In this interview feature, we get to know the most radicalist up and coming stars on the planet.   

This time it’s 21-year-old musician Hannah Rodgers better known as beguiling alt. pop artiste, Pixx.

Originally from Chipstead on the rural edges of South London and raised in a thoroughly musical household, Rodgers soon honed her own songwriting talents at Croydon’s celebrated BRIT School and at only 19 years-of-age released her introspective debut EP, Fall In, via 4AD. It was a deeply atmospheric release that not only showcased four of Rodgers’ most disarmingly assured explorations of heartbreak, but revealed a truly singular artist in the making.

Having shared three singles since then - the woozy ‘Bamboo’, sparkling alt. pop cut ‘Grip’ and most recently the driving, psychedelic ‘I Bow Down’ - 2017 sees Pixx unveil her debut album, The Age of Anxiety. Billed as an ambitious exploration of human isolation in the modern world, it’s sure to be a timely record of typically introspective musings amplified to reflect the intimate concerns of the many.

We caught up with Rodgers to discuss this exciting new statement…

***

TMR: How is your current tour going? What have been some of your most compelling experiences?

Pixx: So great! Seeing Europe in this way is totally amazing and we've met so many lovely people although we are ashamed to be British right now so that’s quite embarrassing. The place we played in Hamburg had like an all-day rave… certainly one way to get hyped up before our show. Some random dude stopped my bro/guitarist Luke and I in there and was like “u guys are brother and sister”. He saw it in our eyes he said, we saw a LOT of pupil in his eyes…

TMR: In the three tracks we’ve already heard from your new album, The Age Of Anxiety, there’s a lot of ground covered musically that perhaps wasn’t covered on your previous EP Fall In. What brought about this progression and what have been some of your musical (or non-musical) influences through this process?

Pixx: I guess it's evolved quite drastically from Fall In because I wanted to create a specific feeling with each song to accompany the lyrics and the melodies. I think listening to lots of different artists and styles allowed me to not feel like there were any boundaries: Supertramp’s Crisis? What Crisis?, Boards of Canada’s The Campfire Headphase, Kate Bush’s Hounds of Love, Stereolab’s Peng!. Read some amazing books, Kate Chopin being my fav of last year’s reads. Working with different producers: Simon Byrt, Artery, Dan Carey and Jacob Portrait definitely had a huge impact on the production side, it's great to work with people who are happy to let me get on with it even if what I'm doing is musically totally nonsensical.



TMR: Your work has always been poetic, maybe even lyric-led, but do lyrics come before music for you? How do your songs typically come to be?

Pixx: Usually they’re born in my room on my guitar. Other times I find melodies from the music I’ve worked on with producers in the studio. Lyrics are definitely a big aspect for me because I've always liked the storytelling music can bring. I think it's good to voice important matters as much as possible through it, a lot of artists don't seem to be making the jump and using their art as a form of protest like so many great musicians were before. I got into electronic production much later when I was like 18, 19.

TMR: Of course, your forthcoming LP is called The Age Of Anxiety but, at least to our ears, there’s definitely a celebratory element in your recent singles as well. Is this something you’d agree with? If so, why was this juxtaposition something you wished to explore?

Pixx: Yeah definitely. Can’t always be bad right…Wouldn’t want to spread only negative views. With the stuff I’ve been writing about it can feel like a constant battle but there’s a light at the end of the tunnel and I wanted that to come across.

TMR: In both ‘Grip’ and ‘Bamboo’ you seem to explore the idea of relinquishing control, surrendering to the passage of time, or at least trying to. This inability to let things pass is a huge source of anxiety for many people these days. How do you personally deal with this issue?

Pixx: I think shutting off from social media every once-in-a-while is very useful. It’s so easy to totally lose touch with the real world and I reckon lots of people don’t even know how much their phones run their lives. We laugh about it but it’s really not that funny. It’s terrifying. Get outside and see the trees and remember that there is much beauty in nature, it’s better for the soul than a WhatsApp group chat. I find anyway.



TMR: Your album artwork is striking, as is the video for ‘I Bow Down’. How did the visual side of this record develop?

Pixx: Working with a real heroine of mine Natasha Lawes. She kind of led the way for me, taking my lyrics and my explanations and visualising it with me. We ran with the idea of the ever-changing appearance, these different things wrapping around and growing out of my head.

TMR: Several copies of your new record come with a zine. Can you shed a little light on this accompaniment?

Pixx: Umm weird drawings and scribbles. Just make sure you order the album ASAP and then you’ll see for yourself.

TMR: What is your favourite Pixx song and why?

Pixx: ‘Mood Ring Eyes’ is the last track on the record and I like to think of it as a reassuring song particularly for those who have had a few too many down moments, like everything’s going to be alright, give me a smile.

TMR: We’re a blog specializing in new music so are there any up-and-coming artists or bands you’re really enjoying lately? 

Pixx: My girls Let’s Eat Grandma put out their debut. It’s amazing. So good to see 2 young girls just doing it for themselves and not giving a flying fuck about it. HMLTD are cool, I have yet to see them live but heard great things.



The Age Of Anxiety is out June 2^nd via 4AD and catch Pixx on tour now.

-Karl Jawara