BIIG PIIG BACKSTAGE | “JUST USING YOUR PLATFORM IS SO IMPORTANT”

INTERVIEW | BIIG PIIG @ TRNSMT 2025 by Anne Kelly

With the censorship challenges this year’s TRNSMT Festival, we were on the prowl for artists who would use their platform to advocate for societal change. One standout performer of the weekend was the Irish artist Biig Piig, who made a significant statement by highlighting Palestine during her set on Day 2 of the festival, over on the King Tuts Stage. Chatting Scottish crowds, the thriving Irish music scene and ultimately, censorship, we caught up with Biig Piig (aka Jessica Smyth) ahead of their first ever TRNSMT appearance.

Releasing her debut album 11:11 back in February, Biig Piig‘s journey in the music world actually began back in 2016. “She’s been on a grind” laughs Biig Piig. “I started out in my bedroom making a lot more hip hop and r’n’b sounds. There have been a lot of different phases, and a lot of different collaborations” she explains. Reflecting on the final product of her album, she continues “figuring out my sound I think has been a big thing, and this one was a lot more pop heavy I guess, a lot more dancey, which was so much fun.”

Transferring that energy to the stage is where Biig Piig truly shines. Upon first meeting, her warm, gentle nature felt every ounce authentic; a rarity sometimes in our interviewing role. She spoke with warmth and a true enthusiasm for what she does, and when we headed along to her set early Saturday evening, we could feel that same passion burn through the already record breaking temperatures. “I mean, to be honest, it’s been so fun bringing the songs into a live space. I just feel like you make tracks in a studio setting, and then you play them live and they just take on a whole new life. It’s really fun actually.” She continued “When I finally found my feet in a live space it just made me want to make music which makes you wanna dance. I really want to push that a little bit more but, there’s also a part of me that still wants to revisit my older sounds so yeah, we’ll see. Maybe a combo of the two at some point would be cool.”

First time at TRNSMT, but have you played in Scotland before?

“Yeah, many times”, beams Biig Piig. “Today we’re playing the King Tuts Stage but we’ve played the King Tuts venue many times, which is great I love that venue. It’s so iconic and it’s such a gorgeous room that feels really intimate.” Born in Cork, Ireland and having lived in in different pockets of the world since, we asked how Scottish and Irish crowds compare to those elsewhere. “They are very similar and the crowds are very similar too. They give energy, like so much energy, and the room is always so alive. I just feel like the people are living for music.”

There’s a prominent display of Ireland flags amongst the Scottish ones on display at this years TRNSMT, with bands such as Cliffords, Amble, The Script, Inhaler, Fontaines D.C. and of course, Biig Piig amongst others,representing the Irish contingent. But, what is it that people can’t get enough of from Irish musicians at the moment?

“I think at the minute it’s really exciting and there’s more of a platform for it. As well, I think the approach to what kind of music is being made has been explored more. Like Chamomile Club, Moio and stuff like that are breaking into a more like indie pop and r’n’b stage. Then the likes of Fontaines who are rock, there’s just so much more variety than ever happening on the scene in Ireland, which is really exciting. Even CMAT, who’s like the pop queen – she’s doing so good right now.”

Notably, we’re missing one Irish act on the bill this year, Kneecap. Having been billed to play the first day of this years TRNSMT festival, organisers controversially pulled the Irish trio based on their political stance against Israel.

“I know, it’s such a shame.” sincerely remarks Biig Piig, who has been a long term supporter of Kneecap, sharing the same values over Palestine. “I think as just a whole what’s happening with censorship at the moment is just mad. I think when it comes to taking peoples voices away it’s a big thing, especially when the government are the banning people like Palestine Action.”

There was a distinct lack of Palestine representation at the festival this weekend. Despite some bands bringing the Palestinian flag on stage with them and some audience members doning a keffiyeh or indeed, the flag itself, there was an uncomfortable silence from Glasgow this weekend.

“I think even more than ever we need for everyone to be talking about what’s going on. It’s just mad, what’s going on. Even just using your platform is so important. I think any opportunity that we can use to support Palestinian people that we should.”

So are you going to be using your platform today? “100% Yes. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”