Presented by Goldenvoice: New Gold Standard
An Interview with Biig Piig
May 10, 2025
We linked up with Irish singer-songwriter Biig Piig ahead of her show at The Roxy to break down her songwriting process, the moment she realized music could be more than just a passion, plus what you can expect next from the rising artist.
You've lived in Ireland, Spain, and London. How have those different places and cultures influenced your sound and storytelling?
Living in different places, I feel you are always trying to find your feet in community and a way to connect with people, and it’s why I was drawn to music in the first place when I was moving around so much. In Spain, the way of living is a lot more moment by moment, and so many people you meet and the music just soundtracks it all. There’s such a soulfulness in it and I feel like I definitely have taken that ethos with the way that I work and make music. In Ireland, the way that you retain history and stories through playing music in pubs, and the storytelling element, is a big influence on me. London was a massive influence too, through the variation of genres that I found here. It has all played a part!
Was there a particular moment when you realized music could be more than just a passion, that it could be your life?
The COLORS session that I did in Berlin back in 2017. I hadn’t had an understanding of how music could physically transport you; I know it could mentally transport you somewhere else when you can escape into a song but didn’t realize it could be a catalyst for physically moving you from place to place. So, when it happened for the first time, it was a real oh my god moment. Something’s happening – something I’m making in a small room is bringing me across the world into a new place and connecting with more people. It was then that I started to think about doing it seriously, as a career. So yes, COLORS was that big turning moment for me.
What's your songwriting process?
Usually starts with a jam, I don't like to go in with a plan or set lyrics or anything. The same way a good conversation happens that’s unplanned. The spontaneity of it is something that I am always drawn to. When you’re figuring out bass lines and drum patterns and feeding into the energy and emotion and minding at a middle point of how do we connect this through music? Usually I put melodies down, and then lyrics come last for me. I’ll sound out a tone with a melody and then make sense of it with words after.
Anything in particular that gets you in the zone to create?
No phones, I like to write on paper. Phones take you out of a place and are a distraction. Especially when you are trying to be intimate and focused on the moment. Natural light is important as well. I don't like locked in studios; you lose a feeling of freedom. Conversations and insights into different peoples’ lives are really inspiring too. Nights out and experiences in my own life always inspire me a lot.
You’ve always had strong visuals. How involved are you in the visual side of your projects (videos, cover art, stage design, etc.)?
I've always loved visuals; they’re another layer of what you are trying to describe and paint as a whole picture. I love finding creatives, like Yana Van Nuffel who did the album cover shoot. Real but surreal images. I love seeking out people who are great at what they do. Claryn Chong, who directed some visual episodes off my 11:11 album – the grade and her ability with telling a story about the project. The immersiveness of it. The music video for “Watch Me” was my first full co-direction, collaborating with NWSPK, an incredible team – it was another way to bring something into the real world visually.
Is there a dream collaboration or project you've been quietly manifesting?
Ha, there are but I won’t say – I believe things can be jinxed, so don't usually try to talk things into existence, for me anyway! I need to have a quiet idea and then do it before saying out loud – but yes, there definitely are.
What's next for Biig Piig?
My U.S. headline tour starting next week, through San Fran, LA, and New York, I haven’t played a U.S. headline show for a minute, so bringing the new show out to U.S. is so fun – playing new tracks off the album. Then back into writing, trying to figure out what’s next, the next project – maybe I’ll start up some things outside of music. I won’t say anything yet, but there are some ideas in the works!
