If you love pop music, whimsical storytelling, and literary references in songs, PEGGY may just be your new favorite artist. Since the beginning of her musical career, the singer has combined these three elements to create art that is uniquely hers. She “finds magic with an acoustic guitar,” not letting one single genre rule her creative vision. In her debut EP, Dear Reader, she continues this boundless and imaginative process. The six-track project contains songs that reference iconic literature and historical figures while describing her personal experiences in life and relationships. Due to my personal admiration for classic stories, I naturally gravitated to PEGGY’s music and instantly fell in love with her unique style. Each song is meticulously crafted to create a flawless EP that listeners will never want to stop playing on repeat.
Track List
FEMININE RAGE
ALICE
MESS
FLIGHT RISK
30 SECOND LOVE STORY
DEAR READER
PEGGY is an indie-pop singer-songwriter from Michigan. Her art is uniquely her own, drawing inspiration from her love of fictional literature and personal experiences. Growing up in a musical household, with a mother who sang backing vocals for a swing band and a father with a passion for classic rock, PEGGY was destined for a life of music. She began playing the piano at only five years old, joined a choir the following year, and performed in local productions of Annie, Into The Woods, and Les Misérables. Her musical inspirations come from artists such as Taylor Swift and Dodie, but witnessing Sara Bareilles was the catalyst for PEGGY’s journey into songwriting. In college, she studied music therapy and turned to TikTok during the pandemic to share her original songs. After sharing her track, “Fictional Men”, PEGGY’s career took off, garnering her 12.4 million streams on Spotify alone. After her songs “LOVE”, “Villains Aren’t Born (They’re Made)”, and “Falling for the Villain”, earned their own streaming success, PEGGY was signed to Nettwerk Music Group. She continues to release incredible music under the label with Dear Reader being her debut EP. Follow her on all social media to keep up with any future announcements!
FEMININE RAGE
PEGGY immediately propels her listeners into the world of literary and historical references with her intro track, “FEMININE RAGE”. Throughout the song, the singer mentions iconic stories of women being crucified for things beyond their control. From legendary Greek mythology figures such as Medusa and Persephone to women in history such as Marie Antoinette and Anne Boleyn. PEGGY ingeniously uses these women, amongst so many others, as prime examples of us being vilified since the beginning of time. She even admits that she too would go mad if her lover killed her father, like Ophelia did when it happened to her. PEGGY expresses the frustration that women grow up hearing these stories from a man’s perspective— where they are the heroes. But in reality, they are the people who victimize innocent women and turn them into a pariah. In her clever hook, she concludes that these stories are why it’s no wonder there is so much Feminine Rage. With her clever metaphors and cheeky lyricism, “FEMININE RAGE” is the perfect way for Peggy to kickstart her debut project.
ALICE
Alice In Wonderland is one of my favorite movies, and there have been countless songs inspired by the classic storybook tale; "Wonderland" by Taylor Swift, "Alice In Wonderland" by Kalie Shorr, and "Alice" by Avril Lavigne to name a few I personally adore. After learning of PEGGY’s literary inspirations and reading the track list, I knew “ALICE” would be my favorite song on the project. The track delves into a deeper and darker side of PEGGY. Paired with a whimsical acoustic guitar and her airy vocals, “ALICE” shares the singer’s experience with disassociation. While the meaning of the classic book is still up for debate, one theory is Wonderland was never real and Alice made it up to escape reality. In the chorus, PEGGY sings: “Alice, Alice, don’t you know?// Wonderland was all a hoax// Made it up so she could cope.” This symbolizes PEGGY’s own experience with escaping to fictional worlds in her mind to avoid what was happening in her real life. Throughout the track, she references iconic parts of the story to describe the unhealthy habit she partakes in. From the moment the song began, the folk-rock style of the guitar and PEGGY’s stunning vocals instantly captured my attention. But the clever songwriting is what turned “ALICE” from a beloved track to my favorite song on the project.
MESS
“MESS” is an introspective track that dives into PEGGY’s insecurities and self-doubts. In the verses, she discloses the traits she sees in herself that she is not particularly fond of. She recognizes that she is not perfect, but they are still a part of who she is. She admits that she is a mess and that she makes mistakes. But she knows this is what makes her human and she should be accepted for who she is—flaws included. In the chorus, PEGGY switches the narrative to expose the negative people in her life who judge her for these faults. She sings, “I’m a mess, but that doesn’t make me less than you// I’m naïve, but still, I wish the best of you// And I may make mistakes that I shouldn’t at my age// I know I’m not incompetent// But, damn, you make me feel that way.” PEGGY is exhausted by the ridicule and judgment of outside forces attempting to bring her down. She knows that their opinions do not matter, and yet she cannot help but fall into the trap, feeding into her self-doubt and anxieties. Her insightful lyrics and raw vulnerability are admirable, creating a track that listeners can resonate with. With “MESS”, PEGGY has ingenuously crafted the perfect track for young adults just trying to make it in this world.
FLIGHT RISK
“FLIGHT RISK” is a cheeky song utilizing air travel as a “metaphor for commitment issues and running away from people.” To kick off the song, PEGGY and her producer, Andrew Tufano, cleverly insert feedback from a pilot’s intercom with an inflight announcement. This instantly propels the listener into the detailed imagery before the infectious soundscape takes over. PEGGY’s captivating voice confesses her predisposition to leave when relationships get too serious. This is all led by her own fears of being “too much for somebody.” She would rather run before they have a chance to leave themselves. In the bridge, she explains this with the lyrics: “I’ll be leaving, so as I’m there// Got my reasons, promise I care// I’m just scared to let you see me, like this// I’m a flight risk.” PEGGY wears her heart on her sleeve, admitting her faults and feeling remorse for her behavior. She hates hurting others, but she needs to protect her own heart. “FLIGHT RISK” is marvelously written—another excellent example of PEGGY’s descriptive songwriting while effortlessly relating to listeners everywhere.
30 SECOND LOVE STORY
Rather than taking inspiration from a famous novel or a historical text, PEGGY creates her own narrative in “30 SECOND LOVE STORY”. The song depicts her experience with meeting someone, or just noticing their face in public, and conjuring up a scenario in her mind. One where they have a perfect meet-cute that develops into an epic love story. The song was inspired by a “train crush”—the moment she fell for a stranger she saw on a train. In just 30 seconds, she had already dreamt of a life where they fell in love, got married, and had a house and a family. But then she comes back to reality and knows this will never happen—she will never even say hello. This is an experience many people have felt and PEGGY relays it eloquently, bringing the listener’s thoughts to life. Paired with the ethereal pop soundscape, “30 SECOND LOVE STORY” is easily one of the best songs on the project.
DEAR READER
PEGGY’s poetic songwriting in her title track blew my mind from the very first listen. Her elegant songwriting displays vulnerable feelings of love and hope. As a Taylor Swift fan of 18 years, I immediately was drawn to “Dear Reader” as it shares a name with a Swift track. With the expressive lyrics and lively production, PEGGY’s song is one Swift would be proud of. Throughout the track, she compares her love to Wendy and Peter Pan and Lizzy Bennet and Mr. Darcy, two legendary love stories that were “fated to happen.” In the bridge, PEGGY showcases her impressive vocal range while she sings my favorite lyric: “We’ll stay young, between ink and pen.” This symbolizes that their romance will forever stay memorialized through the story of their love, even after they grow old and pass on. It is a sweet sentiment that people fade but stories are forever— something literature is often revered for. Furthermore, PEGGY ingeniously concludes the EP with the line, “’Cause you’ll always read, read me again,” perhaps holding a double meaning. Now she is singing to the listener, hoping they will hit replay on the project. Just like she hopes her partner will read her again. Whether or not this is intentional, it is something that stood out and made me respect PEGGY’s songwriting even more.
After listening to the entire project, listeners are left in awe of PEGGY’s clever talent. She showcases her love of literature while maintaining the integrity of her personal experiences. From the feminist anthem, “FEMININE RAGE” to the theatrical piano in “DEAR READER”, the singer ensures there is something for everyone. Every single one of her songs is written about her own life, however, she also aspires to create a world of comfort for listeners that resonates with her lyrics. Each song on Dear Reader is flawlessly crafted, using vivid imagery and deep metaphors that showcase PEGGY’s unique style and inspiration. As a lover of music and literature, Dear Reader has earned a special place in my heart.
Written By Karlee Skipper
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