Have you ever gotten hooked on a new artist after listening to just one song? The feeling you get when you hear something that resonates with you for the first time, and you think, “Wow, I sure hope there’s more where this came from?” You immediately scramble to find the artist’s page on Spotify or Apple Music and begin going through their discography, listening to banger after banger after banger.
That was exactly how I felt when I was first introduced to Maisie Peters. I discovered her music a little less than a year ago, and ever since, I’ve been obsessed with everything she puts out. From EPs to collaborations to soundtracks, Peters has an incredible track record for vivid imagery that puts you right at the scene of a song… sometimes ones that feel awfully close to your own life.
Maisie Peters’ debut album, You Signed Up For This, came out in August and is filled to the brim with songs about heartbreak, friendship and everything in between. Her ability to balance upbeat, fast-paced pop-folk tracks with heart-aching ballads makes for the perfect cocktail of emotion. I have a particular favourite song on this album called “I’m Trying (Not Friends),” in which she sings about moving on from a past relationship to a bright, catchy beat. Plus, her lyrics have a touch of that classic Gen Z mix of self-deprecation and self-awareness.
Peters also has an incredible penchant for clever one-liners. Her sense of humour is evident in her lyricism while still keeping songs earnest. A particularly fun line is in her collaboration with Sarcastic Sounds, “Song You’ll Never Hear,” where she sings, “There was no point in all of those phone calls / Can’t believe I had you on my ringer / Counting the times you were honest / I don’t need a hand, just a middle finger.” Not a lot of artists could pull off this balance of cheekiness without making their songs seem sarcastic or cynical, but Peters masterfully toes the line without losing the central emotion of the song.
Speaking of her sense of humour, the singer-songwriter has also cultivated an incredible community of fans who she treats more like peers. A fan page on Instagram, @mazziememes, is run by two fans who often poke fun at the artist. But the entertaining part is that the artist herself happily participates to the point where there is an in-joke about the potential release (or, rather, the constant withholding) of a partially-leaked song called “Girls House.” Who leaked the song you might ask?… Maisie Peters herself!
If you’re looking for an up-and-coming artist who is not only incredibly talented both musically and lyrically, but also has an amazing community, Maisie Peters should be at the top of your list!