer Linder Sterling, and talks to the legendary Human Skab, ten-year-old creator of some of the craziest DIY toy-punk ever recorded, 23 years later.

Dazed April issue out on Thursday March 18