More about: Hello TomorrowPixey

It’s fair to say Lizzie Hillesdon hasn’t had the steadiest introduction into the music industry. The 28-year-old, better known as Pixey, had to overcome a life-threatening illness during her time at university before deciding to focus on a career in music.

But now, following the release of her debut LP Dreams, Pains & Paper Planes released via Chess Club Records, I travelled across the Mersey line into Liverpool to meet the talented songwriter, singer and producer. It hasn’t been an easy ride, but Pixey’s drive to make the most of life has set her apart from many like her - even if she doesn’t quite believe it yet! 

GW: I wanted to start with your inspiring journey into music because I know it wasn’t your primary focus growing up so how did this all happen? 

Pixey: You’re completely right! I never felt I was good with music, and I suffered from crippling stage fright so it was never something I saw as being viable. I also had no idea how to get into the industry, nevermind being the shyest person ever, so I basically fell into it all by accident. In 2016 whilst at university, I was already having a really hard time but during my second year I got really ill with a viral infection. During this time I had the realisation that life was incredibly fragile and everyone has only one chance and I thought it was too late to start in music but that’s such an illusion, so when I was getting better I thought it’s now or never really so I started to produce which gave me the way into the industry. 

"Ultimately I wanted something that felt good to play..."

You’ve now created this very distinct sound about your music! How did it get to the point where you’ve mastered the Pixey genre? 

I was always sick of musicians taking themselves too seriously, and that’s something I actually think I lost in the past year! I started out thinking this wouldn’t really go anywhere but when it did I had to ask myself what I was doing it for and the reasons I went into music. It was this whole existential crisis I had. Ultimately I wanted something that felt good to play, and when I started playing live I really felt that with everyone dancing and having a good time! I began to adopt my own writing formula too, which was songs being upbeat but also having something to say. 

Dreams, Pains & Paper Planes arrived in September last year with the first single ‘Come Around (Sunny Day)’ opening the era with this hip hop like beat! Was it the sort of project you wanted to give yourself more creative freedom with? 

It felt like a bit of a mixtape because it was the first time I had solely produced bits and I feel like I’ve come so far! I just wanted to solidify the whole big beat thing to make sure each track had something big one way or another but I had so much fun making it with the freedom I had. I’m happy with how it turned out and I’m now in such a different place to when I wrote it, it’s a big statement for me as a female producer to be given that chance, solidify your identity and be different.

How did you approach the more vulnerable tracks on the LP such as ‘Kids!’ to record a sound that is both euphoric yet juxtaposed by many deeper subject matters? 

When I say I was having an existential crisis, I was waking up each day thinking what is the point which is strange because my whole life after my illness was full of gratitude that I’m even alive! My life shifted during that time and I was feeling frustrated with myself so when it came to writing ‘Kids!’, I came up with the chorus which made me feel just so nihilistic! I wanted to channel everything into a song and ‘Kids!’ is easily my favourite because it hits such a special place in my heart. The whole LP encapsulated all the anxieties I was feeling at the time - it’s cynical but a huge release! 

The final track, ‘In My House’, feels like a fitting end. I view the song as this evolution of becoming more in touch with your emotions and breaking out of this mental safe space, and I get the impression this song is one very much written for you? 

You’re so correct! The house is the walls of my head, both protecting and constraining me and that’s exactly how I felt when writing it, it was so liberating! I needed to get everything in my mind into one project so it’s so nice people resonate with the darker songs because I was singing upbeat shit all the time so I began to get that association when I know I have so much more I wanted to say and offer a more complete spectrum. What really matters is that the fans like it and that’s what means the most to me! 

By the time this interview goes up, you will have finished your mini acoustic tour celebrating the vinyl release of Dreams, Pains & Paper Planes. How satisfying was holding the vinyl for the first time, and how excited are you for the tour? 

It felt so great! There’s a lot of thought gone into the vinyl; we wanted it to look quite retro as well as come with a poster and a paper plane so I’m so excited as it’s my biggest vinyl yet at twelve inches. I’m really nervous for the mini tour but it’s so nice people will be there simply to celebrate my music - I’m so grateful for that!

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More about: Hello TomorrowPixey