15 September 2023 - 0 Comments

Pipsy is the musical project centered around the songwriting of Paul Pouwels McMillan (they/them), a songwriter and producer based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington). Their songs are brought to life in a band context with help from drummer Jordan Cossill, bassist Hanna Ott and guitarist Jorji Lawson.

Pipsy crafts alternative pop with poise and precision. Their tracks are full with warm melodies and tender vocal harmonies. Listeners will be reminded of the devotional disco rhythms, as well as the stirring synth pop of the early 2000’s.

Their 2022 debut album All You Ever Wanted found it's home on the Student Radio Network (with singles topping the 95bFM Top 10 and Radio Active's Top 11), with singles appearing on prized playlists such as Apple Music's Heaps Indie and Indie + Pop, as well as Spotify's Fresh Cuts.

STREAM STUCK IN MY BRAIN

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Stuck In My Brain glides over to the listener, effortlessly combining glittery synthesizers with disco syncopation. Don't be fooled though, the track's lyrical themes hide a deeper meaning than its glossed exterior.

"Generally speaking the track is about anxiety," says Pouwels McMillan. "I’d been reading about the origins and mythology of the Labyrinth, and made this connection between overthinking and getting stuck inside of a maze. You can endlessly explore and pick apart all of your fears, doubts, and insecurities, but in the end you just get lost in this maze, and you have to be careful not to get swallowed up by it all. After all, what better material is there for a happy indie pop song than crushing anxiety?!"

"I wanted the track to sound really sparkly and fun, so after I landed on the theme of the song, I decided to re-watch one of my favourite maze-based, mid-80s, fantasy films, starring David Bowie, Labyrinth. I thought it would be a playful nod to that film to use some of its synth sounds for the drones underneath the song. There are lots of other funky elements that pop in and out throughout the track too, that you mostly just feel, but if you listen carefully you can make them out (including bongos, wood blocks, cowbell, Linn Drum, wurlitzer, and even a bit of sassy triangle in the chorus). I wanted the song to sound really immersive, with lots of ear candy, rewarding multiple listens."

Labyrinth wasn't the only 80's influence on Stuck In My Brain, "a friend of ours wanted to get rid of some of their old vinyl, and magnanimously let us go through their record collection and take anything we liked. They had some amazing LPs, and I snatched up one of my favourites I shockingly didn’t own - Talking Heads Remain In Light. Listening to it again, songs like Born Under Punches (The Heat Goes On) and Once in a Lifetime are so thoroughly engaging, and positively bombilating with rhythmic energy. Stuck In My Brain’s chorus is influenced by that push and pull of syncopated rhythms and textures, that should all come together to leave you happily discombobulated!"

Pouwels McMillan reflects "Our goal with our music is to walk that line between cheerful and optimistic vibes, and the exploration of deep personal struggles within the lyrics. I’m really proud of how the song does that - I can't wait for people to hear it."

Pipsy are hitting the road with old friends The Jordan Luck Band, supporting them on five dates of their We Love You The Most NZ Winter tour. The band are prepped and sound shit hot, make sure you grab a ticket before they're gone! Catch them:

September 15 - San Fran, Wellington*
September 16 - Playhouse Theatre, Nelson
September 22 - Dive, Dunedin
September 23 - Vic Arms, Cromwell
September 30 - Good Home Ferrymead, Christchurch

Photo Credit: Sara Tansy

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