“I am so insanely excited that ‘Aftertaste’ is finally out,” says Peyton. “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.”

Peyton Shay is an 18-year-old Billboard charting artist from Los Angeles, CA. Shay may be young, but her confident, strong-willed personality shows in both her music and her authentic connection with fans. After becoming one of the youngest female charting artists, ranking #18 in the US billboards and #7 in the UK charts, Peyton embarked on an international tour while also spending years in the recording studio working on her craft. 

Inspired by 2000’s era pop-nostalgia and modern rock, her confident and unique records reflect the journey of young adulthood. As life comes with uncontrollable hardships, Shay has always used music and songwriting to connect with others and share her journey. 

Leaving no time to spare from the release of her first EP in 2021, Shay is set to drop a plethora of songs this year, with live shows already booked. Living life writing songs and making her own lane is where you’ll find this up-and-coming artist.

Tell us about the genesis of Peyton Shay and this specific project. How did you get to where you are now?

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 in both the U.S. Billboards 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. While working on the release of my first EP in 2021, 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,” my newest single, resembles the rebirth of myself as both an artist and person. 

What should a song or piece of art communicate in your opinion? 

Art is subjective, and the feelings and emotions it provokes are as well. However, in my opinion, art allows a person to shed light on how they experience society and the world around them; in a sense, it can be brought back to one’s personality. It conveys personal ideas that can’t be adequately expressed by words alone. And, because words alone aren’t adequate, we’ve had to discover another way to convey our message, which is through art. Everyone has a story, including the stranger you waved to or the barista who handed you your morning coffee. Those stories are what fuel art.

Who were your top 3 artists last year?

I had to check my Spotify wrapped for this one! My top three artists of 2021 were Arctic Monkeys, Hozier, and Aerosmith.  

What do you do when you’re feeling uninspired?

Inspiration is strange, sometimes it flows, and other times you feel insanely stuck. When I’m feeling uninspired, I’ll often flip through magazines (I’m a super visual person), or I’ll search online for ‘underground’ poetry. I want to read the stuff a random person wrote one night sitting on their kitchen counter; it feels real. 

What are your 2022 projects and goals?

I have so many; most of my 2022 is already planned out! I’m starting the new year with my first single release, “Aftertaste,” and a super sick music video following it. We filmed at an amazing location that captured this fantasy, enchanting storyline. I’m dropping more songs each month, along with visuals. As live shows are starting to come back, I’m performing in June at “Teentopia,” a music festival held in California. Tickets are actually on sale right now! This year, my goals are to lean into my artistry and produce projects that reflect who I am and the message I want to share with the world. I also am looking forward to finally meeting the people who supported me in person. Don’t get me wrong, I love talking to them every day through DM’s, text, Zoom, but there’s something special about in-person connection. 

Favorite movie or TV show?

I’m definitely a die heart Pirates of the Caribbean and The Goonies fan. From the plotline to the characters, these films are brilliant. 

Tell us about “Aftertaste” release and how it came about.

Honestly, creating “Aftertaste” 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 felt as if I had really found myself, and the fact that music brought me to that point is incredible. 

What is something you would want to change in the music and entertainment industry?

The music and entertainment industry is extraordinary; it’s composed of people who share a similar calling to heal, express, and communicate with the world via their art and creative endeavors. However, just like with most things, nothing is perfect. 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 this industry, it would be fair retribution to Artists, writers, and producers via streaming services. Despite the value music, songs, and artists bring, streaming royalties are still incredibly low.

Who inspires your style and aesthetics?

I pull a lot of inspiration from Avril Lavigne, Blondie, and Miley Cyrus. Not only are these artists strong female icons, but they are unapologetically themselves. Their success stories are incredibly inspiring, and I might even have Pinterest boards filled with them, but we’ll keep that a secret. 

What is the achievement or moment in your career you are the most proud of and why?

I think many of us get so caught up in the future and the “what’s next” that past accomplishments and our individual journey are often overlooked. To date, a moment in my career that I am most proud of would be my first tour. I was about 15 years old and still in public school. I got the opportunity to spend three weeks in the UK, performing in over ten cities. I had never performed live, so in the middle of preparation chaos, I showed up at Miceli’s, a popular LA restaurant, and performed in front of people who were eating their spaghetti and bread. That’s a core memory! The following week, I was on a flight going halfway across the world. 

Do you have any regrets?

Maybe one day I will, but I hope I never do. I forgot who told me this, but it’s always stuck with me: Never regret anything because it was exactly what you wanted at that given moment. 

What is some piece of advice you would give to yourself right now?

One of my favorite quotes was written by James F.Byrnes. He says, “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 I let fear take over rather than 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 feel the excitement and optimism I did when I released that song. That’s the advice I give myself every single day.