Poppy

Moriah Rose Pereira, known professionally as Poppy, is an American singer, songwriter, and YouTuber born on January 1, 1995, in Boston, Massachusetts. She moved with her family to Nashville, Tennessee, at the age of 14. As a child, Poppy aspired to be a Rockette and took dance lessons for 11 years before ultimately deciding to pursue a career in music. Her early experiences in school were marred by bullying, which led her to complete her education through homeschooling. At 18, she relocated to Los Angeles to chase her musical dreams.

Poppy’s career began to take shape in 2011 when she performed at IndieCove, where she covered an Alanis Morissette song. She created her first YouTube channel, ThatPoppyTV, in October 2011, alongside a second channel, Moriah Poppy, where she shared music covers and vlogs. However, all her early videos were deleted in 2014. During her rise to prominence, Poppy participated in various social media festivals, including VidCon and DigiTour, and collaborated with other artists, such as Eppic. In 2014, she teamed up with director Titanic Sinclair to create a series of abstract promotional videos that showcased her unique artistic vision.

Poppy’s breakthrough came with her surreal performance art videos on YouTube, where she presented herself as an uncanny valley-like android. These videos satirized internet culture and modern society, leading to her recognition as a distinct voice in the digital landscape. In 2016, she signed a recording contract with Island Records and released her debut pop extended play, Bubblebath, followed by her first art pop studio album, Poppy.Computer, in 2017. The album’s promotion included the Poppy.Computer Tour, marking her emergence as a live performer.

In 2018, Poppy released her second album, Am I a Girl?, which showcased her experimentation with electropop and nu-metal. That same year, she faced legal challenges when former partner Mars Argo filed a lawsuit against Sinclair and Poppy, alleging copyright infringement. Although the case was settled out of court, it highlighted the complexities of Poppy’s artistic identity and her relationship with Sinclair. Poppy’s artistic journey continued with the release of her third studio album, I Disagree, in 2020, which featured a darker sound influenced by heavy metal and industrial rock. The album’s lead single, “Bloodmoney,” earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Metal Performance, making her the first solo female artist nominated in this category.

Poppy’s collaboration with professional wrestling promotion WWE further expanded her reach, and in 2021, she released the metalcore EP Eat (NXT Soundtrack). That same year, she unveiled her fourth studio album, Flux, which embraced an alternative rock sound. In 2023, she continued to evolve her music style with her fifth studio album, Zig, characterized as dark pop. Poppy’s artistic versatility is evident in her ability to shift genres and aesthetic styles, which keeps her audience engaged and intrigued.

As she looks to the future, Poppy has announced the release of her sixth album, Negative Spaces, set for November 15, 2024. Her innovative approach to music and performance art has cemented her status as a multifaceted artist in the entertainment industry. Poppy’s journey from a bullied teenager to a genre-defying artist and internet icon illustrates her resilience and commitment to her craft, making her a significant figure in contemporary music and culture.