Today, London-based artist Biig Piig has debuted her brilliant new single “Don’t Turn Around” via Annie Mac’s Hottest Record in The World. Listen HERE. Having amassed a broad global following – with fans ranging from Billie Eilish and Clairo to Virgil Abloh and Bella Hadid – Piig has also shared a stunning video for the track, which was directed by BEDROOM (The 1975, Beabadoobee). Watch HERE.
“Don’t Turn Around” perfectly captures the culture-colliding talent that is Biig Piig (born Jess Smyth). Blending the core influences across her early work (soulful hip-hop, dance music, soft-focus R&B) into effortless modern pop, it’s all held together via Jess’ instantly-identifiable, bilingual vocals and just as unique life-experiences.
In speaking about the track, Biig Piig says: “‘Don’t Turn Around’ is my post-breakup, pre glow up tune; finally getting to confidence through self-love and letting go of toxic relationships. JD Reid [slowthai, Mabel, Kojey Radical] showed me a song he had saved in his sample collection called ‘Love for the Sake of Love’ by Claudja Barry. The energy of that track instantly just made me wanna move so badly. You might have heard the sample before in Montell Jordan’s iconic tune ‘Get It On Tonite,’ but it slaps every time and the feeling Claudja Barry captures is absolutely timeless.”
At just 22 years old, Biig Piig’s quiet wisdom and winning naiveté has seen her trilogy of EPs to date develop an eclectic worldwide audience. With millions of streams and a sold-out European tour under her belt, Piig’s year may have taken an unexpected twist: it is, however, also a period in which Jess has found her voice. Under lockdown, she has developed the confidence to lead everything from Spanish tutorials and bedtime stories over Instagram to protesting in the BLM movement, selling posters in support of NHS frontline works, and organizing a pay-per-view, socially-distanced gig at Moth Club in aid of Refuge and Trans Women of Colour Survival Fund. Full details of the August 9th event are revealed today, with confirmed sets from Biig Piig, NAYANA IZ, Scutti, and Enny (tickets are available via Dice).
It has, to say the least, been an interesting journey for Biig Piig up until this point. The oldest of four, Jess was born in Ireland, but spent her formative years in Spain before moving to Shepherd’s Bush. Despite speaking English at home, Biig Piig initially only knew how to read and write in Spanish; a rocky transition through which she eventually found her people. These proved to be college-mates NiNE8 Collective, the eight-person-strong network of London-based creatives which Jess founded alongside Lava La Rue (and are now at the epicentre of London nightlife). Having gone viral with early tracks like “Vice City,” Biig Piig has emerged a vivid writer on relationship power-dynamics, identity, and how to navigate the changing world around us.
Biig Piig is currently working on her next longer-form project, due out later this year – stay tuned!
