Peyton Gilliland, a 20-year-old singer-songwriter, is poised to make a big impact on the rock music scene. Peyton Gilliland is a finalist in both the John Lennon International Songwriting Competition and the International Songwriting Competition. With her uniquely honed talent and undeniable potential, she’s easily classified as an artist to keep on your radar. She has already worked with some of the top producers in the industry, including Lincoln Parish (Cage the Elephant), Brian Chirlo (Amy Winehouse, Paramore, Snoop Dog), and Mads (Imagine Dragons). Her debut EP, “Lipstick & Lithium,” is set for release in fall 2023.
Peyton’s newest outing is a ‘memento mori’ of a song, or perhaps the kind of piece that instils a yearning for rebirth and revitalization of the self. Titled ‘Funeral’, this new track is all about letting go of your previous self and fully embracing all the strength and opportunities that come with being an actualized “you”.
“Under the dirt, all my bad decisions
All of the lies buried deep inside
I’m wearing black for the girl we used to know
I cross my heart
Light a candle and just blow
It’s a funeral”
Through the song’s proposed ritual, Peyton sets out to bury the past, including the pain and hurt that it’s caused her so that she can move forward stronger and better. The lyric “It’s our last goodbye” is a declaration that she is no longer going to let the people who have mistreated her have power over her. She is taking back her power and her future.
The song doesn’t want Peyton’s signature hard rock sound, bringing all the grit and power that many of us have come to expect of her in full force for this heavy, slow-burn production. The visuals for “Funeral” are of course, dripping in dark, gothic Americana ambience to play off the metaphor; a mix of elegance and morbidity permeate the entire atmosphere in a way that I really hope Peyton will experiment with further into the future.
www.instagram.com/peytongillilandmusic
linktr.ee/peytongilliland
