PinkPantheress Proves You Wrong

A New Chapter for PinkPantheress

PinkPantheress is standing at a pivotal moment in her career. "This is the most effort I've put into pretty much anything I've ever done," she says, reflecting on the past few months and the release of her second mixtape, Fancy That, which came out in May. "And I think there's more to come." At just 24 years old, Victoria Walker has been making waves with her unique sound, blending nostalgic samples with personal lyricism that resonates deeply with Gen Z.

While some may not be as connected to the digital world, it's hard to ignore PinkPantheress. Her track "Illegal," the lead single from Fancy That, became a viral sensation, featured in over a million TikTok videos. The trend involved users singing the first line of the song while shaking hands, creating a catchy and engaging moment that spread like wildfire.

"I definitely was surprised at the reception because I was totally going on a whim, doing the handshake thing," PinkPantheress recalls. "I didn't really expect anything to come from it, but I was really happy to see people were enjoying it. I thought it was really sick."

For PinkPantheress, the success of a song isn't solely about streaming numbers. She emphasizes the importance of letting songs live and breathe. "I want to release songs and let them live and breathe," she explains. "I want to have it for a lot more of the songs [on Fancy That], too."

The social media hit isn't the first time PinkPantheress has experienced viral success. In 2023, her collaboration with Ice Spice on "Boy's a liar Pt. 2" reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 and was celebrated as one of the best songs of the year. Since then, her career has taken off, earning her a place as a three-time Brit Award nominee, a Producer of the Year award from Billboard Women in Music in 2024, and an honorary degree from the University of Kent for her contributions to music in the digital age.

Despite these achievements, PinkPantheress acknowledges the challenges she faces. "People are less willing to listen to electronic music that is made by a Black woman. That's just fact," she states. She expresses a desire for greater recognition in certain industry spaces, highlighting the difficulties of fitting into a specific genre.

Meeting one of her heroes, Hayley Williams of Paramore, was a significant moment for PinkPantheress. "When I have these pinch me moments, it's like, ‘wow, I really need to hold on to this,'" she says. "Because I don't know when the next one will be. I suppose it's harder for me to be taken seriously and rise the ranks."

PinkPantheress believes it's time for the industry to take her seriously. "I always feel like I'm cutting through and I'm in a very privileged position musically," she says. "But [I] can feel a little bit like I'm hitting all these markers and it still feels like I'm getting overlooked, simply because there's a lot of people that don't necessarily understand what I represent, nor do they want to take a look because I think it just doesn't make sense for them."

She sees herself as a challenge to the traditional image of a pop star. "Having that person challenging the way a pop star should look or be - which is what I do, unintentionally and sometimes intentionally - it just doesn't translate to a lot of people," she explains. "All I aim to do is stay authentic and consistent. And occasionally, what I enjoy doing is [saying], ‘well actually, I'm gonna prove you wrong, and I'm gonna do this, you are gonna like it.' And then once you like it, you're gonna realize: ‘Wait, I don't know why I never gave her a chance in the first place.'"

Fans can look forward to seeing PinkPantheress perform on her upcoming tour. She will be playing London's O2 Brixton Academy in September, followed by stops in North America, including Brooklyn, Toronto, Chicago, L.A., San Francisco, Oakland, and Mexico. "I get less nervous on the tours just because they're my fans," she says. "There's less pressure when you're performing to people that already know the songs, rather than [having to] convert a fan."

PinkPantheress recently performed at Glastonbury, where she was introduced by Louis Theroux via video. "I did an interview with him once, and I think we just vibed," she reveals. "We just check in on each other. It's kind of strange. But yeah, it was actually my manager's idea. They thought it would be quite nice, [and] I guess a nod to being British, I suppose, because he's such an icon."

Her performance at Glastonbury showcased her British roots, which she credits as a strength. "Low-key, being British is the strength that I have," she says. "Every time I've tried to lean into a more American sound, it ends up being a song that I don't necessarily think reflects my personal tastes as much as when I lean into being British."

PinkPantheress draws inspiration from British artists like Lily Allen, Kate Nash, Imogen Heap, Calvin Harris, and Basement Jaxx. On Fancy That, she blends elements of British and American music, creating something uniquely her own. "I do think [the mixtape] sounds a bit different," she says. "It's more dance-y. It's also a bit more provocative and a bit more mature than my earlier work. Maybe more fleshed-out, production-wise."

The album was created in around two months last August with the help of a team of producers. Her music video for "Tonight" was inspired by Bridgerton and Skins, which she finds amusing. "I am a big Bridgerton fan," she says. "That was definitely some of the inspo for sure. I really enjoyed getting into character, the costumes and stuff… I guess those over-the-top and quite camp-y videos are a bit rare these days."

While she may not consider herself a film or TV connoisseur, she admires Rachel Zegler, who currently stars in the West End production of Evita. "I love her down," the artist says. "I follow her fan pages."

As she looks ahead, PinkPantheress is focused on the present. With a tour and a mixtape reaching new heights, she's content with enjoying this watershed moment in her career. "We'll see what happens, but this has been a turning point for me," she muses. "It would probably be a good idea to start thinking about [what's next], but I haven't. And once I do, you'll be the first to know."