The “You Should Listen To This Artist” series showcases up-and-coming music artists who have piqued the interest of the POP! team, with the goal of providing these talented individuals a promotional platform so more people could know and hear about them. If you’re a bedroom/indie/amateur/budding music artist, send your materials to pop[at]inquirer.net for consideration.
Pixie Labrador, a 24-year-old Filipino queer singer-songwriter based in NYC, has carved a unique niche in the Original Pilipino Music (OPM) scene.
Her pop-folk sound and intensely personal poetry, which bravely tackle queer love and heartbreak, have left a lasting impression.
Humble Beginnings and Inspiration
It all began in high school for Pixie. In 2015, she revealed that her journey as a musician started with her writing, withher sexuality serving as the foundation for her musical creativity.
“Songwriting became my outlet before I felt comfortable coming out,” she said.
Her debut original song, ‘Maybe, ‘was more than just a song. It was a symbol of her coming out, capturing her first girl crush. She didn’t anticipate the song’s success, especially in an industry dominated by men and women.
“This is what OPM needs more of sapphic artists amplifying sapphic stories,” she stated.
She said she was overjoyed by the enormously positive feedback she received from listeners, with most thanking her for making them feel seen.
Moreover, Pixie revealed that her discography, a “journal,” represents her emotional journey, with each song designed to submerge listeners in comparable situations. Her narrative-heavy, theater-inspired sound is derived from her personal experiences.
“When I can transport someone into the feelings of love or heartbreak, I know I’ve made a significant impact,” the musician stated.
Her passion for musical theater significantly impacts her songwriting, with a focus on story points and character development. “A classmate once told me that my song felt like watching a movie,” Pixie says.
Her fans can picture the narratives she is telling through her songs thanks to her immersive technique.
She revealed that several musicians have influenced her style, most notably Dodie, an English singer, songwriter, poet, and YouTuber whose storytelling and metaphorical lyricism moved Pixie to explore the boundaries of imagery.
NIKI, who has demonstrated the potency of genre-bending to Pixie, is another inspiration.
“I was a fan of hers pre-88rising when she still went by the stage name “Nicole Zefanya; I hope to have even half of the versatility she exhibits in her production,” she says.
Challenges in Representation and the Industry
Pixie has encountered falsehoods regarding her career due to her status as a queer woman of color in the music business.
Her songs are assumed to be “explicitly queer,” which emphasizes the fight against heteronormative narratives in an environment where her identity ought to be honored.
“Some listeners have expressed that they enjoyed my music until they learned I’m queer,” she says.
In addition, Pixie discusses how her recent graduation from BerkleeNYC with a degree in Songwriting & Production has influenced her approach to creating music.
“The biggest challenge was learning to be vulnerable with my collaborators,” she said.
She used to share completed work solely, but the curriculum strongly emphasized teamwork and feedback. She was naturally shy, but overcoming her insecurities caused her creative attitude to change.
“When I felt more secure within myself, I opened up and allowed others to engage with my music on a deeper level,” she said.
Her current endeavor is all the more meaningful because of the creative magic she brought to it with the relationships she made while attending Berklee. She highlights, “It’s a labor of love from everyone involved,” acknowledging her skilled peers’ contributions.
Pixie says that despite these difficulties, she is true to herself and has vowed never to allow other people’s opinions to “cloud her mind.”
New Music Ahead
With excitement building for her subsequent releases, Pixie is prepared to present her most introspective and developed work yet. Pixie is thrilled with her new material and says, “I strongly feel that my audience will agree.” She is confident that it represents her fully realized self.
She also guarantees that every aspect of her new songs, including the production, mix, and songwriting, is improved.
“There’s a noticeable shift in the figurative sense, too,” she continued.
She promised longtime supporters that her new songs, highlighting her artistic development through new stories, viewpoints, and characters, would make them love her even more.
“If you’ve been listening for years, you’ll sense that I’ve lived a bit more, loved a bit more, and hurt a bit more,” she says.
Pixie knows that with queer-coded music, there’s often an underlying theme of yearning that resonates deeply with her audience, so she hopes that listeners will discover a sense of community.
To reassure her admirers that they are not alone in this giant globe, she remarked, “No matter how personal my writing gets, there’s always someone who can relate.”
Message for her future listeners
The singer-songwriter wants a haven where people feel free to be themselves. Her goal is to support people in exploring and accepting their suppressed feelings.
Pixie advises her song “Varsity Crush,” which is happy and optimistic and tells a sweet, sapphic story that evokes the memories of a high school first love. She also suggests “You Are,” which displays her emotional resonance and lyrical depth.
As she prepares to start this thrilling new chapter, Pixie Labrador believes that representation, authenticity, and poignant storytelling will always ring true and captivate her audience.
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