Peyton Shay
I’m excited to share this new interview with LA-based singer/songwriter Peyton Shay. Her new single “Aftertaste” is out now and it is the kind of songs that gets better each listen. It is big, anthemic and timeless. Produced by Brett Pemberton, the pop/rock single showcases dreamy and catchy melodies. In other words, “Aftertaste” will get stuck in your head and you will definitely play it on repeat :)
“After recording this song, I really felt like this was the beginning of authentically leaning into my sound and creative endeavors. It led me to a moment of finding who I truly am and realizing the message I want to share with the world,” she says.
“Aftertaste” will be featured on Shay’s upcoming EP.
Go stream “Aftertaste” now !!
Photo credit: Beth Saravo
Introduce yourself - what's the story of Peyton Shay?
Hi! My name is Peyton Shay, and I’m an 18-year-old artist from Los Angeles. I grew up in a small town, which inevitably led me to boredom and the discovery of my passion for music and storytelling. I never planned for this to happen; in fact, I was always stuck with the smallest roles during my musical theater days. I now use my music almost as a coming-of-age diary, mixed with some fangirling over modern and classic rock figures. After charting both in the U.S. and the UK, I embarked on a three-week international tour with a specific goal: to encourage and raise awareness for young people, like myself, to unapologetically go after their dreams. I’m learning to navigate life and growing up, just like everyone else, and the community of supporters we've built has offered so much support.
"Aftertaste" is your new single - what's the inspiration/story behind this song?
“Aftertaste” is the first song I’m releasing in the new year. Honestly, it was one of the most eye-opening experiences for me as a creative. The song encompasses my following thought: the silent ones are the ones who hurt the most. Those who simply vanish one day and never come back. In my view, they walk out once you either feel too much or not enough, bordering on not caring at all. When someone listens to my songs, I want them to create and build their vision and world around it. For me, “Aftertaste” really connects to past friendships that have come and gone, but for someone else, it might resemble heartbreak in a relationship. As soon as I finished recording, I really felt like that was the beginning of authentically leaning into my sound and creative endeavors. It was a moment of finding who I truly am and the message I want to share with the world.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this single? When did you start working on it? Who helped you create it?
The creative process is strange; some songs are written in 5 minutes, while others take months and months to perfect. That’s just how it goes! With Aftertaste, the process was pretty smooth; my amazing producer (Brett Pemberton) and I pulled a lot of inspiration from some of my idols, such as Blondie, Stevie Nicks, and Avril Lavigne. I’m a huge rock fan, and I have so much respect for these artists. I typically write from experiences that I’ve gone through, my friends, or honestly strangers. I’ve also written songs based on my dreams or photos I’ve seen in magazines. With the help of some bomb snacks (rainbow goldfish) and a couple of studio sessions, “Aftertaste” came to life!
What made you want to release "Aftertaste" as a single?
In October of 2021, I released my first EP, ‘Pretty Boi Homicide.’ Those collections of four songs symbolized a specific point and timeline of my life. While working on that release, I was active in the studio, creating, writing, and recording numerous songs. Something instantly clicked, and my sound and purpose as an artist became crystal clear. “Afertaste” resembles the rebirth of myself as an artist and person.
What can you tell us about the artwork?
The artwork for Aftertaste was actually a screenshot from on-set shooting the music video! It was completely unplanned, but we all ended up really liking the vibe of it. I took the screenshot, worked a little magic, and it turned out super sick! It embodies the mysterious, enchanting feel of the storyline perfectly.
As an artist, what is the most challenging part? And what is the best part?
There will always be positives and negatives with everything you do in life. However, I believe mindset chooses the path of those experiences. Personally, I find myself wanting to compare my journey to others. I think this is something many of us relate to; the constant pressure or anxiety that you’re not achieving enough or that you should be further along than you are. But I’ve learned that life is about breaking your own limits and pushing your boundaries. Don’t let the perception of where you think you need to be, dictate the progress of your success. Now onto the easy part-the positives. As an artist, although I am able to share my passion for music, my purpose runs much deeper. Music connects people from all walks of life. If we can listen to complete strangers and feel what they are feeling, maybe we’re not as different as we think. My music has always reflected my life: I create stories out of everything that I go through. Being a young artist, my audience and I can grow up together; it’s pretty cool. As we navigate through life, I can undoubtedly count on them to be there every step of the way...and vice versa!
What's it like to be a woman in the music industry? What message do you want to deliver to women out there?
I think the experience of being a young female in the music industry is unique. There have been many instances where I’ve felt like I’ve had to prove myself to people or fight to be heard and taken seriously. But to me, that’s what makes me fight even harder. I don’t want to be seen as someone who is weak or deserves sympathy solely because I am a female in a male-dominated industry. Many people assume you are naive and don’t know anything when you’re young. I’ve always fought against that - not only for myself but also for my peers in the industry. Just because we are young doesn’t mean we don’t have anything of value to say or contribute. Overall, I’m proud of the progress that’s been made, but I’m optimistic and determined to continue fighting for female recognition, participation, and equality!
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
There is no doubt that the circumstances within the past couple of years have shifted the music industry considerably. We’ve had to learn to adapt, problem-solve, and think quickly. The pandemic has shown the importance of innovation and preparation both on the business and creative side. If I could change one thing about the music industry, it would be fair retribution to Artists, writers, and producers by streaming services. Despite the value music, songs, and artists bring, streaming royalties are still incredibly low.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
One of my favorite quotes was written by James F.Byrnes. He preaches, “Too many people are thinking of security instead of opportunity. They seem to be more afraid of life than death.” As a perfectionist, there were many times when I chose fear over trusting my ability. The first song I ever wrote and recorded was at 12 years old. I attended a public school for grades 7-12 in a small town, and you can probably imagine what went down when a 12-year-old released a middle school breakup song. There were days that I would call my mom crying, begging her to pick me up. Looking back, who cares? I learned to step out of my comfort zone and have total trust in myself and the present moment. Those moments taught me just how powerful passion and determination are; as I’m sitting here, years later still feeling the excitement and optimism I did when I released that song. Bryne’s quote is exactly that.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
In my opinion, more compassion, unity, and selflessness. It’s almost become a trend to tear people down and criticize strangers, but in the end, it’s always easier to be nice than mean.
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