PinkPantheress takes FYP to IRL with debut album Heaven knows

PinkPantheress took TikTok by storm with 2021 singles “Pain” and “Just for me,” as well as her smash collaboration with Ice Spice, “Boy’s a liar, Pt. 2.” The digital pop star’s track “Angel” was also included in the Grammy-nominated Barbie: The Album this summer. 

PinkPantheress kept the hype train chugging with her debut album, Heaven knows. The 22-year-old, who keeps her real name a secret, pairs Y2K nostalgia with airy, spoke-sung vocals to bring a new wave of appreciation for 2000s club beats. 

Heaven knows blends PinkPantheress’ signature 2000s maximalist production with unlikely sounds like a garage-band-style guitar on the Rema collaboration “Another life,” and the pan flute in “Blue.” 

Sounds of cheering and paparazzi act as an introduction to “True romance,” detailing her relationship with fame. PinkPantheress spoke to The Guardian about her struggles in the spotlight.  

“I don’t think I’m very brandable,” she shared. “I think I dress weird. I think that I’m shy.”

PinkPantheress’ melancholic self-deprecation can be heard throughout her debut album, referring to her actions as “annoying” and “appalling” on “Mosquito.” She recounts a self-sabotaging situationship with “The aisle,”— complete with an addictive hook and instrumental outro. “Feelings” describes her anxious tendencies, being candid about her space within the music industry. 

The Londoner goes full Frutiger Aero with the Central Cee collaboration “Nice to meet you,” feeling like a cutesy, sonic trip down Mario Kart’s Rainbow Road. The video game/PC feeling weaves throughout the album, especially prevalent in “Feel complete,” which features a Grand Theft Auto-like synth. 

She pairs nostalgic arcade sounds with an auto-tuned falsetto to the R&B-influenced Kelela collaboration “Bury Me,” referencing heavy topics like love, life, and death. “Ophelia” references the death of the character in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” featuring a dreamy harp introduction and the sounds of a bubbling cauldron.

In the interlude “Internet baby,” she responds to an annoying admirer, while also telling the world that she is ready to shed the title of online phenomenon. 

Hyperpop meets Evanescence in “Capable of love,” the album's standout track. PinkPantheress lays her emotions on the line with numb delivery as electric guitar and church bells wail on the last chorus. 

“I’m obsessed with the idea that one day it breaks up / ‘Cause after that I know I’ll never be as capable of love,” she sings. 

“Boy’s a liar Pt. 2” acts as a perfect victory lap to wrap up her debut album. The simple yet effective song transcended internet virality and went on to become one of the highlight collaborations of the year. 

Listen to Heaven knows by PinkPantheress below.