The London-based independent hip-hop artist Retropxssy gets her inspiration from the late 90s electronica and will be launching a new album later this month.
In an exclusive interview for Euronewsweek, we chat X Factor, music influences, vaccine passports, and making music during the pandemic.
How was the process of making an album, during such unusual times, and how long did it take to bring ‘Road Ahead’ to life?
I couldn’t write anything at the start of the pandemic. I felt stuck and cut loose simultaneously.
Then the album kind of poured out of me.
I love making music, but don’t make it all the time. I feel like sometimes I just have to wait for it to come.
The album is pretty much in chronological order of when I wrote each track. It narrates the arcs of my emotions from March- November 2020.
Who influenced your music style and how do you describe your unique style?
Always such a hard question! I’d call my music intense, genre bending, eclectic. I think that’s partly because I have loads of different influences with varied sounds. I guess I like eccentric people doing their own thing!
A big chunk of my influence is electronica from the late 90s: Goldfrapp, Portishead, and artists like Sevdaliza. People who use music as part of their world making.
Of course, I’m massively influenced by hip-hop too – Odd Future (especially Earl), Kendrick Lamar, A$AP Rocky – all those 2012 icons. Flying Lotus… too many to list.
Lily Allen and The Prodigy too!
Which track are you most proud of and why?
I love them all, they are my babies. ‘Part of Me’ is especially important to me. It’s a track which really charts a process of looking inward and doing a lot of self-work/healing. That track changes its significance for me each time I hear it.
The X Factor has been cancelled in the UK. Have you ever dreamed of going on a reality show or it would be more of a nightmare?
Nightmare!
I think that shows like that are much more about profiting from and exploiting people.
There’s already too much of that in music (and the world). We must band together and oppose this, always!
Who have you been listening to recently?
Actually, a lot of psychedelica – Khruangbin! I’ve been busy and a bit stressed so it’s soothing.
And my friends: JoeJas, Deijuvhs, LetKojoFly and Bisk.
Will vaccine passports put young people off attending music events?
I think vaccine passports are very controversial. They will definitely put some people off.
I feel this question is part of a wider conversation we need to be engaging with which includes questions of bodily autonomy, the role of the state, inequality, disability, and discrimination. These are definitely conversations we need to be having!
We also need to keep talking about, and finding ways to protect, live music in this strange world. It’s too important. So yeah, a big question that leads to many others!
On Wednesday 25th of August, Retropxssy will be hosting her album launch at 7pm at Low Profile House (Vale Road, N4 1PT), where alternative hip hop, punk, and UK garage will combine for her live music.
For more information on tickets, check Eventbrite here.
To listen to Retropxssy on Spotify, head here.