Rising indie-pop starlet Pixey has released her highly-anticipated second EP Free To Live In Colour. The five-track collection showcases the Lancastrian vocalist’s versatility; with forays into Robyn-esque power-pop (Electric Dream); Beatles-tinged psychedelia (Just Move); and the ‘English Americana‘ surf-pop of California and the EP’s title track; both of which hint at the kind of sun-drenched melancholia you might associate with Lana Del Rey or Chris Isaak.
The EP’s penultimate track, The Mersey Line, serves as a musical tribute to the singer’s adopted hometown of Liverpool. Describing the song to The Rodeo, Pixey said “This is one of the first tracks I wrote for the EP and it’s probably my favourite. I was sitting on Parr Street and I just got a sort of jingle in my head and this tune just came out in about 20 minutes. This was also one of the first tracks I played the drums on. It’s an ode to a place I’ve always liked to call home.”
MY EP ‘Free To Live In Colour’ IS FINALLY OUT !!! Thank you so much for everyone who has been streaming and showing me your support it feels completely surreal
Streaaam here – https://t.co/BnRL07dy2P pic.twitter.com/MsE417dYqr
— Pixey (@pixeyofficial) March 23, 2021
In a post to her Instagram followers ahead of the release of the EP, Pixey (real name Lizzie Hillesdon) said: “It feels unreal to think this time last year I was only making music for myself going into first lockdown. Now we’re still in a lockdown but I can’t believe how much has changed in a year with the help of some truly amazing people…Still can’t wrap my head around youse listening to my tunes, but I truly wouldn’t change it for the world. I hope you love my newest EP as much as I do and I love you with all my heart.”
Early reviews for the new collection of songs have been glowingly positive. DIY called the EP “warm and vibrant“, a “solid introduction to a sparky new pop personality” and “a perfect antidote to those winter chills”; while When The Horn Blows‘ Laura Freyaldenhoven said it “solidifies Pixey’s remarkable talent and immediately addictive sound.” Freyaldenhoven adds: “With a record that proves she can nail just about any genre, the sky is the limit for this astonishing artist.”
In an interview with DIY, Pixey spoke about her ambitions to make a feelgood EP. She said “I wanted to make a record that explored every side of being able to create what you want to create, and do what you wanna do, and not let anything stand in your way. But I also wanted something that you could forget about all that stuff and just dance to as well. I never thought I’d get this far and this is just the first step, so it’s really exciting to just be able to even think about what’s next. I had so many years of everything being so complicated, it’s nice to just make stuff that is completely uncomplicated, and I can give that to people and give them the escape that I wanted back then.”
The track listing for the Free To Live In Colour EP is as follows:
1. Just Move
2. California
3. Electric Dream
4. The Mersey Line
5. Free To Live In Colour
