Biig Piig is storming into 2023, full throttle. Ahead of a series of tours across North America, Europe and the UK, the artist has released the debut mixtape Bubblegum, delving into a new sphere of her world - a dancefloor drenched in fluorescence, where she explores her sense of self. We spoke to the London-based Biig Piig, who is one of 10 Magazine's longtime favourites, about her evolution and the creation of Bubblegum:

The last time we spoke to you was in 2021 ahead of The Sky Is Bleeding. How do you think you’ve grown sonically and as an artist since that project?

"Hi again! I feel like since that project there has been so many experiences. I think going and doing festivals again was a huge thing. Going and playing live and seeing some of the tracks translated in a live setting really changed the process of writing for me. I’ve always wanted to make an impact live and they do in a way, but I feel like the production can bring them into such an incredible space where you can feel the energy shift in the room. So I think with this project, I was super conscious of where I wanted every track to feel like you could bring it into a live setting and get the room to come to life. So yeah, I think compared to ‘The Sky Is Bleeding’, it’s such a different project in that sense as well, where it just moves differently. It’s definitely got a different feeling to it. It’s less insular and scared and more open and bouncy. I feel like a lot has changed since then."

Why did you choose to release Bubblegum as a mixtape?

"So initially it wasn’t actually supposed to be a mixtape. I wasn’t supposed to release another small project but I think there were some of these tracks that started to come together and it would be like, if I was listening to ‘Only One’ and then be like ‘Oh I want to hear ‘Liquorice’ after this or hear ‘This Is What They Meant’ after ‘Liquorice’… And slowly it started to all piece together and I was left with this whole project where I was like oh, well this sounds sick but it doesn’t feel like an album. And it feels too long and too different to be an EP, so where does it sit?

"I still wanted to be able to release these tracks and play these tracks live, so I put them into a project and the minute that I did that, I really realised that the story was already there as well. Which is weird I think because of the timeline of when things were written. I guess it’s almost like a diary entry, sometimes you don’t realize when you’re writing a stream of thought into lyrics, how much that describes what’s going on in your personal life. So I think it’s a… Mixtape!"

We love the analogy of bubblegum being sweet and nice to look at, but sticky. Which ‘sticky’ parts of life are you exploring on this mixtape through your lyrics?

"I think it’s a ‘falling into patterns’ type of thing. That thing of still being fooled by the thing that you think you want. And then wanting and doing everything to get that, when it comes to love or feeling fulfilled by something. And then getting to that and then really realising that maybe that’s not it. Maybe it’s something else. And always kind of looking for it externally, only to realise that it’s internal. That it needs to come from me. So it’s basically about cycling that pattern as a whole and how much my occlusion of mind can paint things in a certain view. Or sometimes when I’m idealising something that’s going to take the pain away. It’s kind of the end of this project feels like a point to look at the bottom of the shoe and be like ‘Oh that’s why I keep sticking to the ground’."

These songs feel more upbeat than some of your previous music - was this a conscious choice or just a reflection of where you’re at in your life right now?

"It’s definitely a conscious thing, working with the producers that I have and the list of people that I’ve been working with. Which I think I’d like to mention actually – Aaron Shadrow, Zach Nahome, Maverick Sabre, Mac Wetha, Deb Never. Andrew Wells and Hazey eyes.

"As a whole, all of those producers and people that I’ve brought on in the tracks… I feel like, they all brought something to it, which was just like, the energy. Knowing that I definitely wanted it to feel bouncy, live, like a big thing. But there are also ways that all these producers individually brought themselves to the project with their style of doing things. Which I think is why it worked so well on these tracks. Because I feel like they have experience before with the stuff they worked on with other people, so they were kind of in that world too.

"So yeah, it was definitely a conscious thing, because I know that from playing live so much last year (which I loved loved loved) I was also like, right well some of my favourite tracks to play live were the ones where I was kind of able to let go and let loose and be free on stage. Be able to really embody the tracks because the production felt like it was there. It just felt like it was made to be played live. And so I think it was these tracks and all of the tour coming up, everything I’ve got planned for this year, I’ve kind of consciously maybe done that because I just want to have fun on the stage. Even with tracks that are sad. I just want to be able to let loose and run around and be able to really let my whole body feel the music."

Who did you work with on these songs? Who has been a vital part of this chapter on the Biig Piig journey?

"Of the journey in total, I think Zach Nahome has been someone I have been working with since ages ago now… ‘Sunny’, I think was the first track we made together. And he has been a long time collaborator of mine. I just love getting in a room with him because he’s one of those people where you go into a place and you’ve got the same approach - let’s just have fun and see where it goes, like there’s no rules to it I guess. Less pressure, more, like let’s discover something new. And I think it’s how we fell into ‘Sunny’, fell into ‘Switch’, fell into ‘Bar’, and ‘Shh’, and a lot of the tracks that were on that EP ‘No Place For Patience’. And then there’s so many tracks that came after that. ‘Feels Right’.. ‘FUN’ as well of course. There were a lot of tracks that we made together. There’s been a lot of music that we’ve made together that has been really exciting. And he’s got a very innovative mind, he’s an exciting person to be in the room with."

Is there a song you’re most proud of on the mixtape?

"They’re all so different for me. I can’t pick a favourite.. It’s like picking a favourite child!"

What’s currently inspiring you?

"I’ve been reading a lot of biographies. I’ve always loved biographies but I’ve been reading one recently – Billie Holiday’s ‘Lady Sings the Blues’. Her whole life story is just incredible. I found that really inspiring. And then there’s this book called ‘Open Water’ that I just started reading. That’s just unbelievable, the way that it’s written. It’s based in London. I remember this one quote that I found recently – ‘You lose most of your joy trying to keep it in tact’. And I thought that was such a beautiful statement and way to say something. To convey that feeling of always trying to hold things together so much so that you forget to enjoy the things that you have. And all the love in your life that you already have. When you force it too much or are too focused on it. So yeah, those books have been really inspiring recently."

Your style has really evolved - is fashion important to you? Which designers or brands would you love to work with for the ultimate Biig Piig world tour?

"I think there’s definitely people that I like really respect in the fashion industry. Vivienne Westwood (R.I.P). She was incredible. I think any kind of innovator for me is really inspiring, obviously Alexander McQueen as well was incredible. I think when you kind of change the way that people see the world through the stuff that you make, and inspire a whole kind of movement or feeling like you can emote something in someone. To make them feel like they’re not alone. I feel like both of them, they did that with their fashion."

You’ve achieved so much over the last few years - what’s been the best moment so far on your journey?

"The New Zealand / Australia run was an incredible moment just to realise where things are at. And how much things have travelled and changed. That was a really huge moment for me last year. And there’s been so many moments in the last few years, I felt like the London show was incredible. The first proper headline dates that were mine were just unreal. I feel like there’s so many more moments to come as well that I’m excited to see."

What’s next?

"I’ve got tour coming up, I’m doing my first American headline run of shows in February, I’m really excited for that! In March I’m doing the UK and Europe shows. And then just writing and writing and writing… I’m ready to get into the next project, the next chapter of things."

Listen to Bubblegum HERE.

@biig_piig