Q&A: It’s Peyton’s Golden Hour, and We’re Basking In It
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY NTHATILE MAVUSO ☆
Photo Credit: Cydney Boudreaux
PEYTON’S MUSIC FEELS LIKE SUNLIGHT, WARM, RHYTHMIC, AND FULL OF COLOR—It’s the kind of sound that lingers, that glitters. With her latest album Au, she’s not just creating light via sound; she beautifully embodies it.
Since learning the violin at age five, Peyton’s musicality has been shaped by a rich lineage: her grandmother’s gospel roots, her parents’ hip-hop collection and her own love for pop and R&B. That blend of influences gives her sound its signature vibrancy—contemporary yet funky, crisp yet soulful. Her voice floats, glides, and grooves, whether she’s collaborating with Steve Lacy on “Verbs” or opening for The Internet and SALES.
Her debut album PSA in 2021 marked her arrival with clarity. It earned acclaim from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, Fader, and Colors, and her songs found homes on shows like Insecure and The Summer I Turned Pretty. But Au is something different. Written during a period of emotional upheaval and personal growth, it’s an album about self-worth and “knowing who you are, even when things around you are falling apart.” It’s a record that chooses joy, even when it hurts.
Much of Au was produced by Shafiq Husayn (Bilal, Erykah Badu), whose mentorship helped Peyton lean into her instincts. “He taught me that my first idea is usually my best,” she says. That spontaneity pulses through the album, giving it a raw, radiant spirit. On “Get Out of Your Hair,” featuring Sunni Colon, Peyton’s angelic vocals shimmer over summery production—it’s what gold and sunshine sound like.
The album also features contributions from Brian Alexander Morgan, Didda Joe, and Sunni Colon, each adding texture to Peyton’s evolving sonic palette. Peyton’s visuals mirror this ethos. They’re crisp, warm, and intentional, and extensions of the music itself.
In this conversation with Luna, Peyton discusses her evolving artistry, the magic of Au, and her connection with her community.
Photo Credit: Cydney Boudreaux
LUNA: You’ve described Au as an album about self-worth and staying true to yourself even when things fall apart. Can you share a moment from making this record where that theme really hit home for you?
PEYTON: When I started writing Au, I was going through a season where I had to really remind myself of my own value. There was a moment when I discovered I had been in a love triangle without knowing it, and instead of letting that break me, I wrote “Eye Love” in the middle of those emotions. It reminded me that even when things fall apart, I can always turn back to my music, tell my truth and choose myself.
LUNA: Your grandmother’s gospel influence, your parents’ hip-hop collection and your own love of pop and R&B all shaped your sound. How do you feel those roots show up in Au compared to PSA?
PEYTON: On PSA, you hear more of my exploration, almost like I was testing the waters of who I wanted to be as an artist. With Au, those roots feel more grounded and intentional. The gospel influence is evident in the way I approach melodies and harmonies, the hip-hop influence is reflected in the rhythm and attitude, and the R&B/pop influence is in how I shape the songs to feel both soulful and catchy. Au feels like the more evolved version of me, pulling all of those worlds together.
LUNA: You worked closely with Shafiq Husayn on this project. What did his mentorship bring out in you as both a writer and performer?
PEYTON: Shafiq pushed me to trust myself more. He reminded me that my first instincts are often the most powerful, and he taught me not to overthink the process. As a performer, he challenged me to step into my voice with more confidence, to really own the way I deliver my songs. He brought out a new boldness in me.
LUNA: You’ve said Shafiq encouraged you to trust your first instincts. Can you think of a song on Au that came together because of that philosophy?
PEYTON: Definitely “Not Your Girl.” That one came together almost instantly. I remember freestyling parts of it, and instead of trying to rewrite or perfect every line, Shafiq encouraged me to keep it raw. That’s why it feels so direct and confident—it came straight from my gut.
LUNA: PSA received widespread critical acclaim, and your music has been featured on shows like Insecure and The Summer I Turned Pretty. Did that recognition add any pressure when creating your second album, and if so, how did you overcome that?
PEYTON: At first, yes, it did. There’s always this thought of, “How do I top that?” But then I realized I can’t create from a place of pressure. I had to remind myself why I make music in the first place. Once I focused on telling my own story and making something true to me, the pressure started to fade. Au is me choosing honesty over expectations.
LUNA: You recently performed at Roots Picnic, and you’ve been sharing behind-the-scenes content with your fans, the “PeyPals.” How does this direct connection with your community shape your approach to releasing and promoting new music?
PEYTON: My fans mean everything to me, and I love being able to share the journey with them. The PeyPals have been with me through every step, so keeping that direct connection makes releasing new music feel like a conversation instead of just a drop. It reminds me that I’m not creating in a vacuum, I’m creating for and with people who really see me.
LUNA: How do you think your sound and artistry have changed from PSA to Au?
PEYTON: With PSA, I was still finding my voice and experimenting with what felt right. With Au, I’ve grown so much as a songwriter and a vocalist. The production is tighter, the writing is more vulnerable and honest, and my overall vision is clearer. I’m more confident in who I am and what I want to say.
LUNA: You’ve collaborated with big names like Steve Lacy and Sango in the past, and Au features Brian Alexander Morgan, Didda Joe, and Sunni Colon. How central is collaboration to your creative process, and what do you look for in a collaborator?
PEYTON: Collaboration is very important to me. I look for people who understand my vision but also push me to grow. It is about chemistry, trust, and energy in the room. With this album, every collaborator brought something unique, and together we created a sound that feels golden, just like the title suggests.
LUNA: Your songs have this unique blend of intimacy and groove. When you were writing Au, how did you balance these themes in the lyrical narratives and in sound?
PEYTON: For me, intimacy is in the lyrics and the way I tell a story, and the groove is what carries it. On Au, I wanted to make sure even my most vulnerable songs had a rhythm that people could move to. It is like dancing through the pain, keeping the light even when I am being real about the hard moments.
Photo Credit: Cydney Boudreaux
