With her sold-out global ‘Before The Bloom’ theatre tour drawing to a close, British pop architect Maisie Peters has unveiled her latest single, ‘Kingmaker’. The track isn’t just another pop entry; it’s a heavyweight meeting of minds featuring six-time Grammy nominee and songwriting royalty Julia Michaels.
Drawing a creative thread from Hilary Mantel’s historical epic ‘Wolf Hall’, the song serves as a sharp examination of lopsided devotion. Peters describes the track as an exploration of power dynamics, "chiefly about being a woman and feeling like you’ve offered your time, wisdom, talent, and belief to someone who has then taken advantage of it. It’s about the sting of uplifting someone, only to find out they didn’t deserve you in the first place; about giving a man the benefit of the doubt and having it thrown in your face."
The collaboration feels remarkably organic, eschewing the traditional verse-swap for a "line-for-line" duet that mimics a late-night debrief between confidantes. "I loved writing this song with Julia," Maisie notes, "as I think we have both had the experience of achieving success and witnessing the impact that has on the romantic relationships in our lives - on the egos of the men who say they want a strong woman, until it 'makes them bitter.'" For Peters, working with Michaels was a full-circle moment: "Julia is a hero of mine... it is one of the greatest honours of my career to have a song out with her." Michaels was equally enamoured, stating, "Working with Maisie is a dream. Her lyricism is so colorful and vibrant. When you write with her you feel completely immersed in her world. You feel like you’ve lived it yourself."
‘Kingmaker’ arrives as a final taste of Maisie’s highly anticipated third studio album, ‘Florescence’, arriving 15 May. Co-produced by the acclaimed Ian Fitchuk, the record is framed as a journey of perspective and self-realisation.
The "Good Witch" is clearly entering her busiest era yet; alongside a current Cosmopolitan UK cover, she’s set to storm the New Music Stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend on 24 May, followed by high-profile slots at Reading & Leeds alongside the likes of Charli XCX and Dave.
Stream ‘Kingmaker’ today and follow Maisie’s journey to ‘Florescence’ on Instagram and X.
