As 2023’s year in music winds down, it’s becoming evident after closer consideration that the landscape of pop’s future could very well rest within PinkPantheress’ hands. Maybe we’re not entirely at the moment in realizing how much influence her curation of hyper-pop with a millennium pop stickiness, plumes of bedroom pop, and futuristic R&B glow will carry forward just yet, but there are signs of her footprint as a tastemaker in the alternative spectrum already bubbling up in influence, such as when listening to act like the rising K-pop group, New Jeans, achieve fast success in playing it coy. Following a breakthrough mixtape in 2021’s to hell with it, Heaven knows doubles as the London-based songwriter and producer’s first official outing and an answer as to whether her buzz has any substance behind it. With that, the album explores a certain degree of canvas cleanup and calibration as Victoria Beverly Walker collabs alongside producers Mura Masa, Danny L Harle, Greg Kurstin, and Cold Cobain while inviting in guest features from the red hot Ice Spice and kindred chanteuse Kelela into her next chapter. Whereas to hell with it spliced and taped its way through a neurodivergent mood board, PinkPantheress and company mediate her style with a soft focus where synth beat paces race steady rather than rush the emotions, and liquid dreams swirl around giving them just enough space to live out their desires and sighs out loud. It’s like the universe’s vibes are shifting in alignment with the stars in her sky.

Highlights: “Ophelia”, “Capable of love”, “Boy’s a liar, pt. 2”

PinkPantheress’ Heaven knows is available now on 300 Entertainment.

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