Album Review: Maisie Peters - 'You Signed Up For This'
Maisie Peters releases her cosmic debut album You Signed Up For This.
Released through Ed Sheeran's Gingerbread Man Records, one of the most exciting singer-songwriters in the UK right now has just released her debut album You Signed Up For This. We were treated earlier this year to a taste of the album with the release of ‘John Hughes Movie’ which has already racked up over 11 million streams with fans such as Taylor Swift and Sam Smith backing it. This single teased us with the over-arching story of the full album with key lyric ‘If you don’t want me, then you’re not the one’
Across 14 uplifting tracks there is something for every woman to learn from, the idea that you should always be unapologetically yourself, a concept that’s mirrored in the album title and opening track You Signed Up For This.
Peters throws us right in to delicate vocals over an optimistic pop track with self-effacing lyrics. ‘Please don’t give up on me yet, I know I'll get better, I’m just not better yet’. With the optimism we’ve been waiting for all year, this is a late arrival contender for the song of the summer.
The album delivers syncopated hand claps, groovy bass lines and catchy choruses, with girl next door charm that tackles the journey of growing up and falling in love with tracks like ‘Outdoor Pool’ and ‘My Elvis Song’.
Along with the album announcement we received Phsyco, the first official single from the album which was co-written with Ed Sheeran and Steve Mac. Sheeran has called Maisie a ‘special artist who continues to push her storytelling in new directions’. The track features a vocoder retro effect on the vocals and an explosive chorus. If you loved it there is also an acoustic version on streaming platforms that harness a more country vibe and beautiful harmonies.
Villian is a slower track where the full band enters for the second verse and builds thoughout, whilst maintaining a chill Sunday morning vibe – another edge to an album full of surprises. The 2nd Single Brooklyn drives home the girl-hood and female empowerment sprinkled throughout the album and is about a holiday with her twin sister to Brooklyn depicting a line-by-line story of their first trip away aged 19 without their parents. The song is set alongside a video made up of home film footage of the pair growing up and is an anthem for sisters everywhere.
Over the last few years Maise Peters has spent her time crafting her skills and cowriting across London, LA & Nashville and recently was one of the youngest musicians in history to have written and curated a full soundtrack for season 2 of Trying on Apple TV. This includes duets with some of her favourite musicians including Bears Den, James Bay and Griff.
On 'You Signed Up For This' Maisie says ‘it really is my (albeit not hugely long) life’s work and my proudest achievement; it is my favourite album maybe ever and whilst I may be biased, I really hope it goes into the world and becomes lots of other people’s favourite too'.
Closing on a more delicate note with a piano based track Tough Act features swelling synth sounds and gives us early Gabrielle Aplin vibes. The album is available on blue vinyl which you can pick up at one of Maise Peters instore record store tour across the release week.
Words by Tamara Grzegorzek