By Maysam Najjar
Internet personality Poppy appeared mysteriously on YouTube back in 2011 but quickly proved to listeners that she is capable of more than repeating “I’m Poppy” over and over in a creepy, monotone voice.
Moriah Rose Pereira, most known by her stage name Poppy, has grown into an artist who shows a dedication to authenticity regardless of the cost.
Her albums are genre-defying and experimental, with a blend of rock, nu-metal, electronic and pop amongst others. This lends Poppy a very distinctive versatility in her artistry.
Poppy’s 2022 album release I Disagree amassed a cult of fans who were struck by her musical talent and were curious to see whether she would move into the metal scene.
It was also because of this album that she was being taken seriously as a heavy artist.
Many complain that her latest releases lacked the experimental style that tends to infuse her music. This group generally considers Poppy’s metal releases to be her best work.
Zig (2023) is largely experimental with industrial, metal and electronic elements. It takes on a haunting, dark pop vibe, and explores personal anxieties that Poppy is said to have confronted for the first time on the track. There are a few songs that do seem to fall short of the mark, but the album is overall pretty fun to listen to.
Even if Poppy hasn’t quite mastered every genre, she is well on her way there.
Poppy continues to release singles and covers that give insight into her artistic range.
She goes from hard-hitting metal notes and screams in her cover of Spit, to indie rock on tracks like Fear of Dying, and Japanese-inspired bubble-gum pop in Moshi Moshi.
Her ability to fuse these genres stands out in tracks like Flux, which is written and produced like a traditional rock record, with pop-punk, shoegaze, grunge and dream pop elements.
World building is another interesting aspect of music production that Poppy often experiments with.
At a young age she worked in her parent’s haunted house. This influence can be observed thematically across her music, and in her video, where she draws upon horror elements and religious iconography, like in Church Outfit or Bloodmoney.
It’s uncommon for artists to display a flagrant dedication to authenticity above all else, even when it comes to something like personal branding. Poppy seems disinterested in staying the same, even if this means a somewhat divided fanbase and less opportunity for rapid growth.
The most important kind of creativity has no bounds. Poppy refuses to make herself palatable and continues to pursue artistry and experimentation above all else.
In an industry that is currently dominated by mainstream artists who play it safe or mass produce music that is catchy, suits the target audience and has radio playability, it is gratifying to observe an artist continuously defy categorisation.
Featured image: Poppy (That Poppy) performing live at YouTube Space LA in 2017. Photo: Justin Higuchi/CC/Wikimedia Commons