Maggie Gently - Peppermint
“Over lofty electric guitar riffs, Maggie Gently lives wild and free, allowing every awkward glance or unsure touch to invigorate her.” – Audiofemme
“‘Steady’ is a sun-kissed ode to rebirth, driven by sweet acoustic melodies and Maggie’s soaring serene harmonies.” – Under the Radar
“The latest single is a delightfully melodious tune about trying to let go of anxiety and feel the city’s proverbial breeze. The queer singer-songwriter strikes shades of both Lisa Loeb and Snail Mail on a track that’s easy to latch on to.” – SF Chronicle
“‘Worried’ is an anthemic bit of 90s alt rock-inspired pop featuring chugging guitars and thunderous drumming paired with earnest and lived-in songwriting, Gently’s plaintive vocals and an enormous, sing-along worthy hook.” – Joy of Violent Movement
“Chugging guitars and Gently’s sweet yet strong vocals propel “Hold My Hand,” while the lyrics pop and sparkle as they investigate the stirrings of affection as the protagonist slowly grows comfortable with their own romantic feelings for another.” – Tankboy
Maggie Gently (she/her) is a San Francisco-based indie songwriter with a fondness for wild schemes and intimate gestures. Maggie is a queer woman whose identity is important to her and the community she creates and participates in.
Maggie Gently’s music is melody-driven and heartfelt — a big-city indie rock fascination with an unmistakable emo accent. Her songs are about how making decisions for your own mental health can feel like a matter of survival. Her debut EP Good Cry (May 28, 2020, Brace Cove Records) and 2020 singles Where My Time Went and Bitter Pills (Common Ground Collective) explored heartbreak, attempts at healing, learning things the hard way, establishing boundaries, and protecting your heart. Her new album Peppermint peers around the edges of trauma for a new glimpse at what growth could look like. With songs about eternal questions of commitment and love and the terrifying possibility of being vulnerable and known, this album is about trusting something enough to let yourself get swept away. The nine songs that make up Peppermint reinforce empowering truths that can be hard to internalize or say out loud.
Maggie Gently’s music is inspired by bands like Snail Mail and Lala Lala, Tancred, and Clairo. Maggie also finds inspiration in Meg Hayertz’ “Make It, Mean It” tarot-focused guided meditations, lesbian romance novels, and the Enneagram.
Peppermint was recorded by Grace Coleman at El Studio in San Francisco and Brian Ishiba in Los Angeles, and mixed and mastered by Grace Coleman. The album was produced by Eva Treadway (Pllush, The She’s), who also played lead guitar. Joey Grabmeier (Joy Weather, Maggie’s brother) played drums on the album, and Sinclair Riley (Pllush, The She’s) played bass.