Idk if her name would ring a bell, weirdly enough, but are you familiar with Poppy?
In the world of the music industry, only a few artists can boast an evolution as intriguing and captivating as that of Poppy. Moriah Rose Pereira, widely recognized as Poppy, has seamlessly transformed her music and fashion style, transcending boundaries and expectations throughout her career. From the pastel-like childlike aesthetic to the dark, edgy punk rock genre, Poppy has been pushing herself to be the chameleon of the industry.
From YouTube Sensation to Musical Enigma
From a “weird” and “creepy” viral internet sensation turned to pop-rock star Poppy, formerly known as That Poppy, has been making waves since 2015 ever since she dropped her viral video “I’m Poppy” in collaboration with her then former creative director and ex-boyfriend Titanic Sinclair, who was also part of the creation of That Poppy. The video spans for 10 minutes where she repeats saying her name in a very ASMR-type way while she stares right into your soul. This made the internet confused and intrigued by who this Poppy is.
From then on, Poppy continued to upload bizarre videos that explored themes of internet fame, celebrity culture, and identity. Her first musical ventures were “Lowlife” and “Money.” The upbeat electro-pop and bubble gum pop influences were there, and the internet was shocked at how good Poppy’s music is, and little did they know that this is just the first half of what Poppy can bring. She continued to have this playful, youthful pastel-colored doll-like aesthetic throughout the years of 2015–16. She continued the brand of That Poppy, the ever-young-doll-like aesthetic, not until 2017, when she distanced herself from Titanic Sinclair and rebranded herself simply “Poppy.”
Jaw-Dropping Aesthetic
Poppy’s aesthetic and branding have been very distinct and integral to her artistic identity, combined with surreal, mysterious, and avant-garde elements, creating a unique and thought-provoking image that sometimes people find weird, creepy, and sometimes cult-like. At the start of her career, Poppy’s style is very fun, youthful, and focuses more on the pastel colors, which were very fitting for the 2010’s, which were reminiscent of the Sad Girl Tumblr aesthetic back in the day, but as an artist, Poppy doesn’t want to be stuck in one style and decided to reinvent to give a more authentic and exciting Poppy for fans to follow.
The Art of Poppy
In 2017, this marked a shift towards what Poppy wants her music and aesthetic to be moving forward; it was a huge shift into more personal and introspective themes in her music. She released albums like “Poppy Computer” and “Am I a Girl? “, which showcased her versatility as an artist, blending various genres and styles not only in her music but also in her fashion. During this era of Poppy, she’s now seen delving into more mature and darker colors, like in her music video “Interweb,” in which the music video shows a stark difference compared to her past music videos. Poppy still keeps her “doll-like” aesthetic but makes it more mature and avant-garde, which shows a maturity and change in her persona. She also dropped a music video for “X,” a b-side from the album “Am I a Girl? “This music video was like a precursor to what Poppy is going to evolve into.
“Am I a Girl?” Poppy’s 2nd studio album was really the point of her career where she transformed herself. The core personality of Poppy is still there, but we see more of what Poppy is behind the persona. Having to tap into different genres of music, from EDM to rock, the albums showed her artistry as a musician until 2019, when Poppy underwent a radical shift in her music and fashion.
What’s not clicking?
This is not the Poppy we used to know, but surprisingly everyone loved and embraced the change from her split with Titanic Sinclair. Poppy embraced a completely new sound—metal and rock—and this album showcased her versatility as an artist. Despite the shift, she seamlessly integrated the elements of these new genres with her trademark pop sensibilities. Her music took on a heavier, edgier tone but remained unmistakably Poppy. The shift in her music and style wasn’t foreign to the audience, as Poppy was once an unpredictable artist.
Concurrently, her fashion style evolved to reflect her new musical direction. She adopted a punk and metal-influenced wardrobe featuring leather, spikes, and bold makeup—a stark contrast from the Poppy we used to see wearing youthful and pastel outfits—but the change was on brand, and everyone ended up loving it as the transition was bold and fascinating, proving how she can adapt and reinvent while staying true to her unique artistic vision.
The Ever-Evolving Poppy
After the success of her 3rd studio album, “I Disagree,” Poppy has continued to expand her creative horizons and distance herself from previous projects, asserting her artistic autonomy, not saying she was controlled by her then partner Titanic Sinclair but sort of kinda. Her music has always explored themes of identity, introspection, and personal growth, and it shows in her visuals. The fashion choices reflect this evolution, from classic pastels to cyber punk-inspired themes into full-blown rock-metal chic elegant outfits.
Poppy has continued to push the boundaries of music and fashion, refusing to be confined to one genre or image. That’s what makes Poppy interesting in a world where many artists strive for predictability and commercial success. Poppy remains an icon of artistic innovation and proves the power of reinvention. From just this weird YouTube sensation into a musical enigma that showcases her commitment to self-expression, Poppy continued to captivate and excite the fans through her music and fashion, which continues to evolve and inspire.
