Beat Drops and Heartaches: PinkPantheress Goes ‘Stateside'‘

In “Stateside,” PinkPantheress continues to redefine the boundaries of alt-pop and drum and bass, offering a shimmering, danceable track that feels as intimate as it is infectious. At just over two minutes long, the song is a whirlwind—brief, but densely packed with emotional nuance and production flair that sticks with you long after the final beat drops.

Described by PinkPantheress herself as “the best song on the project,” “Stateside” is the second single from her upcoming sophomore mixtape, “Fancy That”. Fans first got a whiff of the track during a Q&A on March 16, 2025, when she revealed that “track 8” was her favorite and predicted it would be a fan favorite, too. The title was confirmed a few weeks later, on April 6, with the official tracklist drop. Then, on April 17, a teaser landed on stats.FM—a fan-focused Spotify insights app—mirrors the rollout style of her previous single, “Tonight.” That same day, Pink shared on Instagram Stories that “Stateside” was the record’s next single and that she was in the middle of shooting its music video.

The production by Mura Masa gives us one of her most club-ready offerings yet. The beat is crisp and forward-driving, grounded by a pulsing rhythm section and flanked by fluttery synths that create a sense of lightness and urgency all at once. It’s a track that begs to be replayed, not just for the vibe but for the subtle emotional tension that hides under the surface.

PinkPantheress has always thrived in contrasts—pairing vulnerability with playful sonic palettes—and here she’s at her sharpest. The track is named “Stateside,” but its core theme is anything but rooted. She’s caught between places, people, and feelings. The opening lines set the tone immediately: “I'm freezing outside, I feel my skin tight / My coat is inside, but I look up at you / I tracked your plane ride for when you're in tonight / Tell me, when is the next time I'll run into you?”

One of the most affecting lyrics arrives later in the track: “It sounds insane, right? / I’ll take the same flight / Wait at your bedside / I’ll land right next to you…” Here, the track swells with desperation. There’s a manic tenderness in her willingness to fly across the world and show up uninvited, waiting “at your bedside” like a character in a romantic drama turned slightly unhinged. Then she ends the verse with, “Tell me, how did a girl like me get into you?” letting us know it’s not just about distance or time zones, it’s about confusion and insecurity.

In many ways, “Stateside” feels like a maturation of her sound. It retains the signature brevity and glitchy beauty of her earlier work, but the emotional stakes are higher, the writing sharper. It’s a dance song that aches quietly, a summer-ready bop that masks the sting of separation. And like much of PinkPantheress’ work, it rewards multiple listens, each one revealing another layer beneath the surface gloss.

Pre-save what it looks like to be the album of the summer here, out May 9th.