Biig Piig’s debut album is a pop delicacy… almost
Biig Piigs debut album, 11:11 elegantly flaunts her impeccable vocals alongside some masterfully produced dance pop bangers. The originality of its sound and the substance of vocals is all that holds it back from being perfect.
Biig Piig (or as I like to pronounce it, Beeeg Peeeg) has finally released her debut album.
The term debut may lead you to believe that Jessica Smyth aka Biig Piig is a newcomer, however this couldn’t be any further from the case. Having already amassed a huge following (2.5m monthly listeners on Spotify) and released multiple dance hits including Feels Right (63m streams on Spotify), Smyth has already cemented herself as a tantalising pop figure. Having started her career in 2016 (on Sound Cloud), Biig Piig has spent the past 9 years creating a very distinct sound which is well executed in this record.
The album, from the moment you press play is elegant. Everything sounds wonderful. Her voice is this magical fairy dust that flows through your ears with pure grace. The way in which the vocals are produced places them on the softest satin pillow. ‘4am’, the first song on the album plays multiple takes of Smyth’s voice simultaneously and my oh my is it a treat to listen to. This self-awareness of what Zach Nahome (Album Producer) had to work with is really demonstrated in this song and across the record. The attention to detail enhances her voice while the instrumental is in a dark room having the boogie of its life.
The same care is applied to each element of the tracks. Layer upon layer of intricacy immerses you into the sound of this album. ‘Decimal’, has a mighty baseline at its forefront but gentle tinkles of a triangle form this wonderful balance. A creamy chocolaty cake with incredible decoration.
The plethora of instruments sprinkled throughout the album is a real sign of quality artistry. Synths are wonderfully woven across subtle guitar riffs. You then find a gentle drumbeat dancing through a field of perfectly executed notes and incredibly well placed backing vocals in ‘Stay Home’.
A beautiful atmosphere is created by this wonderful collection of songs, yet a million and one techniques are used to get there. It is almost like a group of friends climbing a mountain, yet they all take different roads and all use weirdly wonderful ways to get to the top. The joy of seeing an old friend is the feeling this album has created.
Beauty and soul is poured through the speakers during songs like Brighter Day and Stay Home whereas others like 9-5 and Favourite Girl were born to be played as pink and purple lights shine over the most intense dance moves a nightclub has ever seen.
As I said, this album sounds absolutely phenomenal, that element is by far the star of the show and very little can take away from that however… the actual substance of lyrics is lacking somewhat. There is mystery and intrigue behind the situations being referred to, however a large amount of the lyrics are vague references to the intricacies of a love story. Of course, this is fairly usual for this kind of girly pop but with such an intensely brilliant sound, one would expect more depth behind the words.
The sound of this record is very much in line with the current techniques of chart topping female artists such as Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter. It is most definitely a pleasure to listen to but isn’t quite as ground-breaking as some of Biig Piig’s previous work such as the incredible single, ‘Watch Me’.
Biig Piig’s debut album is a glorious listen, utilising her phenomenal voice with the wonderful scenery of some groovy yet stunning instrumentals. The actual lyrics and the innovation of this project may not be of the same standard but it is nonetheless a good album.
253/333