Words by Grace Franklin
PinkPantheress’s iconic, distinct pop and UK garage sound stays strong in her newest mixtape, Fancy That. Pink first stepped into the limelight with her TikTok viral hits such as “Break It Off” and “Boys a Liar.” Since her rise to fame, she has released one studio album, “Heaven Knows,” and now two mixtapes, “To Hell With It” and “Fancy That.” It was a little bit of a surprise to fans that Pink has decided to release “Fancy That” as a mixtape and not a full-blown studio album after her success with “Heaven Knows.” However, after diving deeper into this newest release, it is clear that Pink is working hard to fine-tune her already incredible sampling skills and maturing her sound. Her breathy vocals, synths, and two-step beats give it that nostalgic Y2K pop sound. Throughout the mixtape, Pink explores these themes of obsession, paranoia, modern love, and addiction.
The first track, “Illegal,” jumps straight into it with the line “My name is Pink and I’m really glad to meet you.”The first line effectively breaks the fourth wall as Pink addresses the listener, setting an intimate and vulnerable tone for the rest of the mixtape. Drugs are a major topic for Pink in this mixtape. On “Illegal”, “Stars”, and “Noises”, she describes interactions with angry dealers and the paranoia that comes with taking the drugs.
Pink also sings about the complexity of her relationships, both romantic and platonic. In “Girl Like Me,” she describes a romantic relationship that she no longer wants to be a part of. She smiles when he isn’t there and she doesn’t like the way he treats her, ultimately coming to terms with the fact that she needs to let the relationship go. On the contrary, her next track “Tonight” describes that frustrating feeling you get as you’re waiting for your crush to make the first move. “Nice to Know You” leans more emotional as Pink sings about a friendship breakup and what it is like when you start to drift apart.
Pink has nailed down the complex nature of being in your 20s. It is sad and exciting at the same time. Everything is always messy, and you are constantly making mistakes. However, much like the sound of the album, everything moves so fast, and before you know it, it’s over.
Fancy That features an impressive and original use of samples. Though Pink is known for frequently incorporating samples into her music, the mixtape showcases her most seamless and effective use of them to date. It’s more obvious in some songs, such as the use of “Starz in Their Eyes” by Just Jack in Stars and William Orbit’s “Spiral” featuring Sugababes in “Nice to Know You,” however, Pink does a great job at interpreting them in her own way and music style. It’s clever how she takes inspiration from the songs that she grew up with and shaped her into the musician she is today. It’s a wonderful testimony to these artists who laid the groundwork for today’s popular music.
As she grows as a musician, PinkPantheress is maturing her already definitive sound and delving into real topics that resonate with her fans. Though it is a short mixtape, Fancy That showcases what is arguably her most remarkable work so far. I am excited to see Pink’s future projects as she continues to rise in her career as a notable UK singer, songwriter, and producer.
Loudspeaker Collective 