Photo retrieved from artist Instagram
Character and Chaos
Melting guitar riffs seamlessly rise and fall against pounding drums. Synthesizer loops paint a dreamy background against crunching textures and powerful vocals of Peter Martin, better known as Petey. Petey’s extensive discography proves he is a jack of all trades.
“I’ll Wait” is a perfect example of Petey’s fluidity—he shifts between dreamy and crunching, punkish melodies on the flip of a coin. His sound as a whole feels like an evolution in emo music, seamlessly balancing elements of electronica and bedroom pop to create an entirely new soundscape. While on the surface it might seem like the intersection of these genres wouldn’t work, Petey manages to tie it all together. The result is a raw sound that houses feelings both good and bad. Clever humor and layers of sarcasm and attitude are a constant in each release, making for an experience totally unique to the California-based artist.
Looking to the Future
Petey has already released three albums, all of which ooze attitude, rage, uncertainty and raw energy. His debut EP, Other Stuff, is a bit slower-paced than the others. It has a dreamier feel that Petey manipulates to contrast against impressive crescendos and heavy rock in Lean Into Life. “Don’t Tell the Boys,” one of Petey’s biggest hits, is a shining example of the impressive progression in his sound. Last year’s USA represents Petey at his most honed. It’s a huge step for the artist; after all, this is his first major label release with Capital Records. The 2023 album sees Petey playing more with his vocals—digitizing it—and experimenting more overall. His latest release, a single titled “The River,” sees Petey slow things down and explore the more acoustic side to his sound. This might just hint at a more organic direction for his sound in the future.
Towards the back end of May, he’ll be performing live in the United Kingdom—tickets are available on his website. In September, he’ll be touring across the United States with Two Door Cinema. The tour kicks off in Vancouver, leading through Seattle, San Francisco, Phoenix, El Paso, Austin and Minneapolis, and finishes off in Madison.
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