PinkPantheress’ second mixtape Fancy That is another success

By Staff Writer Fiona Yang

English singer-songwriter Victoria Beverly Walker, popularly known as PinkPantheress, returns once again with iconic flair and uniquely personal music. Released on May 9, PinkPantheress’ second mixtape, Fancy That, follows her 2023 debut studio album Heaven knows, garnering attention for its fresh and addictive tracks. In March, teasers of Fancy That made its first appearance to fans after PinkPantheress’ official website changed designs from her debut album Heaven knows to images of PinkPantheress posing next to London’s Big Ben and a text box reading “illegaL?” In her new mixtape, PinkPantheress further expresses her creativity and authenticity, highlighting feelings of love and heartache.

Beginning with “Illegal,” PinkPantheress sets the upbeat and casual tone of Fancy That with her signature blend of disco and garage. She showcases her masterful production skills by layering heavy breathing and high-pitched screaming adlibs to accompany energetic synth pulses, highlighting the level of attention and artistic effort she puts into her work. Another one of her more notable mixing techniques is her sampling of iconic songs. For example, “Stars” samples English musician Just Jack’s 2007 song “Starz in Their Eyes,” her second song to do so after her 2021 single “Attracted to You.” 

Compared to her previous works, PinkPantheress successfully integrates deeper, more impactful tones to contrast her soft, mellifluous voice. In her 2023 release “Boy’s a liar Pt. 2,” she primarily relies on twinkling bell sounds to complement the light melody. In contrast, tracks like “Stateside” on Fancy That showcase PinkPantheress’ impressive mixing skills, notably when she includes distorted breathing and repeated cymbal sound effects — marking one of the most notable highlights of this mixtape. 

Fancy That isn’t only remarkable for PinkPantheress’ musical creativity, however, it also serves as a relatable and creative outlet for her personal exploration of modern relationships. A repeated theme in the mixtape is love and desire, ranging from engaging in mature relationships to pining over romance. The album’s seventh track, “Nice to Know You,” features an orchestral background, and the outro adds magical twinkles and siren-like repeats of the phrases “Oh, oh, it was nice to know [you]” to express her feelings regarding a friend who slowly grows distant. Adding onto more complex feelings of idealizing romance, PinkPantheress cheerfully pictures a retelling of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet in the album’s last track, “Romeo”. In the chorus, she playfully sings: “You’re my Romeo / Everybody laughs when I tell them so / I feel like it’s magic, Romeo.” Her reimagination of the classic love story relates to many listeners’ desires for a perfect romance, forming an authentic connection between the artist and audience. PinkPantheress’ realistic portrayal of modern relationships is her greatest quality as a prominent contemporary artist, allowing fans to connect with her on an even more relatable level.  

Despite almost being a flawless mixtape, Fancy That falls short on incorporating varied beats, and tracks constantly overuse the same beats.  Even though PinkPantheress advocates for tracks that span a sub-three-minute duration, her sound often morphs into monotonous rhythms, which become bland to the ear. 

Repetition aside, Fancy That’s most notable component is PinkPantheress’ effortlessly smooth classic and electronic music elements. Combined with her honest exploration of casual and romantic relationships through carefully written lyricism, PinkPantheress’ new mixtape marks another milestone in her music career. PinkPantheress continues to evolve impressively in her music career, redefining the bounds of contemporary music by integrating increasingly innovative elements into meaningful sounds and lyrics.

Overall grade: A