"Heaven Knows" - PinkPantheress Album Review

More than just one who collaborated with IceSpice, PinkPantheress is an up-and-coming English artist who has sprung into the spotlight due to her unique and groovy embrace of music.

“Heaven knows," being her first full-length record, dropped on Nov. 10, featuring 13 tracks.

Her discography features shorter pieces that often sample some 1990s and 2000s beats. Spanning into an alt-pop realm, her music gained major traction on the social media platform TikTok, launching her into a viral sensation.

Especially with the positive reception of the “Boy’s a Liar pt.2” remix, peaking at number three on the Billboard Hot 100, fans have been anticipating more.

After being announced on Oct. 12, “Heaven knows” is an accumulation of music she has recorded over the past two years.

PinkPantheress explained in an interview with New Musical Express (NME) that the core of the record regards “being at peace with yourself in your aloneness” which is translated into the lyricism of the tracks.

This debut album follows an evangelical vibe with the cover capturing her posing in white alongside a white dove amidst a darkened background.

The presence of white standing out in the dark feeds into her direction of individuality when combating the challenges of loneliness and disengaging from a relationship. The cover can also be dissected as a visualization of the divinity of an angelic presence following her 2023 mixtape “To Hell with It."

The album opens with the track, “Another life” featuring artist Rema. The arrangement dawns with a Victorian-sounding organ that then swiftly transitions into her signature futuristic, quick-tempoed sound. Alongside Rema, the record features other collaborators such as famed British rapper Central Cee and R&B artist Kelela.

Throughout the album, she incorporates noises such as cameras flashing, car keys jingling, and church bells ringing further bringing playing into her experimental sound and adding a flare of personality to her artistry.

While songs such as “True Romance” follow a typical ambiance of PinkPantheress, other tracks such as “Feelings”, the 11th on the album, guide a new frontier. There is an evident early 2000s influence based on the prominent bass and darkened vocals as opposed to her signature light, fluffy avant-garde.

Likewise, Track 12 “Capable of love" demonstrates PinkPantheress’s new-found versatility by embodying a grunge, rock-inspired tone. It is the longest track on the album with intervals of both acoustic and electric guitar.

Her lyricism works to convey her message of leaving behind relationships that bring you down. Within the famed remix of “Boy’s a Liar” she writes “Because you only want to hold me, when I'm looking good enough” thus, implying that relationships should be more than surface level, there needs to be unconditional love.

“Ophelia,” track eight on the album, dives into the essence of loneliness. She presses within the first verse “And when I went inside and realized I’m the only one that arrived."

Here she depicts the image of finding yourself only in the company of yourself. Even so, she wants to normalize that such is okay, healing and rebuilding are necessary.

The tenth track on the album “Blue," brings about a catchy chorus with futuristic beats. Simultaneously, in the song she projects the transformative power of reclaiming independence.

She vocalizes “I based my life on your face... I realized, can't copy you anymore”. This enforces the strength to find yourself again and detach from the negative atmosphere you used to associate with.

Although her vocals remain gentle and stagnant, she allows for the experiments of her music to personify the album’s aurora. Whether it be the harmonious harp sounds of “Ophelia” or the disco, hip-hop beats of “Feel Complete”, each track’s instrumental opening offers a new vibe.

There is an evident contrast between the opening dystopian feel of “Another life” to the closing playfulness of “Boy’s a Liar”, yet they create cohesiveness in the message of independence and disposing of relationship baggage.

Overall, PinkPantheress delivered a collection of tracks that hold true to her groovy ambiance. Through her lyrics, she captures the internal conflict of yearning and fantasizing but equally embracing acceptance. She is solidifying that she is more than just an artist popularized on TikTok.

Her album allows one to find comfort in the lonely and reclaim self-direction. There is something so empowering in not relying on another for a means of happiness. Truly this album is the perfect lineup to channel main character energy and rekindle your own sense of self.

Rating: 9/10

Reviewer's favorite songs: “The Aisle," “Blue," “True Romance” and “Ophelia”

Reviewer's least favorite song: None

Brooke Dougherty is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email bcd5364@psu.