British garage-inspired artist PinkPantheress displayed her producing genius in a recent NPR “Tiny Desk” concert in Washington, D.C. Joking herself that creating a 23-minute medley of songs would not be hard for her with her short discography, she performed a wide range of her music. These included her old hits, such as “Pain” and “Passion,” along with songs from her newly released EP “Fancy That,” including “Girl Like Me” and her viral TikTok tune “Illegal”. Dressing in plaid that has defined the “Fancy That” era and aesthetic, drinking from a similarly plaid teacup and teapot and making unserious jokes throughout the set, the 24-year-old showed her true colors during the performance while uniquely straying from her usual sound.
What made this performance unusual for her was the lack of her signature auto-tune that transforms her voice in her recorded songs and tours. Pink noted feeling nervous about this since it was her first time having no auto-tune for a performance. However, she still showed other ways to bring her music to life with an accompaniment of other amazing musicians and supporting vocalists behind her. This group included her energetic DJ Joe Lesher-Liao, along with multi-talented guitarist Sofia D’Angelo from the band MICHELLE. Additionally, the bass, drums, keys and cello featured made for a jazzy and more laid-back performance. She even showcased her own harmonica skills while performing “The Aisle,” donned egg shakers during “Break It Off,” and humorously used a ringtone as a beat switch into “Tonight.”
Her versatility in being able to turn her dance-like music into an enchanting and relaxed experience while keeping her charm is a clear representation of her production skills. These skills are gaining traction recently, as she just received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the University of Kent. She was given this honor for positively contributing to music in the digital age. Pink was also awarded Billboard’s 2024 Women in Music Producer of the Year.
Pink’s “Tiny Desk” vocals occasionally sounded empty in comparison to the recorded versions of the songs, which was probably due to both her nerves and lack of tuning. However, this change also brought a new dreamy flavor to her beloved classics. It was refreshing to see the natural display of her vocals, witty humor and varied musicality in this performance. PinkPantheress’ vibrant electronic aesthetic makes her music special, but I would love to see this stripped-down sound make more appearances, too.
