Maisie Peters - Florescence
Maisie Peters returns with Florescence, an album that blooms through its strong melodies and sticky choruses, even if minor issues keep it from reaching greater heights.
Following her sophomore album The Good Witch, Peters has remained fairly active. The British singer-songwriter opened for artists such as Taylor Swift, Coldplay, and Noah Kahan on their respective tours, embarked on her own headline run, released a deluxe edition of the album, and held acoustic pop-up performances in record stores. She channels those experiences, alongside developments in her personal life, into Florescence.
The first thing to discuss about Florescence is its choice of singles. During the final months of 2025, Peters released the co-lead singles “You You You” and “Audrey Hepburn”, ultimately described as her most authentic folk-leaning material to date. Following those came “Say My Name In Your Sleep”, a track that continued in a similar sonic direction. Given Peters is signed to Ed Sheeran’s label Gingerbread Man Records, it becomes easy to hear the influence drawn from his 2023 back-to-back records - (Subtract) and Autumn Variations.
What really changed the game was “My Regards”. Released at a perfect moment, it aligned with the ever-growing traction of country-pop music charting, alongside artists such as Ella Langley and Megan Moroney. On the Zach Sang Show, Peters has also cited her admiration for Kacey Musgraves, particularly her latest record Middle of Nowhere, which is reflected in its quirky lyricism, soft but effective instrumentation, and the lively, melodic choruses. The influences are difficult to ignore across the majority of Florescence, from the production choices to her playful vocal delivery.
The final pre-release single, “Kingmaker”, is a collaborative effort with American songwriter and hitmaker Julia Michaels. Her presence noticeably elevates the track’s quality. Michaels has a strong ability to adapt to her collaborators’ style, making their chemistry feel more natural throughout. Another factor that makes Florescence stand out is its choice of collaborators. The other collaboration of the two being “If You Let Me” with Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons. His contributions don’t necessarily differ from his performances on the band’s latest effort Prizefighter, where his lower register and accent blend surprisingly well with Peters’s light, vocal tone.
What ultimately lets Florescence down is its inability to maintain its overarching sound without losing what made it interesting in the first place. After “Questions” – another track unmistakably influenced by Kacey Musgraves – the final three songs fall into fairly generic folk-pop tropes that cause the album to close at its lowest points. The tracks are far from bad, but they lack the personality that made the earlier moments so engaging.
Despite its occasional flaws, Florescence still succeeds as an intriguing step forward for Peters. While its final moments struggle to reach the heights of its strongest moments, the album’s memorable hooks, cosy production, and use of influences make it a fitting addition to her catalogue. Florescence proves Maisie Peters as one of folk-pop’s heavy hitters, gladly so.
7.4/10
