PinkPantheress is in the grounds of the Ludlow Hotel on the Lower East Side, with a big white plastic corset and long, complex nails that worry her since they’re about to break. She still has a little wrap covering her slicked edges and straight tresses that extend above her shoulders, giving her hair an especially polished look today. In a few hours, Pink will be in Harlem filming the music video for her song “Boy’s A Liar Part 2,” which also features a furious verse from Ice Spice. Pink is sharing with NME how she was able to work with one of the hottest new rap singers in New York City by just sneaking into her direct message.
I seldom use Instagram, but I saw that [Ice Spice] followed me since I was there, she explains. “Since I didn’t think she even knew who I was, I felt it was cool. When you’re in the UK, I’d love to meet, I dropped in [the DMs]. She is pretty cool in my opinion, regardless of the music. I thought it was fantastic when she mentioned she was a fan of mine.
Credit: Mia Teresa for PinkPantheress
Before concluding the narrative of how “Boy’s A Liar Part 2” came to be, Pink discusses why she doesn’t remix very often. I don’t like it when a song becomes popular and receives a remix only to make it more popular, she says. “I’m extremely choosy when it comes to collaborations; I always look for someone who can complement me effectively on a tune. Ice Spice does drill, but her flows are quite original, and she uses diverse beats. Many people would find the beats I selected difficult, but I knew she’d fit the bill.
The original version of “Boy’s A Liar,” co-written and co-produced with Mura Masa, was released back in November and featured kick drums, Jersey club beats, and melodic despair. “What good does sobbing do? Pink asks in a bell-like voice that echoes over flashing keys, “It was never even love. “Have you ever desired me? Was I ever adequate? Before her verse is over, Ice Spice slows down her flow to match the dejected energy of the song, admitting: “But I don’t sleep enough without you / And I don’t eat enough without you / If we don’t speak, does that mean we’re through? / Don’t like sneaky shit that you do.” Ice Spice injects some ferocious confidence into the new version (“I tell him there’s one of me / He making fun of me
You are aware of how legendary Eminem is? Hayley Williams, I really believe, will be one of those individuals.
How did PinkPantheress persuade the rapper who came up with Ice Spice’s catchy song “Bikini Bottomline, “‘s “how can I lose if I’m already chosen?” to rap poetically about rejection? Pink responds, “My songs have fairly grim lyrics. “Once you see the world that Ice Spice portrays and what she looks like, it changes how you perceive the song. After listening to her, I realized that she was actually cuter than a savage. I suppose it was a nice chance for her to exhibit a more sensitive side. As a musician, I believe it’s beneficial to develop a more three-dimensional persona.
PinkPantheress is a three-dimensional artist who could write the book on how to make one. The musician, who was reared in Kent but was born in Bath, began her career by secretly uploading videos to TikTok from her bedroom. She created original music by blending elements from genres like alt-pop, garage, drum’n’bass, and jungle with songs from the ’90s and ’00s. Rarely do her creative and lyrically exposed songs last longer than two minutes, making them ideal social media morsels. Millions of TikTok videos featured the 21-year-breakout old’s hits “Break It Off” and “Just For Me” in the summer of 2021, and her song “Pain” has received over 261 million Spotify streams as of this writing. She signed a contract with Parlophone almost after, and in October 2021, she released her 19-minute first mixtape, “To Hell With It,” which NME described as “impeccable” in a five-star review.
It all appears to be the tale of someone who has their sights set firmly on stardom at first glance. PinkPantheress, however, has continued to avoid disclosing her real name and has always performed all of her interviews off-camera. Although she is currently touring the world and filming music videos in public places in New York City, she hasn’t suddenly started to divulge more personal information about herself.
NME cover featuring Pink Pantheress
NME’s cover features Pink Pantheress. Charlie Braun, with thanks
Because of the people I have around me, I feel like nothing has happened too quickly, she says. It wasn’t like ‘You’re anonymous’ changed to ‘Oh sh*t!’ It has always been a graft and a lot in transition. I don’t think highly of myself, either. Even while I have followers, I don’t believe I need to share everything with them because people care about other things in addition to their favorite musicians.
Pink also admits that one of the reasons she still avoids being photographed is because of her ongoing issues with body image. She explains to NME, “I was pretty young when I started [music]: I was still coming into my appearance. “Seeing oneself on camera was quite difficult for me, especially when other people were selecting which photos to publish online. I simply despised it because I thought others would see images of me and assume I looked like that. After pausing, she shakes her head. “I dislike learning what other people believe. I abhor it. I remained anonymous since I never want people to remark on anything, which is why. Over the past few years, my body dysmorphia has gotten worse.
charity for mental health When a person “experiences excessive worry about one or more perceived flaws in their physical appearance, and the flaw can’t be noticed by others or is very tiny,” they may have body dysmorphia, which Mind defines as “an anxiety condition related to body image.” “Concerns about their appearance may make it difficult to go out in public or see other people in some circumstances,” according to one study.
Pink continues, “I didn’t take any selfies or wear makeup before I started doing music. I made no efforts to support my version of looking nice, feeling confident, or feeling that way. That sense that someone is only interested in you when you look well, and frequently I don’t look good, is what inspired me to write “Boy’s A Liar.”
“I enjoy seeing how my music sounds on other folks. I’m honored, really.
Pink’s shoulders loosen up and a broad smile appears on her face as she discusses her musical influences, including pop-punk pioneers Paramore, whereas she noticeably contracts while discussing her appearance. She revealed to NME in September 2021 that the moment she made the decision to become PinkPantheress was while she was a teenager and watching the band perform at Reading Festival: “Hayley Williams was doing something I wanted to do, so I thought I’d better start manifesting early so I can get there.”
When Williams asked Pink on stage to play the bridge of “Misery Business” during Austin City Limits last October, that ambition came full circle. She now says, “It was extremely fun and it was really scary.” Just how many people were present and observing. The entire time, I kept saying to myself, “Oh, this is so painful.” Then I kept asking myself, “Does [Williams] perform this entire one-hour set in front of all these people?” She is already a legend at this point because of her experience, but I believe that in a few years, everyone will truly recognize her for what she is. Do you know how legendary Eminem is? Hayley will undoubtedly resemble one of those folks, I’m sure of it. Someone did the exact same thing and climbed up [on stage] during “Misery Business” when I saw Paramore when I was 15 years old. Wow, that’s so enjoyable, I remember thinking as I gazed upon them. So I did it. genuinely amazing
PinkPantheress has evolved from being influenced by Paramore and Williams to become an independent music influencer. In a recent interview with NME, popular TikTok DJ Jovynn expressed her belief that the majority of the sounds sweeping TikTok are attempts to imitate PinkPantheress’ approach, as if she were a genre unto herself. The media coverage Pink has gotten has supported these allegations, with one article suggesting that she is “driving the drum’n’bass renaissance on TikTok.” Pink herself, though, takes issue with these remarks.
“People frequently assert that she is not a genre and did not invent this. Pink says, “I don’t use the word ‘genre’ to define myself. As she begins to speak passionately about the subject, her cadence quickens. What irritates me, however, is when people pretend that I didn’t spend months combining various ideas to create my own version. No, she didn’t invent anything new, people will reply. I am aware that I did not create drum ‘n’ bass or garage, but what I did was develop a very unique sound that I want for me. I’m not saying, “I don’t want anyone else to do it too,” in that statement. I adore seeing other people do it because it shows that they find it appealing enough to give it a shot. I do feel honored. I don’t have any issues with it.
Image Credit: Charlie Braun, PinkPantheress
Pink is not interested in creating her own genre, but she is aware of the significance of being recognized as the founder of a musical trend. “One thing I love is if people think of me as the spearhead, I’m happy to be a Black woman representing this genre. It’s just another instance of how Black people have successfully pioneered a whole musical genre, and I’m so happy I’m doing it. Whether it’s Lily Allen, Imogen Heap, or even someone like Kaytranada, who I’ve always said is one of my big influences, I always pay respect to my influences. There aren’t many black musicians expressly making this kind of music. Nia Archives, a fellow Black woman who was doing drum ‘n’ bass before to me, gets a shout-out if I have to.
She also supports FLO, one of R&B’s most promising rookies. The London trio said that they’d like to work with her in their most recent NME Big Read cover story, but would Pink accept their invitation? She laughs and says, “I want to be their fourth member. “I adore them because of the voice tone they utilize; I haven’t heard it in such a long time. Particularly for British musicians to perform that kind of R&B, such as TLC-style music. Since Sugababes, we haven’t really experienced that.
PinkPantheress
Source: Mia One of the performers at the PinkPantheress & Friends Boiler Room session in December was Teresa FLO. The live session’s title seemed appropriate for a young singer like Pink who has numerous close connections in the music business that go beyond simple business relationships. She tells NME, “I always prefer to go back to someone I enjoy working with because it just saves time.” Additionally, I’m leading two lives: the one we are currently living and the one I lead at home, where I continue to be a regular person. Six other people and I share a home. Not because I’m immune to being jaded, but rather because if I were, I’d probably spiral. I have to constantly remind myself of my origins, purpose for being here, and route to get here. After a brief pause, she continues, “in fact, I don’t even connect with this,” pointing to her hair and makeup before the hotel garden. I believe people can tell when they first meet me.
I’m making the most of my life till the day that I turn 25 is a line found in the song “Boy’s A Liar,” which is included on PinkPantheress’ December EP “Take Me Home.” It’s about “getting older and being terrified,” as one might expect, but there are also lines about paying bills late and falling behind on rent. Pink admits, “Honestly, I don’t want to age.” “I’m not lazy, but I’m terrible at managing anything because I’m so horrible at organization.” I also don’t like going to events, she adds with a chuckle. Just take me home, please. Please allow me to lie in bed and sleep.
Her roster of collaborators keeps expanding, and she specifically mentions Steve Lacy and Remi Wolf among the musicians who, in her words, “keep it real-life with me.” Pink collaborated with musicians she had previously deemed “difficult” to connect with at this stage of her career last year, including Baby Keem, Beabadoobee, and Nigerian singer CKay (the latter on “Anya Mmiri,” which appeared on the soundtrack to Black Panther: Wakanda Forever). Consider the co-producer of the song “Do You Miss Me” on the “Take Me Home” EP, the aforementioned Kaytranada.