On the cover of her kaleidoscopic mixtape ‘Fancy That’, PinkPantheress is resplendent in a crown – fitting for a year that has felt like the coronation of Britain’s boldest new pop superstar. From a Mercury prize nomination and two Grammy nods to a sold-out UK tour (which saw her slip the surly bonds of her own stage fright to deliver a pop spectacle), 2025 was full of dizzying feats for the 24-year-old shapeshifter, capped off with her summer hit ‘Illegal’ ascending the throne as NME’s Song Of The Year.
Hot-wiring the synths from Underworld’s 1994 anthem ‘Dark & Long (Dark Train)’ to exhilarating drum’n’bass, ‘Illegal’ – Pink’s tale of scoring weed – hits like a potent rush of THC. Her new era even seems to be telegraphed by the song’s deadpan opening lyrics (“My name is Pink and I’m really glad to meet you”), primed as an introduction to new listeners who might not have been aware of her beginnings as an elusive bedroom producer.
NME caught up with PinkPantheress to award ‘Illegal’ our coveted accolade, and talk collaborating with K-pop boyband SEVENTEEN, Kylie Minogue and more for her ‘Fancy Some More?’ remix album, conquering on-stage nerves, and how pushing herself beyond her comfort zone has paid off.
Congratulations on ‘Illegal’ being anointed NME’s Song of 2025. Why do you think it has resonated with so many people?
PinkPantheress: “I don’t know if it’s anything too deep, other than having a [TikTok] trend for it helped and also the sample is quite timeless. I think the power of the beat itself is what people really like about it.”
Did you realise it was a standout track when you first recorded it?
“No, not at all. I didn’t really think it was going to be ‘the one’.”
“I never thought I’d ever be put up for a Grammy, so having it for this song means everything”
‘Illegal’’s lyrics are about scoring weed, but several reviewers mischaracterised it as concerning a secret relationship. Was it fun seeing those different interpretations?
“Definitely. I thought my lyrics were fairly clear when I wrote it, but I think it’s quite telling how used people are to the songs, especially from me, so I think people assumed it would be a lot more innocent than it is!” [Laughs]
Brilliantly, you followed ‘Fancy That’ with a features-stacked “remixtape” ‘Fancy Some More?’, where ‘Illegal’ was rewired by SEVENTEEN, Anitta and Nia Archives. Why did you choose those artists to join you on new versions of the track?
“I’m a big fan of bringing in the most random people I can. Me and Nia definitely made sense, but SEVENTEEN [are more of a curveball]. I’ve been a big fan of them for years, so it was an honour to have them on a track, and I thought ‘Illegal’ would be the most universally understood, so it would be the best way to go.”
‘Illegal’ gained a Grammy nomination for Best Dance Pop Recording. What have been the most ‘pinch-me’ moments from this breakthrough year for you?
“I never thought I’d ever be put up for a Grammy, so having it for this song means everything. Also, having Kylie Minogue on a remix [of ‘Stateside’ from ‘Fancy Some More?’] was a moment. I’m a big Kylie fan, so awaiting her verse was the most tense experience ever, ’cause I was so excited to see what she would do. I was so happy when she not only did her verse, but also referred to herself as ‘an Aussie girl’. It felt full-circle for me. Performing in front of my audience on tour in a way that I’ve never done before was very fun for me as well.”
“There’s a confidence that I need to lean into more, and that’s what comes with being a pop star”
Your tour featured backing dancers dubbed “The Pinkettes” and a tap-dancing DJ. Having suffered from crippling stage fright in the past, did these run of dates help you get over it?
“100 per cent. I had stage fright pretty badly, so it was a combination of being comfortable with the music I was performing and also having the dancers there for some added energy. It felt good to not consistently have to rely on myself to hype everyone up.”
Has it felt like the next step up for you?
“I hope so. I hate to even suggest that I’m trying to prove anything to anyone, but a big part of me wants to do it for myself. I’ve always looked at pop stars and thought, ‘Oh my goodness, I could never be anything close to this’, but I think I need to trust myself more, even if it’s to dance more, because I don’t think I look as dumb as I feel like I do in my head. I think there’s an energy I want to give off, which I don’t necessarily do. There’s a confidence that I need to lean into more, and that’s what comes with being a pop star. As I get older, the more I want to ooze confidence. Being British, we tend to put ourselves in a humble position, but I want to do a switcheroo and see how it feels.”
Who would top your personal Songs of the Year list?
“I’m a big Ashnikko fan, so there’s a song on her album [‘Smoochies’] called ‘Trinkets’ which I really like. I also really like everything JADE’s been doing.”
JADE appearing on a version of your banger ‘Tonight’ on ‘Fancy Some More?’ must have been special, then?
“Exactly. I really like her voice.”
“What I want to do is expand my artistry outside of music”
You’ve also used your voice to back political causes this year, including giving a heartfelt speech about how “neutrality or silence shouldn’t be an option” when you performed at Brian Eno’s ‘Together for Palestine’ fundraising gig. Is it important for you to use your platform?
“It’s everything. Like I said onstage, there’s zero excuse for silence [on Palestine], especially when it’s livestreamed. There’s no major [media] outlet that’s going to broadcast it, so when you partake in something like that, you have to make your own audience aware. When you have so many people in one room, each sharing with their audience, it made the impact we desired. Without the major [media] backing that no one’s willing to give it at the moment, I think it’s power in itself that the night was able to happen. It was super important to me.”
You’ve previously talked about your releases in terms of ‘cultural moves’. What’s the next cultural move for you?
“What I want to do is expand my artistry outside of music. I would love to be involved in film and do some acting, and I’m hoping I will next year – but we’ll see what happens! That’s definitely what I’m looking forward to. I want to expand myself outside of what I’m comfortable with.”
Any dream roles in the back of your mind?
“I’ve always wanted to be in Bridgerton, but that’s a bit eager, so we’ll see. Anything period-piece, I love.”
You made headlines for standing by your sub-three-minute hits, joking that ‘People think of me as some sort of Gen-Z final boss… Like, ‘Oh my God, she’s trying to ruin the minds of the kids.’ Do you think that perception has shifted this year?
“I think so. Through seeing comments online and meeting older people in real life, they say: ‘I hadn’t heard of you until this year, and this project reminds me of the music I used to love when I was younger’. I love hearing that, because I enjoy the art of repurposing music and the stuff that I grew up with, with newer influences – that’s what I’m trying to do. With people who aren’t as online as my usual fanbase, it’s nice that they’ve found a way for the music to connect with them.”
What is it about 2000s pop music that inspires you?
“I enjoyed how emotive it was, and there was more liberation. Music was allowed to be experimental without being put in a box. These days, I worry that artists feel less willing to experiment with sounds ’cause you’re going to be boxed in. Genres have become rigid in the last few years, and I think that back in the day, subcultures felt more blended. I could be wrong, but I liked how free everybody felt at the time and how fun everything was.”
Does that notion of repurposing pop extend to your own songs? Fans noticed ‘Illegal’ uses a similar melody to ‘Bury Me’. Was that intentional?
“Oh my god, that’s so funny! I never even thought they sounded similar but I’m now hearing it in my head! I just write in a very specific way, and with my next project, I’d love to start writing in a way which is different from what I’ve done, because I suppose my writing style is something I’m comfortable with. But I love ‘Bury Me’ – that’s actually one of my favourite songs.”
How did you expect to feel at the end of this year compared to how you actually feel?
“I would say this is pretty on par with what I hoped and dreamed. I was nervous at the beginning of the year for the rollout, because I realised I was going to have to step it up and put in a major amount of work. I’ve always been so music-focused that I’ve never thought about rollouts in terms of: what should I wear or how should I look?
“Now it’s the end of the year, I think every small thing I did paid off, and I’m glad I pushed myself to do a lot of things I was nervous about.”
Read NME’s full Songs Of The Year list here. PinkPantheress tours the US in April and May 2026, with tickets going on sale December 12
The post PinkPantheress on the surprise success of ‘Illegal’: “I didn’t really think it was going to be ‘the one’” appeared first on NME.
