Having collected notability on various fronts, with the titles of singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist being attached to her name, Pixey has established herself as a bright new hope in today’s pop scene. Now, over five years on since her first single, each aspect of her musicianship effortlessly synergises on her debut album Million Dollar Baby.
Though earlier work has provided glimpses into the songwriter's glistening world, it’s here that her vision is truly brought to life. Capturing the duality of vulnerability and control through vivacious synth-pop, the record finds her where she thrives most. “I don’t need your time / I just speak my mind,” she bites in the opening line of “Man Power”. Cutting through a cascade of distorted, off-kilter guitars, it makes a defiant statement of intent – and one that’s lived up to as the record progresses.
The strength in Pixey’s storytelling abilities acts as a guiding thread throughout. Arguably the strongest offering lyrically comes in the form of the title track. Deconstructing the façade of success and fame amidst a landscape of effervescent synths and propulsive rhythms, it’s a dazzling showpiece of the multi-hyphenate’s ability to navigate challenging topics with ease. This affinity for songwriting prevails in later offerings too, with the entirely unguarded “Oxygen” channelling the emotional fallout of an abusive relationship.
It’s equally in the record’s sonic exploration that Pixey is at her most authentic and ambitious yet. With the defining input of her OB-6 synthesiser, it recalls a sound that weaves between the lines of genres, with elements of pop, disco, and soul intertwining to create fizzing displays of eclecticism. While “Best Friend” glistens with the warmth and depth of dreamy bedroom pop, “Damage” revels in sparkling psychedelia. Fearlessly embracing Pixey’s vocal versatility, as she shifts between ethereal vocal runs and poignant spoken word, it’s a stylistic blend of musical technicality.
Taking a slight step away from her pop-heavy sound, the Ormskirk-born singer taps into her Northern roots on the 70s-soul-inspired “Bring Back The Beat”. With commanding horns placed against an electronic backbone, the track is as much a nostalgic floor-filler as it is a nod to the origins of her artistic project. Following a debilitating health battle, it was dabbling with a trial version of Ableton that sparked her love for producing her own music and catalysed the then-20-year-old to share it with the world.
It may have been a long time in the making, but Million Dollar Baby sees Pixey confidently step into her own. From reflecting on the events that shaped her into who she is today, to becoming more self-assured than ever, the 10-track record is an enthralling journey through the non-linearity of self-invention. And while the future may still be unwritten, it’s a delightful debut that lays the foundations for many great things to come.
