Debut Album From Pixie Geldof Reflects Existential Questions of Fame

Stephanie Hernandez

She’s an English model, singer and daughter of famed musician Bob Geldof and TV presenter Paula Yates. Pixie Geldof has spent her life in the spotlight and now sets her angst about the shadow of fame to music.

Born in 1990, Pixie Geldof has been surrounded by more than her fair share of personal tragedy. Beginning on her 10th birthday, when her mother was found dead of a heroin overdose, Geldof was plagued by photographer flashes awaiting the tumultuous family’s next misfortune. Then in 2014 at the age of 25, her older sister Peaches was also found of a suspected drug overdose. Finding solace in music, Pixie began writing songs at 18, releasing records with a group called Violet. but it wasn’t until this year at age 26 that Pixie felt comfortable enough to release her debut record as a solo artist. As moody instrumentals weave in among all too tender tales of loss and confusion, “I’m Yours” becomes a darkly romantic collection of vignettes and poignant allusions to the fragile fabric of life. A deeply touching first release, Pixie’s album shows she has something to say.

To truly appreciate this work, knowing her background becomes as important as listening to the lyrics on the tracks themselves. Imagine growing up in the public eye, trying to create who you want to be but constantly being told by the surrounding media that, through guilt by association, you are someone else, a party girl, a drug addict, a wild child etc. Only to make it into adulthood to realize that you are believed to be someone, who in reality does not exist. This is that story, a theme Geldof plays with and returns to quite often throughout “I’m Yours,” It’s the idea of moving through life like you are stepping on stage as a caricature of yourself and having to step back and attempt to prove you are in fact someone else entirely. At it’s heart, “I’m Yours” is a record about heartbreak and loss, topics widely explored in popular music, but from an original perspective here.

Recorded with producer Tony Hoffer and backed by David Campbell on strings, the record features 10 tracks of bluesy, flowing orchestral dream-pop, perfect for a cold night in. Understated and restrained, the lure here is not catchy hooks and cheap synthesized tricks, but instead the stripped down lyricism and the music’s ability to break out of any specific genre. The sound moves between slowly building melodies, delicate verses and painfully genuine observations.

Opening track “Sweet Thing” provides a good example of this as a simple steady guitar riff carries a slow burning chorus into a folk infused end, all the while providing Pixie Geldof’s words the chance to take center stage.

“I’m Yours” becomes Pixie’s way to express her internal monologue publicly without the distortion previously applied to her life’s public traumas. Taking control of the conversation, she uses tracks such as “Twin Thing” to discuss the pain of her sister’s passing, but on her own terms. Full of bruises and love’s tiny tragedies, the tales on “I’m Yours” feels authentic, honest and raw. Deeply personal without becoming alienating, this is a record made for anyone who has ever felt like an outsider looking in. Giving perspective to heartache, Pixie turns a series of unfortunate events into a menagerie of lovely laments meant to soothe away the pain.

“I’m Yours” is available on Apple Music Nov. 4.