PinkPantheress

Biography

Victoria Beverley Walker, known professionally as PinkPantheress, is an English singer, songwriter, and record producer born on April 18, 2001, in Bath, Somerset. She was raised in Canterbury, Kent, by her Kenyan mother, who works as a carer, and her English father, a statistics professor. Her interest in music began at a young age; she took piano lessons and at 14 was the lead singer in a rock band that covered songs by My Chemical Romance and Paramore. She later attended the University of the Arts London to study film before leaving in 2022 to focus on her music career.

Career Beginnings and Rise to Fame

While in university, PinkPantheress began producing her own music using GarageBand, often late at night in her dorm room. Initially sharing her work on SoundCloud with little response, she turned to TikTok in December 2020. A snippet of her song "Just a Waste" went viral, and subsequent tracks like "Pain" and "Break It Off" also gained massive traction on the platform in 2021. This success led to her signing with Parlophone and Elektra Records. Her stage name was inspired by a question on the game show "The Chase" and the "Pink Panther" film series.

To Hell with It

Her debut mixtape, "To Hell with It," was released on October 15, 2021. The project, which runs for just over 18 minutes, features a blend of dance-pop, liquid drum and bass, and UK garage. It includes the viral singles "Pain," "Break It Off," and the Mura Masa-produced "Just for Me," which peaked at number 27 on the UK Singles Chart. The mixtape was critically acclaimed, appearing on several year-end lists and debuting at number 20 on the UK Albums Chart. Her unique sound, characterized by short songs and samples from 1990s and 2000s music, was praised for its nostalgic yet fresh quality.

Breakthrough and "Heaven Knows"

In January 2022, PinkPantheress won the BBC's Sound of 2022 poll. Her breakthrough continued with the single "Boy's a Liar," which reached number two in the UK. A remix of the song, "Boy's a Liar Pt. 2," featuring American rapper Ice Spice, was released in February 2023 and became a global hit, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100. This success solidified her position in the mainstream.

Debut Album: Heaven Knows

PinkPantheress released her debut studio album, "Heaven Knows," on November 10, 2023. The album expands on her signature sound, mixing UK garage, drum and bass, and alt-pop while exploring themes of heartbreak, self-doubt, and vulnerability. The album was produced and written by PinkPantheress alongside collaborators like Greg Kurstin, Mura Masa, and Danny L Harle. It features singles such as "Mosquito," "Capable of Love," and "Nice to Meet You." In 2024, she embarked on the "Capable of Love Tour" to support the album.

Musical Style and Influences

PinkPantheress's music is often described as "new nostalgia" and spans genres including bedroom pop, dance, alt-pop, drum and bass, 2-step, and UK garage. She is known for her use of samples from 1990s and 2000s dance tracks and her typically short song lengths. Her influences include artists like Imogen Heap, Lily Allen, My Chemical Romance, Green Day, and Paramore. She has also cited K-pop and an interview with Doja Cat as inspirations for her to pursue music professionally.