Pixx, Birthdays, London

Pixx has been paving the way to mainstream consciousness for quite some time now, but with a debut album in the offing and a place in DIY’s Class of 2017, this is the year Pixx arrives.

With her glitter-adorned eyelids, bleached-blonde pixie cut and metallic green genie pants, at times she evokes the glamour of a 60s icon. But her presence is even more striking than her aesthetic; when she’s not fixing a brain-melting stare on you, she’s jerking her head at a rate that threatens to see her come unhinged.

It’s all part of a persona that comes to life when performing her audacious new material. ‘A Big Cloud To Float On’ and ‘Everything Is Weird In America’ tower with seismic beats and webs of electronics, but it’s Pixx’s low, broad register that reigns supreme - a side of her voice she’s only recently showcased in latest single ‘I Bow Down’.

The set takes a turn for older material with folk-infused ‘Baboo’, but its wiry soundscapes float off into the stratosphere in comparison to the focused futuristic-pop of the opening bangers. However, it’s only a minor lull in an otherwise almighty set and before you can hold it against her she’s brought the atmosphere back down to earth for the final numbers. The Grimes-esque ‘Grip’ proves she can move the room just as easily as she can bring it to a standstill. But it’s the head-spinning synths, rallying guitar and commanding vocal of ‘I Bow Down’ that pushes the set to its peak. With Pixx’s booming echo of “I bow down to your good will,” still ringing in our ears, it feels like it should be the other way round. Welcome to the year of Pixx.