Virtually Famous: BiiG PiiG

That unflattering stage name conceals an exotic life story for the solo artist born Jess Smyth. Originally from Cork, she spent her childhood in Malaga, and her more recent years working as a poker dealer in west London and co-founding the art, music and fashion collective NiNE8.

There’s more that’s Latin than Celtic in her sound, with its hazy acoustic guitars and hip-hop beats. On her most-streamed song, the horizontally-relaxed Perdida, she mixes English and Spanish lyrics. On new music coming imminently she sings entirely in Spanish.

Her catchiest tune to date, Don’t Turn Around, shows her influences stretch to even more unlikely places. It samples the melody from a disco tune by Claudja Barry that was made more famous on Get It On Tonite by Nineties R&B cheeseball Montell Jordan. She remade it a month ago with a new verse from LA rapper Buddy, and has just released another version, a jazzy acoustic remix that’s far too summery for current temperatures but merits attention nonetheless.

As to where she’ll head to next? Given what she’s done so far, anything is possible.