She grew up in Kentish Town, North London. At school there she met Niomi McLean-Daley, better known as Ms Dynamite, becoming friends and, "doing dodgy dance routines in assembly together."
After graduating from Sussex University, Jess began working in a local pub in order to fund a continued interest in music on the side. After a steady string of collaborations with various musicians throughout the '00s (including one with Dom Search from The Nextmen) she eventually got her real break touring with Leftfield in 2010.
She has worked extensively with drum and bass / dubstep producer Breakage, scoring a UK top 40 hit with the track "Fighting Fire."
Other tracks to be released in 2011 include the singles "Vultures" and "Live For What I Die For," as well as a cover of The Cure's 'A Forest' (of which Rob Smith himself has admitted he is a fan).
She has attracted interest from the Press including a feature to run in i-D magazine.
Her debut album will be released in 2012 by Island Records UK.
Pixelated People
Jess Mills Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Get no relief it's too much to take.
Underpaid, and under pressure these days.
I don't receive for what I create.
Pixelated People talk in low fit sound bites
I found the trouble now it governs my senses,
Oh- I stand saluting to the devil I rejected
I'm afraid, and noone knows it these days
I hide behind the smile on my face.
I need to escape, but can't find the road out these days
Each time I turn to run someone stands in my way
Pixelated People talk in low fit sound bites
I found the trouble now it governs my senses,
I stand saluting to the devil I rejected
Is it all in my head? All in my head
Is it all in my head? All in my head
Pixelated People talk in low fit sound bites
I found the trouble now it governs my senses,
I stand saluting to the devil I rejected
Pixelated People talk in low fit sound bites
I found the trouble now it governs my senses,
I stand saluting to the devil I rejected
"Pixelated People" by Jess Mills talks about the overpowering pressure in the society and how it affects individuals on a personal level. The song begins with the opening lines suggesting that the burden of work is too much for the singer to bear. They feel overwhelmed with unpaid work and under pressure to perform as per expectations. The feeling of being unable to create while receiving no credits for it is like tossing salt over a wound.
The chorus talks about "Pixelated People," which metaphorically represents a shallow society that is mechanical in nature. The singer is in communication with these people who use low-fit sound bites to communicate, barely carrying depth or emotion in their conversations. In this situation, the singer finds trouble, which governs their senses leading them into submission to the devil's temptation, which they previously rejected. It sheds light on how peer pressure can break and make someone give in to the craving for worldly possessions.
The bridge suggests that the singer is unsure if it's just in their head or if the feeling actually exists. They feel stuck and unable to find a way out while constantly confronted by hindrances. The song concludes with the chorus that reiterates the idea of the pixelated people and how they influence individuals in their life.
Overall, Jess Mills's "Pixelated People" is a powerful critique on the negative impact societal pressure can have on an individual. It highlights the difficulty of finding one's way out of the trap, where the expectation of the world is like a rope tied against one's progress. It is a commentary on the challenging time our society faces with overwhelming pressure, trying to keep up with the ever-increasing pace of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Overplayed, and overworking these days
I am exhausted and burnt out from working too much
Get no relief it's too much to take.
I can't find any time to relax or unwind
Underpaid, and under pressure these days.
I feel like I am not being compensated fairly and am dealing with a lot of stress
I don't receive for what I create.
I feel undervalued for my creative output
Pixelated People talk in low fit sound bites
The people around me only communicate in superficial and shallow ways
I found the trouble now it governs my senses,
I have identified the source of my problems but it continues to affect me deeply
Oh- I stand saluting to the devil I rejected
I am giving in to negative influences that I once tried to resist
I'm afraid, and noone knows it these days
I am dealing with fear but keeping it hidden from others
I hide behind the smile on my face.
I put on a facade of happiness to avoid showing my true emotions
I need to escape, but can't find the road out these days
I want to leave my current situation but am feeling trapped and unable to find a way out
Each time I turn to run someone stands in my way
Whenever I try to make a change, obstacles appear to prevent me from doing so
Is it all in my head? All in my head
I am questioning whether my struggles are just a product of my own thoughts and perceptions
Pixelated People talk in low fit sound bites
The people around me only communicate in superficial and shallow ways
I found the trouble now it governs my senses,
I have identified the source of my problems but it continues to affect me deeply
I stand saluting to the devil I rejected
I am giving in to negative influences that I once tried to resist
Pixelated People talk in low fit sound bites
The people around me only communicate in superficial and shallow ways
I found the trouble now it governs my senses,
I have identified the source of my problems but it continues to affect me deeply
I stand saluting to the devil I rejected
I am giving in to negative influences that I once tried to resist
Writer(s): Jessica Rosemary Francis Mills, Jess Mills, Sam Frank Copyright: BMG Rights Management (Uk) Limited, Warner/Chappell Music Publishing Ltd., BMG Rights Management (Uk) Ltd.
Contributed by Jackson A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@PresidentKony
1:22 will be heard in 2063 and still be fresh. This is real future-pop we just witnessed 5 decades before
@t00nvisi0n
This remix is now 10 years old and it’s still one of the most underrated remixes from 2012! And it’s also Wilkinson’s only Dubstep track. God the introduction is so addictive the vocals are amazing! I wish more D&B artists make more Dubstep!
@PaulSpades
Spor is also known as Feed Me. Amon (Two Fingers) also crosses genres doing whatever he feels like. It's hard to label dubstep nowadays with 10 years of evolution and dissolution, there's dubstep in future garage, future bass, glitch-hop... Breakbeat's had a resurgence in the last few years with Bicep and the new The Glitch Mob album. You can find what you like from these old dubstep tracks in the newer neuro and breakbeat tracks.
@FabioLeone94
Wish we had songs like this in 2019
@David-ts4th
...and in 2022
@Law0fRevenge
Best time to listen to this song is when you're driving on a highway at night. Can't get much better.
@phoenixphonkhouse451
This song is on my Playlist on need for speed most wanted 2012 so i can also agree
@mr.cangieter8758
Blasted down the empty highway on several post 2:00 am 240+ km/h nights to this on max volume. Totally agree!
@DrumToTheBassWoop
Midnight Marauders. :D
@dustinfusco
On acid