If you’ve ever been completely fed up with having the same daily routine (and your world feeling like it’s stuck on a never-ending loop), Pepper Lewis wants to help shake things up for you. If there’s one thing the rising musician wants to do, it’s to remind you that we’re all trying to navigate through this wacky, twisted world together… so why not have some fun in the meanwhile?!
Throughout her childhood, Pepper had a deep appreciation for artists such as Amy Winehouse, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, and Ella Fitzgerald. But like many young girls at the time, she also saw Miley Cyrus as a huge role model – and perhaps one of her biggest inspirations.
“I remember watching Hannah Montana for the first time and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh… girls can do that too?’,” Pepper recalls. “I was a weird kid. I loved Bruce Springsteen when I was super duper young, I just loved the music my parents listened to. They didn’t really listen to pop stars, and I was like, ‘Oh my God, that’s a career too? I wanna do that.’”
As simple as that, Pepper’s mind was made up about wanting to become a rockstar. At ten years old, she started learning how to play the guitar, having been inspired by Taylor Swift’s emphasis on the importance of being able to play the instrument as a songwriter.
Two years later, Pepper took another huge step towards fulfilling her dream of being a rockstar. She started performing at open mics throughout New York City, entertaining and wowing crowds at least twice her age. “Sometimes my dad would pick me up from school and we would into Manhattan for an open mic night, or into Brooklyn,” she explains. “Most of them were at bars, so my dad had to be there. He was there anyways to be a proud dad, but he had to be there because I was under 21. It was fun! I remember being 13, 14, and learning how to interact with a drunk crowd of rowdy young adults. I got that experience. It was always a lot of fun for me. I just wanted to sing anywhere anyone would let me!”
Without a single doubt, Pepper’s parents were some of her biggest supporters. Her dad was quick to emphasize the importance of having a strong work ethic, and making sure Pepper never stopped working on her craft.
“When I was 12, I signed up on my own for The X Factor,” Pepper reveals. “I walked into my parents room, and I was like, ‘I want to let you guys know I signed up for The X Factor, I’m gonna be auditioning.’ My dad was like alright, back up. He sat me down, and was like what’s your goal. I said to win, and he was like okay, if singing and songwriting is what you want to do, I have to teach you about the 10,000 hours. It takes 10,000 hours of practice to master something, and he asked me if I was willing to put in those 10,000 hours and work every day, because it’s really really hard to be a musician. I have to work really hard, and I remember I just said yup. After that day, every single day, I have been practicing and putting in my 10,000 hours.”
Prior to her passing, Pepper had promised her mother that she would never stop singing. As her teen years went on, Pepper would continue to seize any opportunity possible to sing in front of a crowd. Receiving a standing ovation when performing Etta James’ “At Last” at the legendary Apollo Theater fueled Piper’s stamina even more! After graduating from high school, Pepper moved to Los Angeles, and continued to stick by her word by penning a collection of new songs straight from her heart.
In September 2021, Pepper released her debut single “Planetarium” as a high-five to anyone who has ever been classified as “awkward” or has simply felt like an outcast. As listeners enter Pepper’s lively sonic realm, she hopes a sense of comfort and hope will flow straight into their hearts. Her brand new single “Same Stuff” keeps this momentum going, as Pepper shares a story about the importance of self-care.
The beginnings of “Same Stuff” can be traced back to a day when Pepper was feeling quite depressed. “I couldn’t get out of bed, I wasn’t taking care of myself, and it scared me,” she confides. “I was like, ‘oh my gosh, I’ve never been this depressed before.’ I wrote about how I was feeling when I wasn’t taking care of myself, to kind of break the depressive episode. They teach you in… like for example DBT classes, when you’re feeling really depressed, sometimes it’s really good to take a shower, do your makeup, put on a nice outfit, and that makes you feel really good. That was kind of my version of doing that. I just had to get it out of my system, and then I felt a lot better. The song is kind of like a reminder to do that, like, ‘Oh, you don’t want to be feeling like that, so you better do your thing! It’s a pain in the ass sometimes, but it’s better than feeling like shit’.”
Music has served as a huge pick-me-up for Pepper, and knowing her lyrics have the power to make others feel the same has been an even greater treat. She spills, “It helps me heal when people are like, ‘I feel that way too!’ I know I’m not special, and I’m not the only one that feels this way. When people are like, ‘OH, I feel that too,’ it makes me feel less alone. If it makes other people feel less alone, that’s even more of a blessing. That is what music is to me.”
Pepper may not be one to glorify hustle culture, but she’s the perfect example of the grind absolutely not stopping at just 10,000 hours. She’s currently gearing up to release her debut EP She Told Me To Sing My Heart Out on December 3, and appreciates the ability to look back upon the strides and sacrifices she has made to turn her dreams into a reality.
“My work ethic is extremely important to me,” Pepper says. “I think as I release more and more music, my work ethic will become more and more sharp. With the first single, I learned a lot about the release process and what people respond to on the Internet about what I’m sharing about myself, ways I can present it better. I can look at what I’ve done and analyze it to do better than next time.”
Pepper’s desire to put her best foot forward is an aspect of her that has and will continue to remain the same… just like her desire to sing for the world whenever, wherever. “I’m gonna tour anywhere anyone will let me… my same mentality with open mics,” she says. “I want to put on the best show EVER. I want people to be like, ‘Holy shit. You HAVE to go see Pepper Lewis. The lyrics are great, the music is great, the show is great.’ I want everybody to have an excellent time at my shows, and I want to play festivals and just anywhere anyone will let me.”
All roads will lead to a sold-out performance at Madison Square Garden for Pepper someday. “I’ll be so happy,” she gushes. “Your mom will know, your mom’s cousin will know, your mom’s cousin’s mailman will know, because I’ll be screaming in the streets!”
As Hannah Montana once sang, “Life’s what you make it, so let’s make it rock.” Thanks to Pepper Lewis, those words definitely sound doable.
Check out “Same Stuff” below, and keep up with Pepper Lewis on Instagram and Twitter @pepperxlewis!
