Gigi Perez | Artist Spotlight

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Hello, my cheeky little music lovers! Mooney here.

Welcome to another article with the very best, Rock Oracle. Whether you’re here to discover new music, revisit old favourites, or simply share in the magic that only music can bring, you’ve come to the right place.

So grab a pint, turn the volume up a notch, and let’s dive into today’s topic. 

As you may or may not know, I’ve somehow found myself living in Florida. A place where the air feels like soup and the local wildlife occasionally includes dinosaurs with a public relations problem. With that in mind, it felt only proper to cover one of the state’s homegrown musical talents: Gigi Perez. 

Gigi Perez, the Florida-raised indie-folk artist behind the TikTok sensation and multi-platinum hit “Sailor Song,” is currently making her way across North America on tour. At just 26 years old, Perez continues to build momentum following the release of her 2025 debut album, At the Beach, showcasing the heartfelt songwriting and raw emotion that have made her a fan favorite. Whether you’re learning about Gigi Perez for the first time through this article or have already fallen down the rabbit hole of her music, one thing becomes clear rather quickly: she’s incredibly talented. Her voice has a unique character that instantly sets her apart, adding richness and emotion to every track. Just as impressive is her songwriting, with lyrics that manage to be both intimate and impactful, leaving a lasting impression long after the song ends. 

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I like to keep an element of honesty in my writing, so I’ll admit that while Gigi Perez doesn’t hold a permanent spot in my regular playlist, I’ve always had a soft spot for her music. Quite unintentionally, I had the pleasure of seeing her perform live during the Sing Out Loud Festival in St. Augustine in 2025.

Now, if I’m being completely truthful, I originally bought my ticket to see the Irish sensation Hozier. As you may notice, I love all Irish talent. Now I can go on and on about Hozier, but, let’s save that for another time. Anyways, Gigi’s performance left an impression of its own. The two later shared the stage for a song, and she more than held her own, delivering a beautiful guest performance that showcased exactly why so many people have connected with her music. During Gigi’s set, she showcased the raw, personal authenticity that has become a hallmark of her music. One of the most touching moments came when she brought her sister on stage, sharing a glimpse of their relationship with the crowd. It wasn’t a grand spectacle or a carefully crafted performance moment, it simply felt genuine. Perhaps that’s why it resonated with me. I’ve always believed that the bond between siblings is one of the purest connections a person can have. If you’re fortunate enough to share a close relationship with a sibling, you know there are some feelings that words struggle to capture. Seeing that love and admiration displayed so openly added an extra layer of warmth and humanity to an already memorable performance. 

There’s also something special about seeing an artist perform on their home turf. The energy feels different. It is more personal, more meaningful. Whether it’s the familiar surroundings, the support of a hometown crowd, or the pride that comes with performing where it all began, there always seems to be an extra element to the show. You can feel the connection between the artist and the audience, and it often makes the performance that much more memorable. 

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A significant strength of Gigi’s songwriting is her willingness to explore deeply personal subject matter. Across the album, themes of LGBTQ+ identity, religion, self-discovery, and personal relationships emerge throughout her lyrics. By writing with sincerity and emotional transparency, Perez creates songs that feel intimate while remaining widely relatable, a quality that has clearly resonated with listeners. One lyric that has always stood out to me comes from “Sailor Song”: “I don’t believe in God, but I believe that you’re my savior.” Another lyric that sticks out comes from “Fable”, where Perez pleads, “Direct me to someone who gives me the juice and new rules. Someone to tell me we’re not born to be mules in this.” These lyrics are the sort of line that lands squarely in the chest of anyone who’s ever stared at their morning commute and wondered if this can really be the grand plan. With her trademark mix of wit and yearning, Perez rejects the idea that we’re all meant to spend our days hauling the weight of expectations like overworked pack animals. Instead, she’s searching for someone, or something, to offer a fresh life map, a better story, or at the very least directions that doesn’t lead straight back to the same old fucking field. It’s a cheeky challenge to the status quo, wrapped in the kind of existential questioning that makes you want to quit your job, buy a one-way ticket, and then sensibly decide to sleep on it first. A second guess that we all seem to have. They are simple lines, but ones that carry immense emotional weight. What I appreciate most about it is how it can mean different things to different people. For me, it resonates on a personal level and reflects some of my own struggles and experiences throughout life. Isn’t that the magic of music? Somehow, it always seems to say exactly what we need to hear when we need to hear it most. A lyric written from one person’s experience can find its way into the lives of thousands of others, each listener taking something different from it. Whether it’s comfort, understanding, hope, or simply the feeling of being seen, the right song has a way of arriving at precisely the right moment. It is truly fucking magic. That’s part of what makes Gigi’s songwriting so compelling. She has a way of taking deeply personal emotions and expressing them in a way that allows listeners to find their own meaning within the lyrics. A song may begin as her story, but somewhere along the way it becomes ours as well.

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Though, once again, Gigi Perez isn’t my usual cuppa. My playlists tend to lean a bit heavier, louder, and occasionally in need of an apology to the neighbours. But that’s exactly why I love diving into artists like Gigi. There’s a real joy in stepping outside your musical comfort zone and finding someone whose strength isn’t just sound, but beautifully honest songwriting. Her lyrics have a depth that invites you to sit with them, pick them apart, and somehow discover a little piece of yourself tucked between the verses. That’s the beauty of music, it doesn’t have to sound like your everyday playlist to leave a lasting mark.

Gigi Perez is still at the beginning of what feels like a very long career, but all the signs point toward an artist on the rise. I wouldn’t be surprised if she continues to grow into the same space occupied by modern folk heavyweights like Hozier, Mumford & Sons, and Noah Kahan. If this style of heartfelt, introspective songwriting is your cuppa, I’d highly recommend catching one of her remaining U.S. shows while you still can. There’s a certain magic in catching an artist before the rest of the world fully catches on, before the small rooms turn into arenas and tickets require a prayer, a strategy, and perhaps a small offering to the ticketing gods. Gigi Perez feels like she’s standing right at that edge, destined for bigger venues, louder crowds, and the kind of success that makes you proudly say, “I saw her back when.” 

That’s all from me for now, my cheeky little music lovers.

Keep chasing great tunes and supporting great artists.

Slán go fóill,

Mooney

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