Cofounder of the imprints Deep Woods and Wanderlust Music, Pretty Pink's take on techno, house, and tech house embraces a slower, deeper, and more melodic sound.
For over a decade, she's played with musical boundaries on her terms.
"I started really with deep soft music and then over the years it evolved and got a little bit harder," Pretty Pink tells New Times ahead of her set at Mazuma in Wynwood. She incorporated soulful and melodic elements with a harder edge, guided by what she knew was best suited for the dance floor.
She knew about genres but didn't let any rules or boundaries shape her creative direction. "They want you to put it in some kind of box, so they say, 'Okay, it's more melodic house and techno' or 'it's like progressive house.' Honestly, as an artist, I feel like when I'm sitting in a studio, I don't think about the boxes. I don't think about the genres. I do what I feel." She resisted the urge to follow the traditional formulas for success, preferring creative freedom above all else.
Breaking free of these restraints led to the first of many sonic evolutions. "While growing up, playing bigger stages, playing main stages, I think some things changed a little bit," she explains. She experimented with faster BPMs alongside carefully injected basslines, kicks, trance motifs, and progressive elements. Later releases, like her remix of Gabriel & Dresden's "Remember," showcased her new sonic path.
Pretty Pink has recently made major changes to the visual components of her projects. "I have a new logotype now. And I'm really proud of this," she says. The new typeface decorates the flyer announcing her world tour this spring and summer, with dates across Europe and the United States.
"I'm doing the music for the people. It's really what this is all about at the end of the day," says Pretty Pink.
Photo by Stijn De Grauwe
In December, Pretty Pink released a remix compilation of her 2023 debut Born Digital. The album reimagined her debut through the eyes of collaborators like Jan Blomqvist and Lauren Mia, to whom she gave free rein. She continues to harness the power of collaboration this year, releasing "Balance" with Ukrainian singer-songwriter Odyssay and "Midnights" with DJ/producer Einmusik, set for release on April 25.
After playing an Odyssay song at one of her shows a year ago, Pretty Pink reached out online to gauge his interest in collaborating. After sending over some demo instrumentals, Odyssay eventually worked out the top line. The two went back and forth as the track came together. "Then, I played it for about half a year because I'm always curious how people like it. For me, the tracks need to work on the dance floor," Pretty Pink says.
In addition to working in the studio, Pretty Pink releases a new Deep Woods Radio mix every week. The radio show celebrated its 300th episode early this year. In February, she also premiered her rapturous new track, "Unconditional," at EDC Mexico.
"I'm doing the music for the people. It's really what this is all about at the end of the day," she says. "I know it's easy to get caught up in selling tickets to shows and a general profit motive, but I think, especially now more than ever, music can be a very powerful tool to bring people closer."
Pretty Pink. With Luccio, Sid Archer, and Øpi. 10 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at Mazuma, 2411 N. Miami Ave., Miami; 786-909-1250; mazumamiami.com. Admission is free before midnight with RSVP; tickets cost $12 via dice.fm.
