Au is the sound of R&B artist Peyton stepping into her power, a record rooted in honesty and emotional self-preservation, shaped in tight collaboration with visionary producer Shafiq Husayn (Bilal, Free Nationals, Robert Glasper).
The album’s title, Au (the chemical symbol for gold) doesn’t just stand for value; it’s a pledge to stay golden in a world that often tries to dull your shine. Peyton began writing the music about her experiences and relationships as she entered her mid-twenties.
Au features co-production and instrumentation from Om’Mas Keith (Frank Ocean, John Legend, Jay-Z), along with guests Brian Alexander Morgan, Didda Joe and Sunni Colón. It follows her debut PSA, and her past collaborations with Steve Lacy, MadeinTYO and Sango. Peyton recently opened for Macy Gray in Houston and will announce more US shows soon!
We had a chat with Peyton all about the making of Au. Read the Q&A below.
Hi Peyton! How are you? What does a typical day look like for you at the moment?
“Honestly, I am feeling powerful. I start my day by saying a quick prayer, asking God to show me how great life can get, positive self-talk, going to the gym and working my day job, dreaming about traveling everywhere, and plotting on how I can meet Peypals worldwide. On a day I have free, I love to spend time with family and close friends. I do take time to spend alone, because self-reflection and quality time with self is how I learn myself more. Balance is very important for me.”
Absolutely, I couldn’t agree more. You have just released your new album Au. Please tell us about the themes you’ve explored on the record, what it means to you and what you hope fans take away from it.
“Au is about self-realization, acceptance of self and the world around me with grace, integrity and finding peace and the humor in what life has to offer. The title comes from the chemical symbol for gold, which felt fitting because this album is about being yourself with acceptance, gratitude, and self-love, which are principles that I believe are golden. The themes move between love, trials w/ lovers and friends, resilience, duality, and healing. It is me processing life over the past few years and sharing the message that emerged from taking a step back and realizing that although my experience is unique to me, but the situations I had faced were things anyone of any age or gender can relate to. I want my listeners to take away that they are already golden, already whole, even through the challenges.”
Please take us through your creative process for Au. Did you do anything different this time around compared with PSA? You worked with producer Shafiq Husayn on the project. What was that experience like and what have you learned from it/him?
“The process for Au was different in that I opened my eyes to freedom in trusting my artistic expression the first time. With PSA, I was very restrictive, overthought the process and because of this, I wasn’t able to capture the heart and essence of who I was. With Au, (with Shafiq’s help) I learned how to go with my gut and let the music write itself. Working with Shafiq Husayn was such a blessing. He has this way of creating environments where you feel safe to be vulnerable and try new things. I learned a lot about patience from him—letting a song breathe, trusting silence, and knowing that sometimes less really is more. He also encouraged me to dig deeper into my voice, not just technically, but emotionally.”
What was your favourite part of making Au? Did you face any challenges? How did you overcome them?
“My favorite part was hearing the songs evolve from small seeds into full compositions. Listening back on the first demos and then the very last master is completely mind blowing and almost hilarious. Just like our lives, with time and genuinity, something special can be born. There were no challenges making this album. The only thing considered is maybe the stubbornness of trusting the process, but I look at that more as a great lesson. I overcame it by leaning on my collaborators, praying, and reminding myself to enjoy the process instead of having doubts.”
Finally, what’s next for you? Do you have any plans for any shows? Are you working on further new music? Anything else you want to share?
“I am definitely planning shows around the release of Au because I cannot wait to share this music live with people. Performing has always been where the music feels most alive. I’m so excited to expand on this world I’ve created and to see how it evolves over time with my listeners. I want to continue building community with my Peypals, especially in my hometown of Houston, and keep expanding the spaces where people can experience my music.”
