Peaches cannot be squashed: The shock-pop provocateur still thrives onstage at 60

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Sitting at a table on the lively patio of a popular Frogtown restaurant, Peaches watched the waiter approach. “The vodka is served over oyster shells,” the waiter explained. “It picks up a slightly salty flavor, almost like a martini with a taste of the ocean.”

“Lovely, great. Love it,” Peaches says quickly.

“Two of those, perfect,” the waiter replies.

Peaches, as she expresses in her new song “Panna Cotta Delight,” is a confident and empowered artist who embraces complete creative freedom. She’s worked with a diverse range of iconic and underground musicians – from Yoko Ono and Marilyn Manson to more experimental artists like Christeene and The Squirt Deluxe – spanning various genres, countries, and even languages like Yiddish and Italian. However, it’s through her own music and performances – characterized by a raw, self-made style and energetic Electroclash sound – that she truly unleashes a liberating and captivating experience.

Peaches’ seventh studio album, “No Lube So Rude,” features 11 tracks where she boldly sings about things many people keep to themselves. Known as Merrill Nisker on her 1995 debut, “Fancypants Hoodlum,” she tackles explicit sexual themes, sharp political commentary, and clever insights – even playfully calling SpaceX’s satellites “Starlink anal beads” in one song.

This Canadian artist, who has lived in both Los Angeles and Berlin, is turning sixty this year and isn’t afraid to be bold. Her music, including a song beginning with a strong statement against Kavanaugh, openly references controversial topics like abortion medication and the Roe v. Wade decision, even incorporating them into playful rhymes. She frequently uses strong language in her lyrics.

I remember when I first discovered Peaches – it’s amazing to think she started out playing acoustic guitar in small Toronto clubs for years! Then she picked up an electric guitar and realized she could create a full band sound all on her own using electronic effects. It’s funny, she even went to York University for a bit and dreamed of directing edgy musicals, which her classmates – all deep into Sartre and Ibsen – apparently thought was a bit much. Seems like she’s proven them wrong, wouldn’t you say?

Beabadoobee’s career really took off with her 2020 album, “Fake It Flowers,” which included her breakout song, “Care.” The track gained significant exposure when Sofia Coppola featured it in the 2003 film “Lost in Translation.” Since then, it’s appeared in a variety of places, including the movie “Jackass Number Two,” several romantic comedies, an episode of the TV show “The Handmaid’s Tale” from 2017, and even as a ringtone for Tina Fey’s character on “30 Rock.”

As a movie lover, I really appreciate when artists aren’t afraid to be a little raw and honest. Peaches totally nails that. She’s said her goal with songwriting is to be strong and real, but still accessible. It’s about using humor not to shy away from difficult topics, but to actually draw you in and make you listen. It’s a really clever approach, and it works!

She adds: “Disarming people is so important.”

She truly delivers, captivating audiences with her kindness and genuine presence. Onstage, she’s unrestrained and deeply empathetic, and in concert, she’s a vibrant and energetic performer. Forget flawless – she’s wonderfully unconventional, playfully bold, and completely throws herself into the performance with elaborate costumes, direct interaction with the crowd, and a lot of energy.

Is it as simple to be truly open and honest as performers appear to be when expressing themselves physically? “Absolutely not,” she replies, barely letting me finish the question.

To be honest, neither of those things are simple. I can imitate a singer’s style – like Barbra Streisand, who was one of the first singers I remember – and convincingly perform emotion, even while just singing something basic like the alphabet. She’s that skilled. But actually feeling those emotions and being truly vulnerable? That’s always difficult.

Even with constant practice – through touring and live performances – she doesn’t find it any easier to pour her emotions into her songs, and she never performs them mechanically.

I usually write songs that reflect what’s happening in my life. It’s like I put them on as outfits, and then I really embody them. But sometimes that feeling slips away, and I have to reconnect with it.

In her new song, “Not in Your Mouth None of Your Business,” Peaches asserts her strength and resilience, singing about refusing to be silenced or diminished. She declares that no one will steal their pride and that they won’t be controlled or allow others to ruin their lives.

I was just thinking our published conversation would probably be full of blacked-out bits – you know, lots of ‘redacted, redacted, redacted’ – and Peaches immediately called me out on it. She said it’s hilarious how everyone does that, and wondered who we’re even trying to shield by censoring things. It really made me think!

It’s really tough, honestly. I feel so frustrated trying to get my point across and explain why I do what I do. It’s like, online, the algorithms and AI just see me as something I’m not – they label me as overly sexual, even when I’m trying to be respectful. I could put something on to avoid being seen that way, but it doesn’t matter. Even just saying certain words can get me flagged for breaking the rules. I want to challenge things and make progress, but it feels like I’m constantly being held back. Still, I’m not giving up – I keep trying to break through.

Peaches is currently touring, with Model/Actriz opening shows on the East Coast and Pixel Grip on the West Coast. She’s expecting a diverse audience, including both younger fans and people her own age, challenging the idea that 60 is an age for slowing down. She sees it as just another phase of life, not the beginning of the end.

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You know, people might assume someone like Peaches, with her wild stage presence, had a tough childhood. But honestly, it’s the opposite! She comes from this incredibly warm and supportive Jewish family – her parents are both really smart and loving. She’s the baby of three kids, and it’s clear her upbringing wasn’t the cause of any rebellious streak she shows on stage – it’s just her.

My dad was a huge fan of my music, and I’ll always remember the last concert he attended. It was at Massey Hall in Toronto, and it was a really emotional night. I usually jump into the audience to see my family, and when I went to my dad, I saw him crying. It was overwhelming, and I almost started crying too. Sadly, he passed away, and then my sister also passed away, so it’s been a difficult time.

The songs on “No Lube So Rude” are mostly energetic and about fighting for change, unity, and liberation, but Peaches also explored her personal grief after family losses. She explains that a song like ‘Take It,’ while seemingly about a relationship, is actually her processing her own sadness and loss, a conversation with herself.

Although Peaches has toured with artists like Marilyn Manson and is sometimes labeled ‘shock rock,’ she’s clear about her artistic intentions. “It’s not about shocking people,” she explains with a chuckle, “but about deliberately provoking thought and discussion, especially now, when it’s not difficult to find important issues.” She’s particularly proud of musicians who are using their platforms to advocate for things like bodily autonomy, trans rights, abortion access, Palestinian rights, and an end to genocide and wealth inequality. She believes this level of outspokenness from artists hasn’t been seen in a long time and is a positive development for both the music community and society as a whole.

Though the album title inspired a personal lubricant sold on the singer’s website – the “Peaches x Medicine Mama Intimate Glide” – the phrase itself isn’t just about sex. The album is called ‘No Lube So Rude’ to represent all the conflict and tension in the world. The singer hopes it can spark conversations between different generations, not necessarily to reach agreement, but simply to communicate and find common ground, or at least a way to navigate differences more smoothly.

Peaches plays the Bellwether on March 20 and 21.

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2026-03-19 13:32