The Playlist: Maisie Peters is our May ’23 Music Director
The soundtrack of our May issue, as chosen by Maisie Peters.
By Dani Maher
THE GOOD WITCH, Maisie Peters’ upcoming sophomore album, is set to be released on June 16. It’s led by “Body Better”, the single she’s featured on this playlist. The 22-year-old Brit admits she curated something of “an eclectic vibe” with her other choices:
“I think it shows a lot of different facets of my personality,” she says. “I feel like when people listen … they can get to know me.”
Of the unexpected inclusion of Ne-Yo’s “Miss Independent”, she laughs at the bizarre way the song pops up as a “soundtrack” to her life in the strangest times — even while visiting a waterfall near Brisbane during her recent visit to Australia and New Zealand, where she performed seven headline shows and opened for Ed Sheeran’s mammoth stadium tour.
It’s about HEARTBREAK, it’s about POWER and it’s about putting yourself at the CENTRE of the NARRATIVE
Despite being a “cynic”, Peters recognises that songwriting is sometimes a mystical process: “[It] feels like witchcraft to me.” She calls Fleetwood Mac’s ultimate breakup song, “Silver Springs”, a “really magical song. There’s like, real witchcraft in it.”
Stevie Nicks isn’t the only female songwriter she admires. “I’ve got Samia on this playlist, I’ve got Kelsea Ballerini, I’ve got Ryn Weaver,” she says. “All of those women — I think there’s parts of their music in my life.” Peters particularly respects the way they so authentically embed themselves within their releases, which is something she constantly strives towards. “[They] have such conviction,” she says. “They’re all really true to themselves and
they all make music that feels like only they could have made it”.
Listen to Peters’ full playlist below.
This article originally appeared in the May issue of Harper’s BAZAAR Australia/New Zealand. Get your copy here.
