Pixie Lott’s new album, Encino, is right here, ten years after her final. Rather a lot’s modified in that point, nothing extra so than Lott’s personal company relating to her music.
Lott was simply 14 when she began writing, and 18 when she launched her debut album, Flip It Up, in 2009. Because the now 33-year-old notes whereas talking completely to PinkNews about Encino, she’s been within the enterprise, “Gosh, yeah, a very long time.”
Encino is Pixie’s return to music after a ten-year break, which appears arduous to imagine for anybody that grew up listening to the singer’s catalogue of hits like “Boys and Women”, “All About Tonight” and “Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh)”.
Talking to PinkNews, Pixie Lott spills on the tales behind these very songs, what assist from the LGBTQ+ neighborhood means to her, and easy methods to go viral in a altering music business. Spoilers: the reply is toes movies.
The emphasis for Encino – the private, partially self-funded report that transcends Lott’s pop roots to discover a extra ‘band-led’ sound – is, as Lott places it, the “classes I’ve realized” alongside the way in which.
“It’s all about authenticity. It’s about doing what I need,” she says. “I’ve to again that up with each choice that’s made round it. Whether or not it’s the type of present, the type of music video, it’s as much as me. And it feels actually nice to be doing that.”
There’s a way of wanting ahead in Encino, which is known as after the Californian neighbourhood in Los Angeles the place it was made, however there’s additionally a way of intimate reflection. “Someone’s Daughter” is a warning to on-line trolls and a easy reminders “to not feed negativity”. “Completely happy” is an ode to son Albert, and “Classic” is one to husband Oliver Cheshire – nevertheless it’s not all lovey-dovey.
“Say So” particulars Pixie’s first panic assault in 2016, which struck as she carried out as Holly Golightly within the UK manufacturing of Breakfast at Tiffany‘s.
“I’ve by no means written about deep topic issues on this manner earlier than, however I knew I needed to,” Pixie admits. “If I used to be making an album like this, I needed to cowl each factor that I’ve been by means of over the past 5 years. And I couldn’t depart something out, in any other case it wouldn’t be an genuine illustration these years.”
Was it arduous to open up in that manner? It will have been, Lott says, had she been making music in the way in which {that a} youthful Pixie did.
“Working with [producers] Dave Gibson and Jeeve over 5 years, we constructed up such relationship that I felt like I may say these type of issues and allow them to into issues that I’d by no means spoken about to anybody earlier than,” she muses.
“My albums earlier than, as a result of I labored with a distinct producer and author each single day, throughout completely different locations, I’d by no means discuss that with them, as a result of I simply met them for a espresso. We’d write a tune, after which I’m gone and I’m on to the subsequent one. It’s like velocity relationship.”
Encino, and significantly Lott’s monitor “Coco” can be a commentary on the music business as a lot as it’s anything. It’s paying homage to different stars being extra open in regards to the unfavorable of their experiences in the identical vein, not least Jade’s latest “Angel of My Desires“.
“There’s no manner you can get into the leisure business with out the highs and the lows,” Lott says of the turning tide.
“I wouldn’t change it for the world, as a result of I can’t think about being anything. And music in my bones. However “Coco” says that I give my every little thing to this, and I’ve my complete life. I’ve bared my soul to it, and generally you simply don’t get it again in return.”
After being within the music business for therefore lengthy, a lot has modified for Lott – just like the technique behind reaching a smash hit, for instance. When she launched Flip It Up ten years in the past, Spotify was simply eight years outdated, and Apple Music hadn’t even been launched but; it was “all about iTunes and CDs”.
Coupled with the truth that TikTok was nonetheless but to be launched, taking a tune viral in 2024 is a wholly completely different beast.
“Every thing’s extra prompt,” Lott says. “Individuals are importing songs which can be right here, there and all over the place in a second. And you may add something, and also you don’t know if it’s going to go viral. You may spend ages making a music video that gained’t get seen, after which you’ve got a video of, like, a foot, and it will get tens of millions of views.”
For all you on the market on WikiFeet, simply relax – however Pixie does joke: “Perhaps I ought to experiment.”
Although she’s moved on from the type of music that heralded three UK Quantity Ones, 4 BRIT nominations and over 4 million singles offered, Lott will “at all times be a lover of pop.”
She’ll additionally, it appears, at all times be a lover of the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. That a lot is evident when she’s requested which one in every of her songs she’d wish to see as a lip-sync on a future episode of Drag Race UK – which is the aforementioned “Coco”.
“I’ve grown up loving any type of Satisfaction parade. I really feel like [I’ve had the support of the queer community] all my life, I’ve at all times felt so linked to any type of Satisfaction present, and the place I select to exit is Soho.
“It’s the type of a world I’ve been in for a very long time, and I simply really feel the perfect, see the perfect exhibits, with the perfect folks, the perfect crowd.”
Earlier than she indicators off, Pixie has one final assertion on Encino – and what she hopes folks will suppose listening to it.
“Being genuine is the place the magic occurs. And my final objective in life is making music that helps folks get there ultimately.”
Encino is offered now.
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