Peyton Shay has releases her latest single, “Dashboard Lights,” accompanied by a stunning music video, paving the way for her eagerly awaited EP and tour in 2025.
The visuals capture the essence of a late-night drive through empty streets, perfectly setting the tone for this sultry ballad. With her breathy vocals floating through the track’s vibrant production, Shay explores the haunting “what ifs” of a relationship that didn’t quite make it.
Peyton Shay stated that she “randomly wrote what would turn out to be the beginning of ‘Dashboard Lights’ in my room, alone, on my piano,” as she took half-mumbled voice memos into the studio, her and her producer fell in love with expanding the idea of what the song could become. The song serves as a metaphor for the tumultuous journey of a relationship that was never meant to last.
Hailing from a small town outside of Los Angeles, the aspiring alt-pop artist has turned to songwriting as a creative outlet to combat boredom and anxiety since she recorded her first breakup song in middle school. Growing up, Shay immersed herself in the world of theater, playing characters in local and school productions.
As she states “No one in my family has ever been a musician. So when I became more curious about music and eventually felt the urge to create my own, it was pretty out of the blue.” Still, those close to her might not have been surprised when she started crafting music inspired by early influences like Blondie, Paramore, and Avril Lavigne.
With her upcoming EP, Daydream Police, Shay aims to revisit the raw immediacy of her early songwriting days while incorporating lyrical finesse she’s developed over the years. “When I first started writing music, I had no clue what I was doing, but that led me to create music that was real and steeped in the moment,” she reflects.
However, she admits that somewhere along the way, her tendency to overthink began to creep into her creative process. On the tracks found on Daydream Police, Shay effectively prioritises the heart over the head.
Watch the “Dashboard Lights” music video below!
#Peace.Love.PeytonShay
