Peter McPoland: The Next Troubadour
Courtesy of the artist
Back in December, I found myself mindlessly scrolling through TikTok — as one does — and right before I decided I’d had enough of the same droning sounds, I stumbled upon a song that soon became my newest obsession. There he was, sporting one of those 90s inspired haircuts that frames your face, a festive jumper with a polo underneath, strumming his guitar with such ease as he serenaded his audience. Immediately I was drawn in: as if the guitar and the lyrics weren’t already enough, his voice was the cherry on top. After watching the clip for longer than I’d like to admit, I sent it to some friends and fell down the rabbit hole that is Peter McPoland. The night the mysterious song came out, McPoland once again posted on TikTok full of joy sharing the news. “Eloise” was the title of the unreleased track that drew me in, and the name of the song that became the soundtrack of my life for the next few weeks.
A month goes by and “Eloise” is still on my mind. Naturally, it was time to get acquainted with the singer that took over half of my most recent playlists. Google informed me that he is from Vermont and a Scorpio. His Instagram serves as a platform to keep somewhat in touch with his following, displaying selective life updates where he never fails to share his best outfits, often showcasing a pair of vintage Reebok Ex-O-Fit or blue jeans. Finally, the real deal-breaker came along, Spotify. Scrolling through his playlists it didn’t take very long for me to find his big three, Billy Joel, John Prine, and last but not least Bruce Springsteen; it all makes sense. His music perfectly reflects what seems to be some of his favorite artists and immediate influences. All three of these singers have one common factor; legendary songwriting. Their ability to stand in front of a crowd and capture their attention simply by using their words, voice, and a guitar. This is what McPoland has been doing for the last few years serenading crowds (big or small) using his words, voice, and an acoustic guitar.
Despite his great taste in music, there is more to McPoland’s sound beyond his big three. His voice has this extremely compelling quality that can only be described as passion. Every word he sings sounds and feels like it has a purpose. Not only do the words tell the story, but his voice and its natural dynamics translate emotions that cannot be found in any modern dictionary. This chameleon effect he seems to have mastered, makes the listener feel whatever he is trying to bring to their attention. Sure it isn’t easy to analyze the meaning of a song on the first listen, yet his voice conjures so much emotion, it can never be mistaken. From the quiet and comforting “I Love You Too” to the naturally enticing sound of “Eloise,” no bar is put to waste as every hum, every whisper and every scream adds depth to the story. Along with his beautiful voice, his songwriting takes after the skills his big three all possess. A sense of familiarity is found in each of his songs whose subjects aren’t necessarily spelled out, but still descriptive enough for you to understand what he is alluding to. His eloquent songwriting skills allowed him to amass a faithful following which will continue to grow as he adds chapters to his stories.
Having recently signed to Columbia Records, McPoland has many more milestones and records to come, the world is his oyster and I am just a hopeful observer. For the time being, the eight songs currently available on streaming services will have to do as I anticipate his arrival. Haven’t you heard? There’s a new troubadour in town, and his name is Peter McPoland. ◆
Keep up with Peter McPoland via Instagram and YouTube. You can find tour dates and merch on his website.