Calmness is the key to Pip’s music; a blissful fusion of R&B and soul that’s always full of feeling. Her love affair with music began during those quiet school days when she received guitar lessons as a present from her mum. Initially picking up the bass, where she learned to play wild rock songs by artists like The White Stripes and Slipknot, Pip eventually moved her way up to six strings. “It made me come out of myself a little,” she says of her early lessons. “It was a massive boost to me.”
Born in Manchester, Pip moved out of the city and into the countryside as a child following her parents split. She jokes that she and her siblings were “the only brown people in the town” but they always felt welcome in the area.
A move to London to study music was Pip’s first indication that stepping into the limelight, while still refusing to conform, might be what she’d been after all along. “I knew I wanted to sing from a young age,” she says, though it’s always been writing that helped her the most. In many ways it feels that the precise nature of her words take precedence over her low-key vocals.
Though her releases to date can be counted on a couple of hands, Pip has shown that she’s not here to make up the numbers. Take the delicate and melodic “Make Me Cry,” for example, or “Talk About It,” a raw moment of yearning set to a deceptively upbeat rhythm. “My first song, the one that’s done the best, is about being depressed,” she says of ‘Make Me Cry.’ “It’s a break-up song but I’m breaking up with depression.”
Feelings of solitude also creep into “Drunk & Alone,” a tender late-night jam written about the trials of a long-distance relationship. “It can feel sad and lonely,” she says of missing someone hundreds of miles away. “Part of that’s in my head but that anxiety is part of a relationship sometimes. I’d go on a night out and come home alone and hate it. I’ve never felt more lonely.”
These early releases have earned Pip many fans, including contemporaries like Jorja Smith. Smith has helped boost Pip’s music on multiple occasions, using her music on Instagram and shouting her out in interviews. “It’s really nice,” Pip says. “We’ve chatted via DM and I appreciate the support.”
In terms of musical influences, however, Pip looks to the past for inspiration. She cites Bob Marley and Joni Mitchell as teachers in the art of storytelling and says she “Can’t remember” a time Lauryn Hill’s music wasn’t in her life. All of these artists were regular fixtures in the car on long rides with her mum back in the day. “I’d always go on car journeys just to listen to some music,” she laughs.
Having moved on from her quiet life and become the artist she always was, Pip is determined to keep making music she insists will always be “chilled but emotional.” Whatever comes next, a generation caught in its feelings might just have a new soundtrack.
Talk About It
PIP MILLETT Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Don't shy away"
He, he's afraid of what's to come
I'm afraid of who he is
Don't belong, don't belong
To me no more taken by the nighttime
I can't find the right time to speak
Don't want a fight, no, no way
The darkest of the days
The darkest of the days
He, he's treading on to harder grounds
The sand, it slows him down and
I, I'm tryna pull him out
Sinking further than he's walking
Let's talk about it (Talk about it)
I want to hear your thoughts about it
I'm ready when you want to talk about it
Kiss his cheeks
Ask him if he's okay (Are you okay?)
Don't want a fight no, no way
The darkest of the days
The darkest of the days
The darkest of the days
(I wanna hear your thoughts about it)
The darkest of the days
(I'm ready when you want to talk about it)
Kiss his cheeks ask him if he's okay
Don't want a fight, no, no way
The darkest of the days
The darkest of the days
In "Talk About it," PIP MILLETT addresses a partner who is going through a difficult time. The song explores themes of communication, understanding, and support within a relationship. The lyrics depict a sense of distance and fear between the two individuals, emphasizing their struggle to connect and express their emotions openly.
The opening lines, "He told me in his darker days, 'Don't shy away,'" suggest that the partner has confided in MILLETT during moments of vulnerability. However, both parties are apprehensive about confronting their true selves and expressing their fears. MILLETT admits, "I'm afraid of who he is" and acknowledges the disconnection by saying, "Don't belong, don't belong."
MILLETT strives to initiate a conversation, highlighting the need for open dialogue and understanding in order to resolve their issues. The repetition of "Let's talk about it" reinforces this desire for communication. Despite the challenges they face, MILLETT expresses her willingness to listen and support her partner through their struggles.
Line by Line Meaning
He, he told me in his darker days
He confided in me during his difficult and troubled times
"Don't shy away"
Don't avoid or retreat from facing the issue
He, he's afraid of what's to come
He is scared of what the future holds
I'm afraid of who he is
I am fearful of his true identity or nature
Don't belong, don't belong
I no longer have a place or sense of belonging with him
To me no more taken by the nighttime
The nighttime no longer captivates or captures me in the same way
I can't find the right time to speak
I struggle to find the perfect moment to express myself
Kiss his cheeks, ask him if he's okay
Show affection by kissing his cheeks and inquire about his well-being
Don't want a fight, no, no way
I do not desire or wish to engage in an argument
The darkest of the days
The most difficult and challenging moments
He, he's treading on to harder grounds
He is venturing into more challenging and difficult situations
The sand, it slows him down
Obstacles and difficulties hinder his progress
I, I'm tryna pull him out
I am attempting to rescue or help him escape from these difficulties
Sinking further than he's walking
He is sinking deeper into troubles compared to his progress
Let's talk about it (Talk about it)
Let's have an open discussion about the issue at hand
I want to hear your thoughts about it
I am eager to listen to your perspective on the matter
I'm ready when you want to talk about it
I am prepared to have a conversation whenever you are ready
Don't want a fight no, no way
I do not want any conflict or disagreement
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind