Winner of the 2025 Kiwi Artist and Up and coming Musican, Peyton Morete: Crafting Her Own Creative Path

Wellington-born artist Peyton Morete is multifaceted, encompassing roles as a singer, songwriter, sound engineer, actress, and content creator. But more than that, she’s an embodiment of perseverance, individuality, and creative exploration. In an industry often defined by trends and tight-knit circles, Peyton is carving out a space entirely her own, even if that means doing it all herself.

When asked who inspires her, Peyton lights up, discussing artists who remain true to their sound rather than chasing what’s trending. “I just love doing what I want in the moment,” she says. Her sound reflects that ethos, a fusion of folk, pop, rock, experimental R&B, and more. Peyton’s approach is playful, exploratory, and continually evolving, particularly as she has delved deeper into sound engineering and performance-based music. But it isn’t just music that fuels her. Her influences span anything she stumbles across online, a testament to her openness to inspiration wherever it may come from.

Peyton is candid about the challenges of the music industry, particularly its cliquishness. As someone who’s largely navigated her creative journey alone, writing, recording, mixing, and editing her own work, she’s felt the sting of being on the outside looking in. Social anxiety added another layer of difficulty to networking, yet Peyton never let it stop her. “I’ve always been on the outer, but when there’s no one there, I still push through,” she reflects. Her determination stems from a belief that everyone is on their own timeline. This mantra has helped her navigate feelings of comparison.

Peyton’s musical story began early: she wrote her first song at nine years old on a Christmas piano, frustrated after an argument with her mum. From that moment, songwriting became her outlet and passion. She jokes that there wasn’t one defining moment when she chose music professionally; it was always just there. Today, Peyton is proud of how far she’s come— her younger self probably couldn’t have imagined performing on TV, earning a music degree, or winning awards. She sees her younger self more and more in her music now, after years of trying to separate from her early sound.

Burnout is an experience Peyton knows intimately, particularly after finishing her music degree and moving from Wellington to Auckland. “No one talks about that post-study void,” she says. She’s found herself recalibrating not just as a musician, but as a person, figuring out life after education. For Peyton, handling burnout means stepping back, focusing on what brings joy, and waiting until the creative spark returns. “Some people push through burnout, I just get annoyed with it if I try that,” she admits.

Music isn’t Peyton’s only creative outlet. Acting is a growing focus; she has been deeply involved in audition processes, navigating the aesthetics-driven world of casting. As a content creator and livestreamer, she’s rediscovering how to make and edit short-form content that feels authentic to her, not just what social media algorithms might favour. Her videography skills, entirely self-taught, allow her to produce her own music videos. This passion began with making fun iPod Touch movies as an only child. Whether it’s performing live, creating music videos, or planning remixes of her songs like “Serafina,” Peyton is entirely hands-on.

So what is next for Peyton? An EP is on the horizon, although Peyton confesses she’s still sitting with the tracks, figuring out what doesn’t sit right yet. She dreams of one day releasing vinyl, with custom art and vibrant vinyl colours, but for now, streaming is her primary release method. She also dreams of collaborating with producers like Eddie on the Beat or musicians like PJ Morton. Being in a studio, just as a singer rather than the entire production team, is a new experience she looks forward to.

At the heart of Peyton’s artistry is a refusal to conform. She hopes her work encourages others to pursue what they love without fitting neatly into societal boxes. “You don’t have to follow all the trends. Push through and do what you love.” Her story is a testament to the ongoing journey of growth, creativity, and self-discovery. And as Peyton continues to write, perform, and create on her own terms, there’s no doubt her younger self would be proud!