If you’ve been on the internet at all in the last few months, especially TikTok, there’s a real likelihood you’ve heard, “My name is Pink and I’m really glad to meet you,” bursting energetically from your phone speakers. Whether you like it or not, PinkPantheress is everywhere and she’s here to stay.
However, this isn’t the first time PinkPantheress has gained popularity; her first major success came with her 2021 debut mixtape, “To Hell With It,” which featured viral hits like “Break It Off” and “Just For Me.” As the album gained popularity almost immediately on TikTok, her fans gave it the attention it deserved, propelling it to #73 on the Billboard 200 chart.
It’s rare to see someone debut with an album that climbs the charts on Billboard. Most of the time, it takes artists years to reach that peak. PinkPantheress had been carefully curating the ethereal, bedroom pop vibe during her college years.
In fact, PinkPantheress had been creating her first hits while holed up in her university dorm room, her fingers dancing along the keyboard late into the night.
“Enjoy it. Just have fun with it. Don’t take it too seriously. Even though it’s a very dramatic cover, I think the songs themselves don’t have to be too dramatic,” said PinkPantheress in an interview with NPR regarding her debut album.
Dare I say that not taking music too seriously is what assisted PinkPantheress in her rise to fame? PinkPantheress rose to the charts with ease thanks to her dreamy, ethereal vocals and her ability to curate sugary, U.K. garage electronic beats.
PinkPantheress’ second mixtape, “Fancy That,” is no exception. The mixtape showcases her signature blend of nostalgic, yet futuristic sounds, combining elements of garage, drum, bass and pop
Oh, what I’d do to take a deep dive into PinkPantheress’ brain — it’s interesting to see how PinkPantheress utilizes samples to create such fantastic, heavily layered songs. There are many samples and interpolations on “Fancy That,” including Underworld, Basement Jaxx, Groove Armada and William Orbit.
With its playful title and vibrant energy, “Fancy That” further solidifies PinkPantheress’s reputation as a trailblazer in the music industry, captivating listeners with her innovative approach and undeniable talent.
Of course, we can start with the ever-popular “Illegal,” a song layered with gritty lyrics and an intricate melody. While we can analyze the song and contemplate its meaning, sometimes it’s best to simply admire the obscure artistry of PinkPantheress.
“I wanted to create a project that reflected my progress as a producer. I made something that kind of incorporated my two projects into one super project. I wanted to keep it as raw as possible,” said PinkPantheress in an interview with Billboard.
The songs fade so easily into each other, throwing the listener into a seamless musical journey, making it difficult to distinguish where one track ends and the next begins. This deliberate blending highlights PinkPantheress’s mastery in creating a cohesive, immersive listening experience that keeps fans captivated from start to finish.
Overall, “Fancy That” is an elaborate and endearing album. It doesn’t even feel like it’s only 20 minutes long. A part of me wishes that the album would last forever. It’s transcendent, almost, when listening to it in an empty, calming space. More often than not, I don’t even realize the album ended until my Spotify skips into songs from her other albums. I truly feel like I could listen to this album forever.
PinkPantheress, please stay relevant forever, even if it’s just in a small, niche corner of the internet. I’m not picky.
