Pixey: “I like writing existential and darker thoughts into music that sounds nice to listen to”

With her debut ‘Million Dollar Baby’, Pixey proves that the best things in pop come to those who wait – and work hard.

Words: Steven Loftin.
Photos: Marieke Macklon.

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Chock-full of her trademark escapism and pop-sheen, Pixey’s opening full-length gambit has been a long time in the making, the culmination of all the Liverpool-based singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer’s hard work since 2016. Across three EPs, 2022’s mini-album ‘Dreams, Pains & Paper Planes’, and a smattering of singles, she has established herself nifty in the crafting of bangers, and ‘Million Dollar Baby’ is a labour of love that’s ready to shine.

Packed with heart and soul – without sacrificing any of that coveted boppage – it’s a more decidedly pop-focused foray, away from the songwriter sound of old. But, musing upon her debut currently leaves the multi-hyphenate conflicted. “I have mixed feelings about it,” she laughs, head in her hands. “It’s not that I’m not excited because I am, but… it’s an odd feeling when you’ve been working on something for so long, and you have such hype in your head about it. It’s a totally different experience.”

Confused feelings aside, ‘Million Dollar Baby’ is a wealth of accrued knowledge paying dividends. There’s no doubt Pixey can write a banger; her deft abilities growing over time is something she’s thankful for, with a slow-burn journey that never felt like dying embers and instead more like a bonfire ready to roar to life. “With this album, the main thing I want to come across is my love for production and creating sonic landscapes and expressing sentiment through sound,” she explains. “That is what my goal has been with this. So if it does have its moment, that would be amazing, and I feel like it is a bit overdue.” 

“When you get exposure, you get a lot of people who can be super mean on the internet”

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Over the last few years, Pixey’s journey has been one of graft and gritted teeth. By producing a long line of undeniably addictive bops, her keen ear has only strengthened as she’s been graced with the time to hone in on her production elements – an integral part of the journey. Mentioning that it’s given her a “solid head on my shoulders”, she recognises that having time “was the best thing that could have happened to me because what I care about is being a well-rounded artist who’s skilled at different things, like now I know how to programme my live sets, and how to produce, and I’m getting into mixing. I feel like these are aspects of artistry that sometimes you don’t have the time to develop if that [success] happens too soon.”

Pixey is indeed an all-rounder. Readily able to construct and control every facet of her artistry, there’s an undeniable earnestness to her. “Although it is frustrating because it feels like you plateau at a level for a while,” she continues, “it’s given me the time to understand who I am as an artist and not take everything for granted and to realise how lucky and privileged I am to be in the position that I am to even be making and producing music. I see it a little less glamorously. I love the craft. I don’t think I would have loved the craft as much as I do if it happened any differently.”

It’s given her time to find her feet, particularly regarding online opinions. “When you get exposure, you get a lot of people who can be super mean on the internet,” she says. “And it takes someone with really thick skin to get through that while still becoming an artist. With [2023’s ‘Daisy Chain’ featuring Tayo], I had my first hate comments on it, and I went and curled up in bed; I was so sad!” she laughs brightly today. “I am a very sensitive soul. So if I get a bad comment, I’ll feel a bit shit about it and then bounce back!” 

“When you’ve been in a shit situation, you can take many paths. Mine was to create something that made me feel good”

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Commenting upon the weird trend of people making Billie Eilish references on her TikTok, she says, “I can put up anything with such love and time and effort, and I’ll get a comment: ‘She looks like Billie Eilish’. That one comment undermines everything. That’s what annoys me about putting music on social media, especially if you’re reaching bigger audiences; it doesn’t matter how much time and effort you put into something, you can be judged in a second.”

Pixey is defiantly upfront about her inner workings. It’s a facet of her art that could go unnoticed thanks to her bright bombast, but hiding the bitter truth in the sweetest pills imaginable has been something she has tried to do since day one. “The sentiment of the project is quite reflective,” she explains of her catalogue. “It’s quite inward but doesn’t take itself too seriously. One thing I hope with my music is I don’t want to take it that seriously.”

“I like writing existential and darker thoughts into music that sounds like it’d be, you know, nice to listen to,” she laughs. “I’ve done that since I started. That’s just my way of coping with things.” She explains that her bright “wall of sound” acts like a shield when confronting the darkness, “It’s less vulnerable,” she adds. While others are content exposing their inner truths with equally sparse music, Pixey is all about the donk. “I tend to put a really big dance beat on it,” she beams. “And then, big gang vocals – that’s my way of expressing it.” Mentioning album track ‘Oxygen’, she reveals it’s, “Probably the most sad song I’ve ever written, and I find it difficult to listen to because it is a traumatic subject.” But in classic Pixey fashion, it’s a sugar-loaded bop. “I wrote it to sound a bit like ‘Take On Me’,” she laughs.

“I love the fact that I can make music and write music and it’s my job at the moment – that’s incredible”

pixey

Her introduction to this way of working came after a hospital stay before she inhabited her moniker. It was coming out and getting her hands on a demo version of recording software Ableton and a simple guitar line (“I couldn’t play guitar!”), that led to her start with her debut single, ‘Young’. “I remember the feeling after I wrote that song, it was incredible.” A track that led to a Radio 1 playlisting, getting her career off the ground, and eventual signing with Chess Club Records, this moment also allowed her to realise she could encapsulate a heft of feelings in summery pop. This methodology of hers has grown exponentially since ‘Young”s 2016 release. “When you’ve been in a shit situation or through something quite traumatic, you can take many paths. Mine was to create something that made me feel good and didn’t take itself too seriously and wasn’t wallowing in the sadness,” she says. “[Still] addressing those feelings, but in a way that made me feel good.”

These days, her sunshine and bright colours of old are traded in for more dark, surly yet playful vibes. It’s all giving the impression ambitions are burning brightly for Pixey. While success is a double-edged sword, it’s one she’s come to terms with, which has, in turn, made her even more determined. “The way to look at it is, I’m privileged enough to be in this position as it is,” she explains. “Anything else that happens now is just a bonus. I love the fact that I can make music and write music and it’s my job at the moment – that’s incredible. I feel so grateful to have to have that. I don’t think I’m owed anything and I don’t think I’m entitled to success or even exposure, I just do it because I love it.”

‘Million Dollar Baby’ is Pixey shining brightly, ready to embrace her future, no matter the weather. “Moving forward, I’m not anxious because I love this album, and I want it to do well, but at the same time, I’m letting it go,” she lightly sighs. “I enjoyed the process of making it. It’s done and I’m proud of it. Now it’s up to the people: if they like it, they like it; if they don’t, they don’t.” An inner peace with her career is the most integral element of this full-length step forward for Pixey, recognising her “ebbs and flows for over five years” are to be as cherished as ‘Million Dollar Baby’. Put simply, it all comes down to one thing: “When you’re an artist at my level, you roll with it because you love it.” ■

Taken from the August 2024 issue of Dork. Pixey’s album ‘Million Dollar Baby’ is out 2nd August.