Biig Piig also did a cover of Big Thief’s track from 2016, “Masterpiece“. She praised the band’s frontwoman Adrianne Lenker for amazing lyrics and the song for putting her in “such an amazing headspace”.

Smyth commented: “That record kind of got me through a lot,” Smyth noted. “I only found it recently, like within the last year. And it’s like, you know when you attach yourself to a piece of music and you’re like ‘right, it’s you and me now, we got this‘”.
“It’s where you just grab on to something for dear life and you’re like, ok as long as I can play this, everything’s going to be fine“.
The last song that the singer performed a the BBC 1 show was a cover of “Why Don’t You Love Me” by Beyonce. See sniped of it below.

Unwind with this beautiful Piano Session from @BiigPiigMusic – including a cover of @beyonce‘s ‘Why Don’t You Love Me’

Listen in full on @bbcsounds pic.twitter.com/tw9CadR2Z6

— BBC Radio 1 (@BBCR1) August 15, 2021

Biig Piig latest release “The Sky Is Bleeding” came out in May and received positive reviews. NME labelled it “Smyth’s most diverse and assertive collection yet“. Pitchfork added in their reviews that “Smyth’s catalog makes for enjoyable chill-out material for the warming nights, but it occasionally downplays her personality and ability to capture the beautiful mess of young adulthood“.

At the time of release, Smyth said: “I feel like the more I hang out with myself, and the more I hang out with my music, it’s becoming more apparent that’s what I am. I’m just a big mess, in a nice way…Everything, my whole life, has been a big scramble. The big pig…the big mess… but in a way, that’s the sweetest thing”. You can read more info about the EP here.

Pa Salieu was among the talented artists announced on the longlist last month such as Alfie Templeman, Berwyn, Bree Runway, Dutchavelli, Girl in Red, Greentea Peng, Griff, Holly Humberstone and The Lathums. 

Fresh, inventive, unique. Rapper Pa Salieu has won the BBC’s #SoundOf2021.

Read more about @King_Salieu‘s story here: https://t.co/MV4CXtxgKf pic.twitter.com/a2MjGqATF0

— BBC News Entertainment (@BBCNewsEnts) January 7, 2021

He was selected by a panel of expert artists including Billie Eilish, Stormzy, Jorja Smith, Wolf Alice, AJ Tracey, YUNGBLUD, Foals, and Charli XCX. He joins previous winners who have gone on to have amazing careers such as Sam Smith, HAIM, Adele and most recently Celeste.

Speaking about the win, Pa Salieu said; “I was just really happy to even be included on the list alongside some amazing artists, a few of who I know personally. They’re all crazy talented, so to be the winner of something like this so early in my journey just feels mad.”

Madness! I have won bbc sound of 2021 so early on in my career it’s madd!! Love to my team all the judges on the panel and my bbc family!! Greatness only! 2021 we go level up!!@BBCR1 #Soundof2021 pic.twitter.com/QZNitVczXc

— PA SALIEU (@KING_SALIEU) January 7, 2021

This comes less than a year and a half after the rapper had been shot in the head outside a pub in his home city in 2019. Thankfully he recovered and then went on to release his debut mixtape Send Them To Coventry, which was named after the saying for deliberately ostracising or marginalising someone.

Speaking about the shooting, Pa Salieu explains that it could have been a very different story; “If I died last year, If I actually died – in their eyes, I would be a criminal. ‘Gang related. Drive-by shooting.’ Trust me, the whole perception would be different right now. You would have never heard of me. If you do hear of me, it’s, ‘That’s that kid that died.’ ‘Gun crime.’ ‘These foolish youths.’ No.”