- 11 minutes ago
PinkPantheress discusses her first two Grammy nominations, her recent remix video for “Stateside” featuring Zara Larsson and the story behind her collaborations on 'Fancy Some More’ including physical therapy with Anitta and being a day one fan of Seventeen.
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00:00A lot of reading, a lot of research.
00:02And reading, you mean like are there books in particular like philosophies?
00:06Reddit. I'll just go on Reddit, honestly.
00:13We're here at the Luckman Club at Soho House West Hollywood with the lovely and talented Pink Pantherists.
00:19Let's start with the Grammys and let's go back in time a little bit to recent history November 7th when nominations came out.
00:25Oh yeah, yeah.
00:26I would love to know what you were doing that morning.
00:28I was in bed and then I got woken up with the news.
00:32The co-producer of the whole project, specifically Illegal, sent like an invisible text like where you can make it invisible.
00:40And then he was like, did you see?
00:42I was like so scared.
00:44Yeah, it was shocking.
00:45I was in bed though, I remember.
00:46Did the news carry you through the day in a particular way?
00:48It definitely did carry me through the day.
00:50I was very, very happy.
00:51Obviously, I was like ecstatic and I was just getting so many messages of like congratulations and congratulations.
00:56I don't think I celebrated but I think, oh I think I did.
01:00I think I went to get dinner.
01:01But like it wasn't like a whole shebang.
01:03I know that you've said in the past that you feel like you haven't been sure if you've broken through.
01:08I'm wondering if these Grammy nominations, your first two, make you feel like you have broken through or if it changes that at all for you.
01:15Yeah, I'd say everything I do is for pretty much representation.
01:19So obviously I'm from the UK.
01:21There is a lot of, you know, UK influence in my music.
01:23So everything that I do is to kind of like represent where I'm from and what I stand for.
01:27It was very exciting for me to have seen like both my project and then something like Illegal, you know, get nominated in such a like wide sense.
01:35And I'm not necessarily, I'm gassed for myself as an artist but I think more than anything I'm just happy that like what I, my music stands for and the type of people that enjoy my music, like we can all celebrate together because you know, you know, at the end of the day it is still an alternative genre.
01:49Like it's dance electronic and yeah, I'm just happy that there's like representation in there.
01:53I wonder if we could contextualize that within the other nominees.
01:56And let's start with dance electronic albums.
01:58So the other nominees are FKA, Twigs, Skrillex, Rufus Dussault and Fred again.
02:02Yeah.
02:03What flavor are you bringing to this artist group?
02:05Well, I definitely think I, well, everyone is a legend.
02:08So everyone from like, from Twigs to Skrillex.
02:11For Gen Z I think a lot of the time I hear that like I might be the gateway to a lot of Gen Z picking up on like dance or electronic music
02:18and or two step or garage or drum bass.
02:20And for me that like feels exciting because I feel like, you know, when I hear my name against these other people, I'm like honored because, you know,
02:27these are people that I grew up listening to, especially someone like Fred again, who is also from the UK, you know, it's like amazing that I can be alongside him.
02:33But I do feel like I do, as I said, represent a bit more of a maybe like a Gen Z kind of fan base.
02:39I might represent maybe like more of the teen kind of space.
02:42Totally.
02:43Do you feel like you're part of this guard of artists that are bringing two step and drum and bass and kind of making them into the phenomenon that I feel they've become in the States in the last few years?
02:53Yeah, I would like to put myself in, yeah, in that category.
03:00I think that it's not even necessarily that I think about myself.
03:03I just think that's what has been kind of said to me.
03:06And obviously, I'm really happy to take that on.
03:08And there's a lot of other artists that I feel like have taken that on.
03:11I think Nia Archives is one.
03:13I think Kalala is one.
03:14It's just something I grew up with.
03:15So to me, it's second nature to hear that kind of music in places like clubs and stuff.
03:20But I still think here there is a lot of places to still introduce it to.
03:26I'm wondering now if we can go to the other category.
03:29Selena Gomez and Benny Blanca, Lady Gaga, Zara Larsson, Tate McRae.
03:33How do you feel about being in this group?
03:35And does it feel any different than the other category?
03:37I don't know if it feels too different.
03:38I think that, you know, it still feels like I'm amongst like real heavy hitters.
03:43So in that case, it's similar.
03:45It might be different because I think, you know, this one might be more mainstream friendly.
03:49I think that I fit in more with the Fredegans and Twigs because I think that I see myself in being more of a niche space.
03:56However, obviously, when you're against real, real big, huge pop stars, it feels like, oh, wow.
04:01Like I'm really like, you know, it's cool that I can actually be in both.
04:04I think that that's a really big privilege to be able to be alongside real amazing like pop artists.
04:09And then also real like dance slash electronic legends like Skrillex.
04:14That just kind of like encompasses what I'm all about.
04:16I think I have one leg in each.
04:18And, you know, I'm happy to be that way.
04:20You're going to the ceremony, I'm assuming.
04:22What are you going to wear?
04:23Who are you excited to see?
04:24I have no idea what I'm going to wear.
04:26However, hopefully I get to see all my girls.
04:29I like, you know, it's rare that I get to really see like, you know, like you'll meet an artist at a festival and be like, oh, like we go to meet up again soon.
04:35But then you don't really get to because of like scheduling.
04:37So hopefully I'll be able to see a lot of my friends.
04:39And yeah, I'm excited.
04:41I've never been to the Grammy.
04:42So I am excited.
04:43Yeah.
04:44You mentioned Zara Larsson, who, of course, you guys are having a moment right now with Stateside.
04:48Kissing my Swedish boy over FaceTime.
04:52Did you foresee that track in particular becoming such a hit?
04:56Yes and no.
04:57I think I was actually like, with the remix project, I was like, it was a real toss up between.
05:01I guess with the remixes, sometimes you never really know.
05:03I think some people will always be like, oh, you shouldn't have touched the originals.
05:08But then some people really enjoy change and interpretations.
05:11And I remember the Zara one was one that everyone just off the bat really loved.
05:15And it made me happy because I love recontextualizing all my music.
05:19And even before the project, me and her were messaging and stuff, I just knew that she would be perfect.
05:24And at first I wanted her to be on another song.
05:27But then I can't remember how I ended up being Stateside.
05:29I think I was like, wait, actually, it would make more sense because you're Swedish.
05:32Or I think she ended up wanting to do Stateside.
05:34So yeah, we ended up doing it.
05:35And funnily enough, I was listening to the original version of Stateside with Zara.
05:39And it was so obviously my original song has a different beat altogether.
05:43It's a bit more, it's less pop, a bit more alternative.
05:46And like, and so she actually had that, she was on the original beat.
05:49And I remember hearing at the time and thinking like, it's cool, but I feel like I could find something that did her more justice.
05:56And so I had one of my favorite producers ever, Oscar Scheller.
05:59I remembered that we made a demo version and I was like, let me put her vocals on this instead.
06:03And then it just made so much more sense.
06:05It sounded so much more bubblegum and cute and like brats.
06:09And I just felt like it fit her world a bit more.
06:11I'm just happy to be kind of in some small capacity alongside her in this like cool way.
06:16Well, it must be really satisfying because trusting your instincts and kind of really like breaking down these tracks and recontextualizing them.
06:22And I would love to hear more about that process.
06:25I find it fascinating when you kind of take something that you've already made that's very good.
06:29And then you make it into something completely different.
06:32And was that always the plan to turn fancy that into fancy some more?
06:36I'd say, yeah, so my first ever project to hell with it, I made into a remix project.
06:41And that was my manager's idea.
06:42She's like a, you know, she's really big on dance and her brother's a DJ.
06:46And like, so they have a really strong connection with this kind of stuff.
06:50And I never thought about a remix project until she brought it up the first project I ever did.
06:56And then with this project, I was like, it would be cool to do it again because I think I have more eyes.
07:01And so there'd be more potential artists that I really love being willing to be involved.
07:05A bunch of them, I just reproduced it to like make a new song with a different beat.
07:10Some of them I got from Oscar who like had already given me a lot of demos so I could play around.
07:15And then some of them I used the original beats and yeah.
07:19And what I like about it is that it's almost just a whole new song.
07:23So yeah, I just, I like, I kind of like the fact that it's like, it has some attachment from the original project.
07:30So it's almost just like a whole new one.
07:32Right.
07:33Well, it really reminded me of the Brat remix project too.
07:35Like these are, these have similar DNA.
07:37Yeah.
07:38I think the crew of collaborators that you have in this project is so incredible as well.
07:41It's, you know, Anita and OK Lou and Zara and like, tell me about rounding up this like incredible collection of people.
07:48Basically just artists that I've always wanted to work with or that I, you know, I'm friends with or just like, basically I have a connection to each one.
07:54Yeah.
07:55So even someone like Anita, like, no one knows this, but we had the same PT for a little sec and we did a PT and it was the funniest thing ever.
08:01She's like actually really funny and I just never forget meeting her.
08:05And it was such a random meeting, but I always remember having her in the back of my mind.
08:08Like she was such a personality.
08:10And then someone like 17, it's like, I've been a fan of 17 since I was like 15.
08:14I was there for their debut.
08:15I was there since day one.
08:17I remember it so well.
08:19So every single artist I have a connection with, it's in some way, shape or form.
08:23And so getting them together, it just felt really natural.
08:26I didn't feel like there was anyone where I was like, oh, I'm not too sure about this.
08:30And it's really easy sometimes for labels to get involved and be like, oh no, we need to get this person for this reason, this reason.
08:36But I was like, you guys, I am figuring this out.
08:39Like, I am figuring this out.
08:41This is, I'm doing this.
08:42And yeah, it ended up being super great.
08:44Even though some of the collaborators are surprising, they still feel authentically you and part of your world and ecosystem.
08:51Take me through some of just the big moments.
08:53I'm thinking of the tiny desk and obviously tour.
08:56Like, what have been your pinch me moments in all of this?
08:59I'd say, yeah, I'd say a few of my pinch me moments was going on Fallon.
09:02Pink Panthers, everybody!
09:04And then doing the tiny, pretty much all the things that you're probably, before this project, I didn't really do anything.
09:09I didn't do anything live, really.
09:11And I didn't do anything that might put me in what I would consider a compromising position with like, live vocals.
09:17And like, I guess this whole thing has been a bit of a pinch me moment, to be honest.
09:20I can name like a bunch of individual things, but I think there's not really one that stands out above everything.
09:27Each experience is so different and so unique and puts me through more challenges than the last.
09:31I wanted to ask about that because, you know, obviously there's been this narrative of you being quite shy.
09:36Have you shuffled some of that shyness off to kind of do things so powerfully as you're doing?
09:41You know what's interesting?
09:42I think it depends on the day because some days I wake up feeling really rambunctious and some days I just don't.
09:46I think I've managed to figure out at least how to control it on stage.
09:50I've done a lot of like research as to how I can help myself.
09:53And my biggest issue with being on stage was my heart would just beat really quick and I couldn't control basically any of my extremities.
10:01So I'd had, you know, I had to start taking something which would slow my heart down before I went on stage.
10:06So like things like that, it's just like, you know, I used to do a lot of complaining about things that were outside of my control.
10:11And then I just realized actually the older I get, the more I can actually control a lot of things.
10:15And you know, it doesn't need to be at the detriment of myself and other people.
10:19So yeah, I think the older I get, the more I realize how in control I can be and like I am the controller of my destiny to some extent.
10:28In some ways I'm not, but in some ways I am.
10:30And I think that honestly, I think the best thing that's happened to me has been experience.
10:35It sounds like you're also just putting more tools in your toolbox.
10:38Yeah.
10:39Just like these tips and tricks where, you know, you can reach for that if you need that particular thing.
10:42And that's there for you too.
10:43And I know that you have a lot of dates this year.
10:45Yeah.
10:46Take me through the next few months of your life and sort of how you're planning to launch yourself off into this big run.
10:51Well, we have rehearsals coming up really soon and that's going to happen.
10:55And then a lot of the shows are going to be completely different.
10:58Some of the shows are going to be more reminiscent of the tour I just did.
11:01I think it's going to be a lot of moving.
11:03More than anything, I have to figure out my fear of flying, which is probably the worst part of it for me.
11:08It's like I have a big fear of planes.
11:10So whatever, that's going to be probably the thing I'm most stressed about.
11:14I think the shows themselves, you know, as I said, like I am in control of a lot of what I decide to do.
11:19So, you know, for example, I'm doing a lot of shows in like five K cap venues rather than like a 12K, you know, which 12K for me is like, well, there's a lot of people right now.
11:29So me touring them in 6K, but like two nights of 6K makes me feel like so much more at ease.
11:35And also it's more intimate with my audience.
11:37A lot of reading, a lot of research and a lot of like practice, you know.
11:42And reading, you mean like other books in particular, like philosophies?
11:46Reddit. I just go on Reddit, honestly.
11:48Okay. Okay. And read what? Feedback about from your family? What are you reading?
11:52So I'll just type in things like what do you do to control your anxiety and stuff.
11:57And like there's just a lot of tips and tricks and then, no, I don't do this too much.
12:01But like, yeah, sometimes I will see like what constructive criticism people have, you know, you know, it's fine.
12:07I don't really, you know, I used to be really upset when I used to read anything bad.
12:10But I, you know, I'm okay with, it's not being bullied, but like, you know, if people are paying for a ticket, like, and they want to see certain things happening and they want to see something from me, then I'm at liberty to listen to what they're saying.
12:21Sure. It's becoming maybe more of a symbiotic relationship.
12:25Yeah, that's how I feel. Because at the end of the day, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for these people, actually, genuinely.
12:30Sure. That seems like a really healthy way to think about it. And you can disregard what doesn't track for you.
12:34Yeah, yeah.
12:35Okay. Obviously, you've accomplished so much. How do you balance feeling satisfied with what you've done with, you know, wanting more?
12:42I'm just someone that always is obsessed with just, yeah, doing more, feeling like I haven't done enough.
12:47You know, especially musically, like, I always feel like, ugh, I could have made this thing better. I could have made this drum louder.
12:54But I think the more I kind of realise how lucky I am to still be a growing musician after five years, the more I am starting to feel satisfied.
13:04You know, there was a point where I was like, three years and I was like, oh, God, anything could change for me.
13:09Like, my next project could completely, like, fall underneath the radar.
13:12Sure.
13:13You know, I'm still happy that I'm making music and I'm able to have a career, but, you know, it would disappoint me if, you know, people started to lose interest in me as an artist.
13:20But I think after this project came out, Fancy That, I honestly feel like I've never, I feel so confident and I feel like that's why I keep saying my fans, I'm so lucky to have them.
13:29There's just super, they're really, like, loyal to me and I, and it's surprising because I, you know, you get the sense that my generation for sure are super fickle and like, oh, they only really latch onto certain trends.
13:40But I think that I'm very lucky enough to be an artist where, like, my fans have stayed really loyal to me and I'm really happy and that's given me a lot of confidence to kind of not feel like, oh, I always have to, you know, do flips and tricks for the next project.
13:52Oh, I need to completely change my sound. Like, they give me a lot of grace.
13:55And it sounds like they love the essence of what you're doing.
13:58Yeah.
13:59Like, what you do works for them. They're not asking for anything else. Like, just stick to you and that works.
14:05Yeah, yeah, exactly.
14:06I'm thinking about the Basement Jacks and Underworld samples on Fancy That.
14:10You have really all these modern artists and obviously not all of them are electronic.
14:14But I'm wondering if you think that the remix project kind of more firmly places the project in, like, the modern electronic moment versus the throwbackiness of the original.
14:24Yeah, I would say it depends who's listening, to be honest, because a lot of people that aren't aware of the samples and I do my best to always make it very obvious that I am sampling it.
14:34What I'm sampling and who. But still a lot of people, especially overseas, who aren't maybe as familiar with the Britishness of the samples, they might think that, you know, I think to them it is a completely modern thing.
14:47I see a lot of debates where it's like, you know, she's really reinventing the wheel or some people might say that.
14:52And then some people will reply and be like, well, she's actually not like she's actually really just like interpolating and repurposing a lot of music that you might not have heard.
15:00I think both opinions are true.
15:01Well, and I love to like you also mentioned just the Britishness.
15:04Yes.
15:05And to reach back to those two artists in particular is so like melding all of the genres of British electronic music in such an elegant way.
15:13Yeah, exactly. I do. Yeah, exactly.
15:15Have you heard from other of those two acts at all?
15:18Of course. Well, Underworld did a remix and then, yeah, Basement Jackson. I went. Yeah, I've met them a few times. They are so funny.
15:24They're like dynamic is super interesting. Like Felix as a member. So it's Felix and Simon and Simon is this very like they're both extremely talented.
15:32And you can tell like you can just tell that they work in such an interesting way. Like one of them is extremely calm and one of them is insane.
15:39And I love the dynamic. I think they're both super, super fun and interesting people. And just watching their process as a producer for me was just insane.
15:47I mean, I have to ask, obviously, we mentioned the tour. You have a lot coming up. Are you working on anything else right now?
15:51No, I'm not. But, you know, I think when I do, it will be super obvious. I always let people I try and let my fans know when I'm like on on my shit again.
16:02OK, so it won't be a secret. No, it won't be a secret. I'll give people a little like a little hint when I started, but it definitely is not quite yet.
16:11OK. I feel like I'm definitely still in this era, like quite embedded in it. Absolutely. Still full on.
16:16Is there anything else you want to say? No. Thank you so much. Thank you.
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