PinkPantheress broke out in 2021 with a sequence of charming and ingenious singles that positioned her excessive, breathy vocals over skittering beats constructed round simply recognizable samples. It was as if the English singer and producer have been making an attempt to insert herself into pop-music historical past from behind a laptop computer in her bed room — which is just about what ended up taking place.
In 2023, her tune “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2,” a collaboration with Ice Spice, went to No. 3 on Billboard’s Sizzling 100; a number of months later, she landed a tune on the hit soundtrack of Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie.” Final yr she went on the highway as a gap act for Olivia Rodrigo, and now she’s nominated for her first two Grammy Awards: dance/digital album for this yr’s “Fancy That” and dance pop recording for the challenge’s opening observe, “Unlawful.”
With 9 songs in solely 20 minutes, “Fancy That” maintains the TikTok-era financial system of PinkPantheress’ early work. It’s additionally stuffed with samples from the likes of Underworld, Basement Jaxx and Panic! on the Disco — one purpose, maybe, the singer, 24, describes it as a mixtape somewhat than an album. (An accompanying remix set, “Fancy Some Extra?,” options appearances by Basement Jaxx, Kylie Minogue, Sugababes, Ravyn Lenae and Groove Armada, amongst many others.)
But “Fancy That” showcases an increasing emotional palette too — it’s by turns humorous, wistful, sexy, melancholy and unimpressed. She spoke about it over matcha lattes in Los Angeles, the place she lives when she’s not again residence in London. “For those who’re a musician, it’s offered because the place to be,” she says of L.A. “I used to be making an attempt to not prefer it, however I actually do.”
You’re having fun with the town regardless of your self.
I feel for me, it was only a case of: Once I’m snug someplace, I don’t get pleasure from exploration. What I do know to be protected is the place I keep.
Why?
It’s one thing with the way in which my mind works — I don’t assume it’s a selection. My mind associates change — totally different environments and journey — with concern. I don’t go on vacation due to that purpose. I discover it very troublesome as a result of I genuinely don’t really feel protected. Doesn’t matter the place I’m.
What do you do in L.A.?
I hang around with my associates. I get meals. I do all of the common issues. Nevertheless it’s taken me years. Once I first bought right here, I wasn’t like, Oh my God — the Hollywood signal! It was identical to, Lemme discover my footing. I feel getting my home was once I was OK. I don’t just like the stress of going out someplace and worrying about how I come throughout to folks.
For those who’re at a restaurant, it’s laborious for you not to consider the truth that somebody would possibly know who you’re.
Now and again, if I’m not disguised nicely sufficient.
What are the disguises?
I feel I’m gonna cease carrying my hair out in public.
So pop stardom — pleasing or not?
It’s as absurd as everybody says. However it’s 100% what I’ve all the time needed to be. So I can’t complain now.
I imply, you would.
However I shan’t.
That will be poor kind?
I’m an enormous believer of my phrases having an impact on all the pieces I do going ahead. So if I used to be to turn into snug complaining about my job — once I labored so laborious to get right here — then it’s gonna carry with me and it’ll come out in my conduct.
Do you drive?
I like driving. That’s one more reason I prefer it right here, as a result of I can drive.
You want driving right here greater than in London?
I’ve a nicer automotive right here. Nicely, really, I don’t have a automotive in London anymore. The police took it.
Why?
Don’t know.
It’s essential to know.
I really simply don’t know. I actually bought there and it was gone, and I used to be like, Advantageous. It was so low cost — like 2,000 kilos.
What sort of automotive was it?
A Peugeot 208.
In a current interview with Zane Lowe, you named the folks you referred to as your blueprints: M.I.A., Kelela and Tinashe. All are nicely–regarded trailblazers, however none of them, I’d say, is a pop celebrity. That made me marvel: Do you wish to be prime of the pops?
I really feel like to be able to be prime of the pops, I’d must compromise loads about my inventive decisions. Nonetheless, if the post-“Brat” period has taught us something about music, it’s you can really be as experimental as you need, and if it interprets, it is going to translate. So really it’s not essentially a recipe that’s too formulaic, as one would assume.
Do I wish to be prime of the pops? I feel that is likely to be an excessive amount of stress. I don’t get pleasure from having to elucidate myself, and I fear that being large would make me have to elucidate loads about myself. Nonetheless, I do wish to be well-regarded. I do wish to be influential. And I do wish to not have to fret, How nicely will this do? It’s much less about prime of the pops and extra about having a really loyal fan base, which I prioritize above all the pieces else.
I spoke with Lorde lately, and she or he informed me she aches to be understood although she needs she didn’t. You stated you don’t like explaining your self. However do you’re feeling compelled to?
I’d say I undoubtedly under-explained myself early on. And sadly that was a vital error as a result of — had I been on prime of explaining my music and my musical thoughts from the leap — possibly now I’d be taken extra as a producer. However as a result of I didn’t, and due to the way in which I current myself, I do assume folks take me as extra surface-level pop, and I’m really not — I’m really absolutely an artwork lady, like all the ladies I’ve talked about.
So it’s type of gone from not explaining myself to explaining an excessive amount of. I hated that, too, as a result of then it bought folks asking me extra questions. Now I don’t wish to clarify something anymore.
You’ve bought the Sugababes in your remix album. Nice instance of an act that’s beloved in England however couldn’t get arrested within the States. Why do you assume some U.Ok. acts cross over and a few don’t?
When you have somebody in your advertising crew that prioritizes America, then I’m 99% positive you’ll be able to all the time do it. I don’t assume American individuals are postpone by Britishness — I don’t assume the music is just too loopy for them to get it. The rationale I did nicely in America was as a result of I used a platform the place the vast majority of customers are American.
You imply TikTok. Did you utilize TikTok as a result of that was the platform you have been good at or since you knew it was the platform with the broadest attain?
I had no thought the way it labored — I simply thought of what has probably the most attain. I’m a toddler of the web. I’ve all the time been on-line.
What’s unhealthy concerning the web?
There was a time once I would have stated nothing.
At what age?
Sixteen — even older, truthfully. The entire push of generated stuff has made it so unbelievably totally different. Again once I was on the web, you wouldn’t must second-guess any submit you noticed.
Whereas now you need to query whether or not one thing is actual or AI.
Is that this propaganda or is that this not? That’s unhealthy.
Is TikTok nonetheless enjoyable?
I don’t actually go on social media in any respect, so I don’t know.
You simply make your posts —
And dip. Or I work together with those who assist me in the direction of my craft. People who make fan edits, I like it, so I’ll work together with them. However I don’t actually scroll.
Did somebody say to you, “Hear, it is advisable to cease scrolling”?
No. I really haven’t any vices, so I didn’t have an issue with it.
Everybody’s hooked on scrolling.
Hell no — I’m not. If I wish to cease one thing, I can cease proper now.
Do you drink? Smoke weed?
I can’t do any medication. I get drunk a few times a month, and that’s my restrict. I make certain to rely that.
Why no medication?
I’m a hypochondriac.
What are you afraid of taking place?
Dying. Additionally, it’s simply not pleasing for me. Once I get drunk, that’s the very best quantity of chaos I can expertise in my interior self.
Dying?
An excessive amount of coke might kill you — trigger an arrhythmic coronary heart. And as I’ve stated, if I concern one thing, I’m not gonna step foot in the direction of it.
“I don’t assume American individuals are postpone by Britishness,” says PinkPantheress. “I don’t assume the music is just too loopy for them to get it.”
(Jason Armond / Los Angeles Occasions)
Who stated no to being on the remix album?
Nobody stated no. However I don’t ask those who I do know are gonna say no — I simply refuse to ask them. There was one person who was like, “Oh, I noticed this too late” [makes “Yeah, right” face]. And one individual didn’t reply. Perhaps two folks didn’t reply.
Have been your emotions damage?
No. Yeah. Perhaps. In terms of options and all the pieces like that, I very a lot perceive — I get how the thoughts of a singer works. I feel those who get damage are possibly not placing themselves of their footwear.
Certainly you’ve stated no to folks at this level.
It’s a horrible feeling. And I try to make it work as a lot as doable. However typically it simply doesn’t make sense. The vibes are off.
Have you ever heard the Lily Allen album?
Sure.
Ideas?
Actually good. And earnest.
She’s simply laying out all her enterprise.
She’s a Brit — that’s what we do.
Are Brits primarily earnest?
I feel there’s one thing in our music that’s extraordinarily earnest. That’s why you get somebody like an Adele or somebody like a Raye proper now. You may really feel them bleed. They’re bleeding out onto the stage — bleeding out onto the items of paper.
Past what we’ve talked about, I do know nearly nothing about your private life.
Precisely.
Whereas now I do know an incredible quantity about Lily Allen’s. What do you make of that impulse to dump all the pieces out into the world?
What I like about Lily Allen is that she’s all the time been very trustworthy from Day 1. She’s an open e-book in interviews — she’s an open e-book in all places. It really works for her as a result of it makes her very personable and makes her music all that extra pleasing as a result of we really feel like we’re really experiencing her as a human being.
I’d like to be that earnest. I merely don’t assume I’ve gone via half the quantity she’s gone via in her life. As a result of I concern a lot, I find yourself not being in very thrilling or controversial conditions, and that would translate as boring. However I wouldn’t say I used to be a boring individual. I relish within the mundaneness of interacting with others and the thrill of being myself. I’m really obsessive about myself. Once I’m with my greatest buddy, we’re simply so enjoyable collectively. Different folks, they’re like, “The f—?”
You’re on Coachella subsequent yr. You’ve talked about festivals not being your very best efficiency venue.
I’m undoubtedly higher now, for positive. Two years in the past, I used to be fairly s—.
What’d you be taught from the tour you simply completed?
Oh, loads. I learnt that I’m in command of my physique. I learnt that I’m in command of just about each ingredient once I’m onstage. One factor I’m realizing as I speak is that the rationale I don’t like medication is as a result of I like full management. Once I’m onstage, for some purpose, I all the time think about that I’m gonna lose management — I’m gonna must faint or must run. I don’t know why, however that’s my largest concern with performing, and therefore why I’ve all the time been fairly nervous.
However doing that tour made me understand that I can select if I wish to have a very good time proper now. And I selected to have a extremely good time — it was a extremely enjoyable expertise. I’m nonetheless studying how one can dance. I’m nonetheless studying how one can look good onstage. I feel I’m inbuilt fairly a humorous means, which makes me look lengthy. And once you’re formed in a great distance and you’ve got lengthy limbs, you look unhealthy at dancing.
You’re taller than I anticipated.
Each single individual says that.
Why will we all assume you’re going to be shorter?
My voice is kind of excessive. I additionally assume I shrink myself — much less in bodily methods and extra in how I painting myself. I’m not like [shouts], “I’m right here!” I’m extra like [whispers], “I’m right here.”
