It’s the eve of Pixey’s tour, and the Liverpool-born artist is remarkably calm. Her debut album, Million Dollar Baby, is already out, and the anticipation of what comes next is brewing under the surface. Known for combining infectious pop hooks with a DIY attitude and a love for 90s breakbeats, Pixey’s trademark sound is as broad as it is personal. But for all the exuberance in her music, her journey has been far from a smooth ascent.
‘I’ve always felt like I’m so close to something but never quite there,’ Pixey reflects on Million Dollar Baby. ‘The album is about navigating the perception of myself through the male gaze, whilst also trying to take some power back and form my truest identity.’
For Pixey, that journey has included battles with her health, something she’s still processing. She opens up about how illness has shaped her life and music. ‘It’s caused, like, years’ worth of issues,’ Pixey explains, referring to her illness. ‘I was throwing up, in and out of hospital… and then some doctors, you go in, and they’re looking at you like, “Why the hell are you here?” Like, all your obs are coming back fine, but you just know it’s not right.’
During one of her hospital stays in Liverpool, she found herself observing something simple but oddly significant – a little finch trapped beneath netting on the hospital roof. ‘I spent two days just watching it, checking on it every hour. And then, one day, it freed itself. It was such a small thing, but I remember it so clearly because I had nothing else to do. It entertained me for days,’ she recalls.
In many ways, that little bird’s escape mirrored her own journey – wanting to break free from illness and confinement, to get better and move forward. It’s a quiet but poignant moment in Pixey’s story, showing how even in the depths of struggle, there are glimpses of hope.
That simple observation stuck with her, as did the feeling of using music as a way to escape. During this period of ill health, Pixey’s focus turned to music as both a creative outlet and a form of therapy. ‘It was kind of like my lockdown before lockdown,’ she says, describing her time recovering at home. ‘I was in my 20s, but my mum was looking after me… I was just very fragile, physically and emotionally.’
What began as a necessity has since become a strength. While Million Dollar Baby showcases Pixey’s songwriting, it also shows her evolution as a producer. ‘I only started doing all this when I was 21… I didn’t think I’d get into it until I had all that time to get better. I was just stuck at home, so I thought, why not?’
The result is an album that feels both nostalgic and futuristic, marrying together shimmering pop, 90s influences, and an undercurrent of introspection. ‘I wanted to do everything in the studio,’ she says. ‘But financial pressures meant I had to produce most of it myself, and that pushed me to step up.’
But stepping up came with its own challenges. ‘Rich Turvey, who took me under his wing for this album, was like, “You can do better. Your audio engineering is good, but it could be great. You need to just treat it more surgically.” That was something I’d never done before.’
As Pixey reflects on the process, it’s clear that the experience has been both empowering and revealing. ‘I always felt like I was starting on the back foot,’ she says. ‘You see people who’ve been doing this since they were 16, and here I was, trying to catch up, like five, four years’ worth of time.’
However, the self-produced nature of Million Dollar Baby also allowed Pixey to maintain control over her artistic vision, something that’s important to her. ‘I’ve had times in the past where I didn’t feel listened to, where I knew something wasn’t right, but my voice wasn’t taken seriously. With this album, I’ve finally found my voice as a producer and songwriter.’
That voice is also reflected in her live performances. With a tour kicking off, Pixey admits she’s excited but cautious. ‘I love performing, but it’s overwhelming. And then there’s the whole online side of things – I hate it,’ she laughs. ‘I hate TikTok. I find it so daunting and horrible… it almost feels like it sort of chips away at a very sacred part of my soul.’
Her frustrations with social media are clear. ‘People in the industry keep saying, “Where’s her online presence?” I get this all the time. But there’s just something about it – I don’t know what it is – I find it almost impossible to do. It feels so inauthentic for me to be online.’
Yet, Pixey remains determined to carve out her space, on her terms. ‘I’ve never put myself out there in a way that feels inauthentic. I don’t want to be someone who’s lip-syncing to my own songs on TikTok just for likes. If I’m going to connect with fans, it’s going to be through the music.’
Despite her reservations, Pixey isn’t naive about the industry’s demands. ‘I know it’s something I have to figure out. But I’d rather have a smaller audience who genuinely connects with my music than blow up for the wrong reasons.’
As she looks ahead, Pixey is focused on collaboration and pushing herself further as an artist. ‘I want to work with more artists, explore new genres, and keep challenging myself. I’m not just one thing; I don’t want to be boxed into one genre.’
With Million Dollar Baby now out in the world and a tour on the horizon, Pixey is embracing the moment while staying grounded in her craft. ‘I’m excited to see where this goes,’ she says with a smile. ‘But at the end of the day, it’s about making music that I love and that feels true to who I am.’
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- 90s Breakbeats
- DIY Production
- Female Producers
- Indie Pop
- Liverpool Music
- Million Dollar Baby
- Pixey
- TikTok
- UK tour
