by shauna hilferty
Finding yourself in your twenties. Screwing up. Kissing the wrong person, but being self aware enough to know that you did. Maisie Peters debuts onto the soft pop scene encompassing these lessons and more in You Signed Up For This. You might recognize her name, as the twenty-one-year-old wrote the soundtrack to Apple TV’s Trying: Season 2, including a song featuring James Bay.
Recently signed to Gingerbread Man Records — a label created by Ed Sheeran — Peters teased the long awaited album with her release of two singles, both of which collected over 12 million streams total. One of which being “John Hughes Movie,” a tragic twist on the 80s cliche boy-meets-girl. The synth breaks after the chorus in this song, as well as “Elvis Song,” are reminiscent of Chelsea Cutler’s signature sound with references in both that Taylor Swift would be proud of. The buildup in both are undeniably cinematic, as if these tracks can be placed in the background of any coming-of-age movie.
The album title and first song, “You Signed Up For This,” is Peters talking to nobody in particular. It builds slowly and ends abruptly. The song is personal in recounting Peters’ specific memories, and it is surprising to see such specificity in the opening track of a debut album. Perhaps Peters is showing the world she has nothing to hide.
Following suit, “I’m Trying (Not Friends)” recounts a relationship that used to be in her hometown of London including memories such as “taking the bus home” with a girl she never liked to begin with. Both this song and “Outdoor Pool” are catchy though they sound quite adolescent. I came to find that Peters had been crafting this album since 2016, thus topics of high school crushes and taking the school bus are not so out of the ordinary anymore.
One past the halfway point is “Hollow.” It is simple — an acoustic backing with a piano to follow. Peters’ voice is soft and unique, and the listener is able to appreciate her range here. I wondered why it stood out to me as much as it did, and it was no wonder when I saw the credits, as Sheeran lent a helping hand. Similarly, “Talking To Strangers” follows the same pattern of beginning with acoustics and building up dreamily at the bridge until coming back down at the last chorus.
“Tough Act” is a beautiful classic piano breakup song, an essential on a debut pop album. Peters adds her own flair, even mentioning her own song “Hollow” in this one. Violins accentuate her vocals and her play on words along with this being the final track on the album was deliberately well done and did not go unnoticed.
You Signed Up For This fits into soft pop almost too well. With narrative lyricism inspired by Taylor Swift and references straight from the 80s, it is obvious Peters pulled inspiration from all around to perfect it. This is not Peters first go around in writing music, but it is her first time in writing music that is this personal to her. A musician's debut album says so much about them, and Maisie Peters clearly has a lot to say.
Stand Outs: John Hughes Movie, Hollow, Elvis Song
Songs To Dance To: Psycho, Boy
Songs To Cry To: Brooklyn, Elvis Song, Tough Act
Songs that sound like “I’m on Fire” by Bruce Springsteen: Villain