Exclusive Interview: Peyton McMahon Unpacks the Emotions Behind “Someone,” Embracing Vulnerability, and More

Peyton McMahon has rapidly become a prominent voice of his generation, captivating audiences with his commanding vocal range and emotionally charged lyrics. Addressing themes of anxiety, insecurities, and beyond, Peyton has successfully forged connections that make listeners feel understood and less isolated. Don’t just take our word for it—ask OneRepublic, James Bay, and Kelly Clarkson, all of whom have praised his talents. Pop Culturalist had the privilege of catching up with Peyton to delve into discussions about his latest single, “Someone,” his journey in embracing vulnerability, and more.

PC: It’s been a few years since we last chatted, and there has been significant growth in your artistry. What has played the biggest role in that development?
Peyton: I honestly believe that consistently writing and creating music has greatly contributed to my evolution. The more I engage in the creative process, the better I become at honing in on what feels most natural to me as an artist. I’ve learned ways to challenge myself authentically.

Lyrically, I’ve become less afraid to delve deep and express vulnerability in my songs. Additionally, as an avid listener of music, I continually absorb new influences. Being inspired by artists who are doing what I aspire to do has played a significant role in propelling me forward.

PC: There’s also a universal and introspective quality to your songwriting. What is the creative process like when you’re heading into a session? Has it ever been daunting to be that vulnerable in your craft?
Peyton: It’s different every time, but it usually starts with me just venting about how I’m feeling. Whenever there’s something heavy on my mind, I begin by writing and letting it all out. Then, when I’m a little more clear-headed, I start crafting the actual structure of the song and pulling from all the emotions I expressed. It helps so much to step away from whatever I needed to get out in those heavy moments and come back to it with a fresh mindset to shape it into a song.

It can definitely be daunting to be vulnerable like that, but it has gotten a lot easier the more I’ve done it. I never really think about it when I’m creating the songs, but when it comes time to show them to people, it’s like showing your diary to the world or something, so it can be scary for sure. However, the more I’ve done it, the more comfortable I’ve gotten with the process. I believe that the more vulnerable you are, the more you might be able to connect with people.

PC: You recently released “Someone.” Could you tell us about the single and the inspiration behind the song?
Peyton: It’s kind of an anthem for being single and having those moments where you feel a bit lonely about it. When you’re surrounded by people who have their person, and you find yourself being a third or fifth wheel so much of the time, it can sometimes weigh on you a little. Even if you’ve got other priorities in your life and you’re going down a different path, it’s hard to not feel the loneliness sometimes. You have those moments where you feel that absence and wish you had someone. So, I wanted to explore that in a song.

PC: You collaborated with Barry Fowler on the single. How were the two of you able to take that original demo and elevate it to what we hear today?
Peyton: It was such a fun time building out the song, and it was really cool because we actually kept the acoustic guitar and a lot of the background harmonies from my original demo. We used my acoustic demo, where I laid out the structure, harmonies, and stuff, as the base to build off of. I knew I wanted it to start with a drum machine and go into an explosive chorus, so we got the drums laid out, and I played around with some guitar parts while Barry was taking bits of what I recorded and putting some cool effects on them. Honestly, I didn’t think I wanted acoustic guitar in the song, but he really liked how the acoustic sounded in the demo, so he worked some magic on it and made it a big factor.

He was also great to record vocals with. I could tell he really cared about getting an honest, emotive performance out of me and made a real effort to get me in the zone of the song and not too in my head about it.

PC: You’ve steadily been releasing music throughout the years. If you had to pick a song of yours that best encompasses the artist you are today, which would it be and why?
Peyton: Oh, that’s tough. Out of the songs I’ve released so far, I’d say either “Someone” or “Higher.” They’re both pretty personal to me and sonically showcase my sound well, with mostly organic elements and some flourishes. I also have a soft spot for one of my first releases, a song called “See the Sun.” It’s a little more on the folky singer/songwriter side of me, and it was a starting point in me learning how to be more vulnerable in my songs. It’s not even that vulnerable compared to what I’ve gone on to write, but it was my first time releasing a song like that. That said, some of my yet-to-be-released stuff is definitely up there.

PC: As we look ahead to the remainder of 2023 into 2024, what can fans expect from you? Could we possibly see you back on the road?
Peyton: Much more music! I’m really excited about a lot of the new stuff I’ve been writing, and I’m hoping to put out an EP next year. I would absolutely love to hit the road and play shows, so we shall see.

To keep up with Peyton, follow him on Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify.