Interview: Pixie Lott returns to music
Interview: Pixie Lott returns to music
With the launch of her first album in 10 years, Pixie Lott talks to Tara Robinson about what coming back to music means for her
>SUBSCRIBE FOR THE BEST THINGS TO DO EVERY WEEKEND<
It has been 10 years since Pixie Lott last released an album. The 33-year-old singer-songwriter is making her official comeback this year with the launch on September 27th of her new album, Encino, the first album in which she has co-written every track. She’ll be bringing it to Kingston’s Banquet Records on 1st October. The album is a conscious departure from dance-oriented pop – and, as Pixie explains to me, it’s the most honest music of her career.
“I was really craving something authentic,” she tells me. “An album with live musicians in mind, and just very real and raw. That’s kind of where the idea for the album started, as a little side project, and then I just loved it so much.”
Encino is full of autobiographical songs – it’s Pixie at her most personal. Themes of romance, nostalgia, family, romance and mental health pervade, with a strong 70s influence on the sound.
“I’ve always wanted to make an album like that, but never been in that situation, or been put in that direction. So I just had to make a decision myself and say: okay, I’m just going to do it.”
She cites Fleetwood Mac and Joni Mitchell as primary inspirations for the sound. Artists she grew up with, but recently rediscovered. Growing up, her biggest inspirations were strong vocalists like Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, influencing her own distinctive vocal work. But upon rediscovering the music of the 70s, she gained new idols.
“With those musicians, the song-writing and the heart of it is the most important thing – it’s that specific kind of storytelling that I really fell in love with. I think that’s what inspired me to make this album.”
Encino is certainly all about stories. One of Pixie’s personal favourite tracks on the album is Blockbuster Video, a nostalgic track that tells the story of her childhood, referencing old Friday night trips to Blockbuster with her parents. Her other favourite is Comes Back Around, the acoustic closing track, about the circularity of life and the importance of being authentically yourself. The tone is reflective, but ultimately, healing. She is stepping into the shoes of the storytellers who’ve inspired her, reflecting on her life and drawing music from a place of selfhood.
A big theme on Encino is meditation – something Pixie discovered at a time of personal crisis and has since had an incredibly positive impact on her life. “I was broken, and I just kept Googling what to do to help myself, and meditation came up. It’s not an instant fix. They say you have to do it for three weeks every morning to notice the difference. I did it for longer than that, because I really needed it. And over time, I got back to my normal self. I’m so grateful for it.”
Between her last album in 2014 and this one, she has focused on stage and television work, coaching on The Voice UK for seven years, as well as taking on roles such as Holly Golightly in a 2016 adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany’s at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.
“I always want to take on projects that help me as a performer,” she explains. “Projects where I learn something, or that help me as an artist.”
But she’s decided it’s finally time to be coming back to music. “I’ve been waiting for such a long time to put out a full body of work, something that really took time. I’ve put a lot of love into this over the last five years.”
She currently lives in Essex with her husband Oliver and her son Bertie, who turns one the day after the album comes out. She is looking forward to the double celebration. Her schedule is looking rather full at the moment, but she says her favourite ways to unwind are through meditation, spas and massages and, of course, holidays. She shouts out Hosier and Chappell Roan as artists she loves listening to in her spare time. But she’s rather busy for all of that right now.
“I don’t mind being busy because I’m so lucky. I love my job, and I don’t want to take a break from it, because I have the best time doing it.”
She’s certainly got a big year ahead; she’s planning on touring. “I’ve spent so long making it that now I just can’t wait to put everything into the live side of things. I can’t wait to go on the road and take it to different places.”
Pixie premiered Encino at a sold-out show in Hoxton, a night she says was really special for her. “It was amazing because it’s been such a long time since I’ve done my own show. I’ve done festivals and been part of other line-ups, but to perform for myself again and to know that people were interested in hearing the new album was mind-blowing.
“And then I heard them singing back the new lyrics! They were singing back with the old songs, of course, but then they started singing back the new songs too, and that felt even more amazing. The energy was so great.”
To celebrate the launch, Pixie will be performing at Kingston’s Banquet Records on the 1st October. Initially two shows were scheduled, but they sold out in such record time that a third has now been added. Clearly, it’s safe to say that we’re all very excited to welcome her back.
