Fall in with Pixx
Hannah Rodgers, better known under the moniker Pixx, is a 19 year old from London who is the latest addition to the legendary label 4AD. Fall In is her four track debut release with the label. Her influences include the likes of Bob Dylan, Aphex Twin and Joni Mitchell. Pixx herself blends the sound of folk with electronic in a unique and memorable way. Rodgers is certainly shaking things up and she’s just getting started. Despite the rising popularity of folktronica, some listeners may be unsure about whether or not folk and electronic can work as one. However, Pixx does this in a natural way that somehow makes sense. Yes, there are other artists who are combining genres with a similar approach, but none as prominent and promising as Pixx.
The first single on Fall In happens to be the title track. Immediately, the track is an ambient and somber one. Pixx’s voice alone is haunting and the lyrics she sings only add to the emotional mood of the track. She sings the lines, “After all, I tried to find a compromise / and all the pain for demise.” She then repeats the lines, “We fall in and out / in and out.” Her voice is distinctive and difficult to compare with other vocalists. She doesn’t have the most overwhelming amount of range, but her tone alone is enough to cause listeners to feel a great deal of emotion. All the while, the track occurs with a light synthesizer in the background. The synthesizer is far from being overpowering, and instead supports Pixx’s voice naturally. Without the synthesizer being there, the emotions in general aren’t as strong and smooth.
The next track is “A Way to Say Goodbye” which is yet another lyric-heavy and emotionally-charged listen. This one is a little bit more upbeat due to the synthesizers having more of an obvious role. Meaning, they don’t take such a backseat to the lyrics, rather, they complete each other smoothly. The vocals from Pixx are as haunting as ever, which certainly adds to the mystique of it all. She sings, “Shouldn’t it be easy / letting love be free / I’ve tried so long to find / a way to say goodbye.” This track has a similar sound to FKA Twigs, Shura, and Grimes.
Fall In is a short introduction to this new singer-songwriter, but it still leaves listeners longing for more from Pixx. 4AD is sure to have a fresh innovative voice in the folk-electronic genre with Hannah Rodgers. Rodgers is certainly different, but it’s this uniqueness that is sure to draw people into her music. This is something definitely worth checking out for listeners who enjoy uncovering the latest new rising stars.
Leave a Comment