Sophie Wellington reviews Maisie Peters’ latest single John Hughes Movie.

After two successful EPs, Maisie Peters’ long-awaited debut album is finally on the horizon with her latest single ‘John Hughes Movie’. The track suggests a subtle change in genre, but the lyrics are quintessentially Peters.

Any fan of Peters’ music would be expecting a slow piano or acoustic guitar accompanying her voice, but this is replaced with retro synth-sounds that fade out as she sings, never taking over her soft voice.

Peters has always appealed to a young adult audience. The pop culture reference in the title brings us to those classic coming-of-age movies (such as Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink) we imagined ourselves in as teens. Now more than ever the romanticised transition from childhood to adulthood is being heavily criticised and complicated by social media and societal pressures not fully acknowledged in these cult classics. The opening line “This wasn’t how it’s supposed to go” is likely all too familiar with listeners in that awkward late-teen stage who realise their naivety, but desperately wanted the life and relationships of a rom-com protagonist. 

However, as the chorus chimes in, it is clear that this is just as empowering as it is melancholic. Declaring “this ain’t no John Hughes movie”, it quickly establishes itself as a ‘sad bop’. From the first listen, I can definitely see this as a catchy track you would perform locked in your bedroom or home alone. While it may not have a very unique sound, it’s those annoyingly relatable lyrics that stick with the listener, coupled with Peters’ distinctive, honest vocals.

This definitely builds anticipation for her first album. Fans can expect more upbeat, dance-like tracks from Peters that hopefully won’t lose her refreshingly honest lyrics. I think her debut will be intensely nostalgic; a coming-of-age of sorts to firmly place Peters among the most poignant of song-writers in music.