Q&A: PEGGY Takes Flight with Debut EP 'Dear Reader'
PEGGY EXPLORES THE COMPLEXITIES OF YOUNG ADULTHOOD, from themes of relationships, self-discovery, and mental health in her upcoming debut EP Dear Reader. In an exclusive interview, PEGGY delves into the personal stories behind the music. Inspiration comes from both her own life and characters she encounters in books and media. Tracks like "Alice" explore maladaptive daydreaming, while "Dear Reader" itself tackles the allure of fictional men.
The interview explores the clever metaphors PEGGY employs. "Flight Risk" uses air travel imagery to depict commitment anxieties, and the music video for the song pays homage to a Talking Heads classic while pushing boundaries with a surreal aesthetic.
Beyond entertainment, PEGGY emphasizes the therapeutic power of songwriting. It's a way to process difficult emotions and find self-discovery. The interview also sheds light on her collaborative process with talented producers who contribute to the EP's unique sound.
PEGGY's music blends her small-town roots with big-city experiences. Growing up in Michigan instilled a love for music, while the anonymity of city life allows for creative freedom. Social media played a key role in her journey, with "Fictional Men" going viral on TikTok. Looking ahead, PEGGY remains focused on creating relatable music that connects with listeners on a personal level. With Dear Reader on the horizon, PEGGY is poised to take flight, offering a deeply personal and infectious musical journey.
LUNA: Your debut EP, Dear Reader, is coming out very soon. The EP touches on themes of relationships, self-love, and mental health. Can you elaborate on some of the personal experiences that inspired these themes?
PEGGY: A lot of my songs are a mixture of experiences I have had and the experiences of books, media, and characters I relate to. “Alice” is a song that I wrote about maladaptive daydreaming which is something that I have dealt with since I was a kid. “30 Second Love Story” is about falling in love with someone on a train. “Fight Risk” is about being afraid to commit to loving someone because you're afraid you’ll come to to dislike them over time or they will come to dislike you (the ick). “MESS” is about my ADHD. “Dear Reader” is about falling in love with boys in books and book characters (Fictional Men part two). “Feminine Rage” is about exactly what it is called, feminine rage
LUNA: "Flight Risk" is such a clever metaphor for commitment issues. What inspired you to use the imagery of air travel to explore this concept?
PEGGY: I honestly just thought it was funny, the thought that commitment issues and getting the ick could be attributed to continually running away and taking trips made the most sense to me in my brain when I wrote the song with my friend Andrew Tufano
LUNA: The music video for "Flight Risk" pays homage to Talking Heads' "And She Was." Were there any other artistic influences on the video's aesthetic?
PEGGY: That was the only reference that I was presented with for that video specifically, I just wanted it to look almost stop motion and animated, realistic but also incredibly not realistic at the same time
LUNA: You mentioned using music as a form of self-therapy. How does songwriting help you process difficult emotions?
PEGGY: Similar to how some people might write in a journal I write songs, whenever I feel something or experience something that I struggle to put into words I sit down and try to write a song about it. It really helps to me to truly process the situation and feelings surrounding it in a way nothing else can.
LUNA: Dear Reader features collaborations with some impressive names. What was it like working with Bram Inscore and Andrew Tufano? How did they contribute to the overall sound of the EP?
PEGGY: Working with Bram was an absolute blessing. That man was one of the most talented and wonderful people I have ever had the pleasure of working with so far. He was actually the first producer that I worked with in LA outside of Boston when I went on a trip there last year. He was the best person I could have worked with on ALICE and I wish I had the opportunity to work on many more projects with him.
PEGGY: Andrew is someone I would consider to be a close friend at this point. We just work together really well and end up writing the coolest songs in the process, I am incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to work with him and continue to do so!
LUNA: Your music blends small-town roots with big-city experiences. How do these contrasting environments influence your songwriting?
PEGGY: I think deep down I have never really been a small town girl, I loved growing up in Michigan but I always love the idea of living in a big city. You have your circle but you can also go to the grocery store without running into your third grade teacher which is usually a win win for me. I feel like my experience growing up in musical theater and classical music settings really influenced my work and I attribute a lot of that to the people who mentored me when I was still young and learning.
LUNA: Your rise to fame began on TikTok with "Fictional Men." How has social media played a role in your artistic journey?
PEGGY: Social media has played the biggest role in my journey so far in my opinion. If I hadn’t started posting my songs on social media in 2020 I wouldn't be where I am today, hands down.
LUNA: What intentions do you have for the upcoming season?
PEGGY: Continue to make music that people resonate with in a way that makes them feel heard and understood as well as utilizing my art as an outlet for this within myself as well.
