The highly anticipated new album from Biig Piig has arrived and has exceeded expectations with its perfect alt-pop soundscapes, addictive melodies and relatable lyrics.
11:11 is the follow-up to 2023’s Bubblegum mixtape, which effectively lit the fuse for Biig Piig (aka Jessica Smyth) to shoot for the stars and become one of Gen Z’s most celebrated new pop innovators.
With 11:11, the Cork-born, Spanish-raised artist has delivered a collection of songs that entice and excite. Early highlights are Silhouette, Favourite Girl, Ponytail, and the stunning Decimal, which flips beautifully back and forth from Spanish to English and is powered by a relentless, energetic groove.
There are echoes of Goldfrapp, Tame Impala, Billie Eilish and Pet Shop Boys on this record but Jessica is undoubtedly walking her own individual path in what promises to be a hugely successful career.
Jess tells me that her absolute passion for creating music is the most important thing in finding her signature sound.
“I’m sure my influences affect me even subconsciously, but the main thing for me as an artist is to explore and be excited by the things around me, both in terms of music and life itself. My relationship with actually making music is so important to me – that process of creating a piece of music or writing a lyric is something that takes me away to another place and I just let it happen. Music is such an escape for me and the connection I have with it is something I just naturally compelled to follow and see what happens.”
Jessica also admits, though, that a sense of ‘artistic doubt’ will very often creep in when a record is finished—that feeling of perhaps being too close to a record to appreciate how the outside world might react.
“It’s true you know, I think after a certain point with “11:11” , I thought to myself , ‘well that’s it finished, there’s nothing else I want to say ‘ and then immediately questioning it and wondering, ‘should I maybe change that song or write something else that will work alongside it ?’ That totally happens, one minute you love it and the next you don’t but as long as you are making the music you want and being true to yourself then you can happily let it go and see how other people connect with it and bring it into their lives. I suppose in many ways you have to know when a song is finished and resist the temptation to second guess it.”
I put it to Jessica that perhaps one of the absolute joys of playing live though is that maybe a song is never really finished in the sense that during a live performance it can take on a new life, evolve spontaneously or be simple be re interpreted . We’ll see if that transpires on the upcoming Biig Piig tour which includes a hot date at The Limelight 2 in Belfast on Wednesday 19th February.
“It’s true , some songs might just find a different path once we have played them live a few times and pick out elements of them that maybe stand out more live than on record. I’m so looking forward to the Belfast show . It’s a city I love and I’ve always had a great time there, hanging out with friends and enjoying the nightlife. The Limelight date is one from the tour schedule that jumps out for me – I can’t wait for that gig!”
Biig Piig 2025 Album Headline tour dates:
Sat 15 Feb- Birmingham, 02 Institute 2
Mon 17 Feb- 3Olympia, Dublin
Weds 19 Feb- The Limelight 2, Belfast
Thurs 20 Feb- SWG3 (TV Studio), Glasgow
Fri 21 Feb- New Century Hall, Manchester
Sun 23 Feb- Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
Weds 26 Feb- SWX, Bristol
Thurs 27 Feb- Roundhouse, London
Sat 1 Mar- Trix Club, Antwerp
Mon 3 Mar- Uebel & Gefaehrlich, Hamburg
Tues 4 Mar- Festaal Kreuzberg, Berlin
Wed 5 Mar- Pumpehuset, Copenhagen
Fri 7 Mar- La Cigale, Paris
Sat 8 Mar- Melkweg MAX, Amsterdam
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