“Using music as an escape is one of the most important reasons I think music exists”
ecreate something they’ve done in the studio live, but I don’t understand why there can’t be different versions of the songs. It just means it’s a different listening experience, as it should be because it’s live!” At present, there are large amounts of political uncertainty creating a largely uncomfortable social climate which we are all subjected to. Music as a form of escapism is not a new idea, but a necessary one nonetheless. We asked Pixx whether this sense of escapism was intended in ‘The Age of Anxiety’. “Yeah, definitely!”, she answered. “It’s an interesting one actually, because a lot of the time I think my writing comes from subconscious as well, like, I’m not necessarily aware of what I’m writing about, and I can end up looking back and realising that I am telling myself something through music. Using music as an escape is one of the most important reasons I think music exists. People can use it for that, and they can shut off. It doesn’t have to be “I understand this” or “I relate to this” or “I’m going to pick this song apart” - it’s about being able to listen to an album and shut off and let your mind go wherever it needs to”. This idea of simply listening to music is a needed simplification in complicated times. Overanalysing isn’t necessary with ‘The Age of Anxiety’. However, shutting off is becoming increasingly difficult. With a generation da<strong>mag</strong>ingly obsessed with social media presence and creating an online persona, our unhealthy reliance on social media is something that Pixx finds “weird”, and rightly so! “Mostly the thing that I’ve found weird over the past couple of years is how much social media has an impact on my life and everyone’s lives. And feeling like you can never really escape because you’re never really alone. I find it quite disturbing, and I think it can allow us to ignore what is going on in the world and things that are politically incorrect, and ignore things that we would otherwise have to deal with straight up! Also, it allows people to become weaker if they have a front on social media, like “I do this” “I do that” and “I can say what I want”, but in real life I think it makes you more of a coward. I find [it] particularly difficult, some artists opt out of having any kind of social media – part of me wants to do that, then part of me thinks that would be denying what is happening. I have to be a part of it, otherwise I would be living in the past.” This internal confliction with social media is one which is relatable in its entirety. In times that have the potential to create such hostility, women supporting women and showcasing female talent is crucially important. In response to this need for creative support among female and non-binary creatives, Pixx told us “I think it’s very important at the moment that there are so many young females, or non-binary people coming around and bringing awareness, and giving people the confidence to be outspoken about it. It’s difficult, but I still have conversations with old friends, where I’m like “what the fuck!?” “what page are you on”, you know. Particularly with men, but also quite often with women where they cannot understand that it’s ridiculous that we’re in 2017 and women still don’t have any kind of equal chances to men, and that’s just how it is, and we are just meant to accept it. I think it’s important that young people are rising and drawing attention to it, that’s exactly what we need!”
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