Maisie Peters Returns With Signature Sound In The Good Witch

The first second of Maisie Peters’ sophomore album, The Good Witch, rings through the speakers. Her angelic voice brings almost a nostalgic opening to this newfound creation, admitting that “Still me here, d’you think I forgot about you? Still upset but now I’m 22,” mirroring that of her debut album, You Signed Up For This.

What seems to be a simple ballad intro to get a feel for what her newest release entails, Peters’ song “The Good Witch” morphs into a bittersweet, empowering piece that offers a slice of her worldly experiences over the past two years. It is all-encapsulating and mesmerizing with the blend of real-life testimony and recordings, yet acts only as a sneak peek for her album of the same name The Good Witch. So far in Maisie’s music career, her lyrical genius and feel-good melodies have defined exactly the type of artist she is in mainstream media. These works not only apply to the ever-growing category of angst teen-to-adulthood music but also brings in themes that listeners of all ages may enjoy.

This time, Maisie writes in a cathartic fashion for all twelve new tracks, hoping to connect to those going through the same vengeful-yet-accepting stage of life. But her album also acts as a stepping stone to move past a heartbroken-induced era in her life to a more peaceful one, she told Alternative Press.

Her sound, despite being very consistent, shifts more towards the pop-rock side, with songs such as “Coming Of Age,” “Watch,” and “You’re Just A Boy (And I’m Kinda The Man).” These songs do incite a stronger influence on the character of this album compared to her prior releases, however, each dive into the pain, struggle, reconciliation, and acceptance amid the whirlwind of emotions she underwent this past year. 

Each track, meticulously placed in its corresponding order, serves to tell the story that The Good Witch has to offer. This time around, Maisie refuses to release nothing but the truth, encompassing the good, the bad, and the ugly of young adulthood. It is defined as a “sort-of breakup album” but comments on many common moments throughout our “second” coming-of-age, the one which tackles matters of masculinity versus femininity and finding contentment with her place in life in her early twenties—creating a balance of gains and losses. As its title entails, the whole creation is sprinkled with magic, delivering an otherworldly experience within the recollections of the musician’s very salient memories. 

maisie peters everyone pic.twitter.com/yatmeCM2U7

— mazziememes 🔮 (@mazziememes) June 30, 2023

Like most of her work, this lyrical genius weaves through satire and blatant humor, while balancing the load with meaningful, personal pieces. The Good Witch is not short on rock-heavy melodies, but her gentle ballads are what offers her perspective on her surroundings—whether that be about fading emotions after a breakup or observations of a seemingly crumbling world around us.

What stands out most among the new additions to her discography are the whimsical yet truthful attitudes expressed in songs like “Wendy” or “History Of Man.” This time around, Peters embarks on her songwriting journey with the purpose of documenting the memories and mishaps that have shaped her. Like a mirror, this latest album is a testament to the person she is right at this moment, refusing to hide her true face or cower beneath bubblegum-pop beats.

Peters’ sound has remained relatively stable throughout her career, with songs such as “Outdoor Pool”, reminiscent of another album track “Want You Back.” However, with her latest release, she reflects on the exact sentiment that The Good Witch was designed to emit—one pertaining to a specific moment in her life: surviving as a 22-year-old. At the age when the album was crafted, she was faced with pessimistic thoughts about her future, her love life, and her thoughts within the madness.

I see that maisie peters thinks emotional terrorism is fair game with this new album pic.twitter.com/rB9yL4XwRV

— irene anna (@enerianna) June 27, 2023

Peters explains in an interview with Dork her process of creating her newest album, “With the first album, I was making it arguably my whole life…That album addressed the reader, and I think with this album, it’s a more truthful album in terms of the way I wrote it and what I wrote it about. It is more vulnerable, and there’s more of myself in this album than there was in the first.”

Like “Coming Of Age,” The Good Witch is indeed a more mature and complex story about growing up that compliments You Signed Up For This. Peters’ adolescent self-learned to explore the world, not take anything for granted, and feel the sting of heartbreak for the first time in her debut album. Now, after being accustomed to the life of adulthood, she encounters other problems, arguably experiencing a second coming of age.

Rather than reacting to problems in her life head-on and drafting lyrics full of angst, Maisie takes her time to examine the choices that have brought her to the present moment. Yes, they are still filled with quite a bit of angst, but not in the dramatic fashion of high schoolers. She is self-referential—more aware of the energy that she puts out into the world and how it might influence those in very similar positions.

I, at the age of eighteen, am still pondering what Maisie had to say in You Signed Up For This. Yet, her music speaks to individuals of all ages and offers us a bit of mystical reality with a comforting awareness that we are not alone in our struggles.

Watch the music video for her single “Run” below.