Au is the sound of R&B artist Peyton stepping into her power, a record rooted in honesty and emotional self-preservation, shaped in tight collaboration with visionary producer Shafiq Husayn (Bilal, Free Nationals, Robert Glasper). It’s out now on Stones Throw.
The album’s title, Au (the chemical symbol for gold) doesn’t just stand for value; it’s a pledge to stay golden in a world that often tries to dull your shine. Peyton began writing the music about her experiences and relationships as she entered her mid-twenties. “I’m not someone who believes in hurting [people] back,” she says. “I believe in taking the high road, in being golden.”
Listen: Peyton – Au
Buy Vinyl: Peyton – Au “Gold Foil” Edition
On Au, Peyton navigates self-doubt, betrayal, new love, and womanhood. She wrote “Eye Love” within minutes of finding out that she’d been in a love triangle, while “Answers” reflects on her experience of connecting with a man who turned out to be married. Instead of shaming or casting blame, Peyton asks, what might honesty in relationships look like? Breakup song “Hard to Say” treats parting as an act of mutual respect, while “Not Your Girl” refuses to dramatize the pain of being cheated on.
While much of the album draws from emotional hurt, Au is never weighed down by it. “Love Your Signs” flips zodiac wisdom into something warm and flirty, and even when she’s calling out the red flags in a friend who became an enemy, Peyton leans into humor. “Fly High” is an anthem for anyone pushing through the fog of hard days and betting on a better future, and “Get Out Of Your Hair,” brings the message full circle.
Au features co-production and instrumentation from Om’Mas Keith (Frank Ocean, John Legend, Jay-Z), along with guests Brian Alexander Morgan, Didda Joe and Sunni Colón. It follows her debut PSA, and her past collaborations with Steve Lacy, MadeinTYO and Sango. Peyton recently opened for Macy Gray in Houston and will announce more US shows soon!
