Peach PRC
Sharlee Jade Curnow (born 2 April 1997), known professionally as Peach PRC, is an Australian singer-songwriter and social media personality from Adelaide, South Australia, whose music draws from personal experiences including past relationships and professional stripping.[1][2] Peach PRC rose to prominence through candid TikTok videos sharing intimate thoughts on topics such as sexuality and sobriety, which propelled her debut single "Josh" to peak at number 38 on the ARIA Singles Chart in 2021.[3] Her style blends hyperpop elements with bubblegum aesthetics, featuring shimmering production, witty vocals, and confessional lyrics that transform private messages into anthemic tracks evoking early 2000s and 2010s influences.[4][5] She embodies a "manic dream pixie" persona, often presenting in all-pink attire that aligns with her maximalist, neon-infused sound.[1][6] Her debut extended play, Manic Dream Pixie (2023), debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart, marking her first such achievement and garnering ARIA Award nominations for Best Pop Release, Best Video, and Best Cover Art.[7] She won Music Act of the Year at the 2023 TikTok Awards and was named Best New Artist at the 2022 Rolling Stone Australia Awards.[8] In 2021, Peach PRC publicly accused her former partner, comedian Alex Williamson, of abusive and predatory behavior toward young women, prompting his removal from comedy festivals and by his management; Williamson denied the allegations in a profanity-laced response.[9][10][11]Early life
Upbringing in Adelaide
Sharlee Jade Curnow, known professionally as Peach PRC, was born on 2 April 1997 in Adelaide, South Australia.[1] She was raised in the Adelaide area during her childhood and teenage years, experiencing a conventional suburban environment typical of the city's middle-class suburbs.[12] Curnow's family dynamics were marked by significant instability, with her stepfather described as abusive and both her mother and stepfather largely neglectful during her early years.[12] These circumstances contributed to a challenging home life that she has publicly characterized as troubled, shaping foundational aspects of her resilience and directness in self-expression.[12] No public details have emerged regarding siblings or specific parental occupations influencing her early interests.Pre-fame occupations and experiences
Prior to her rise on TikTok, Peach PRC, born Sharlee Jade Curnow, worked as a stripper in Adelaide during her early 20s, adopting the stage name Peach Porcelain, which later influenced her professional moniker.[1][13] She has described this phase as a "dark" period characterized by constant chaos, yet expressed no regrets, viewing it as a means of achieving financial independence while navigating personal challenges.[14][15] After dropping out of school, she supplemented her income through such nightlife work for a short period, during which she began writing music in her spare time as a creative outlet amid daily struggles in Adelaide.[4] These experiences contributed to the raw, unfiltered perspective in her later songwriting, though she had already pursued music professionally for years prior, including unsuccessful auditions for Australian reality television singing competitions.[16]Music career
TikTok rise and early viral success (2019–2020)
Peach PRC launched her TikTok account in mid-2019, shortly after independently releasing her debut single "Blondes" on June 19, 2019.[17] Her early content featured intimate vlogs detailing daily life, candid rants critiquing relational dynamics such as manipulative partners and unsolicited advice from men, and brief previews of unreleased songs, which resonated with audiences seeking unfiltered personal narratives.[2] This confessional style, blending explicit humor with relatable frustrations over dating preferences and experiences, aligned with TikTok's algorithm, which amplified short-form, emotionally raw videos in the emerging hyperpop and indie scenes.[18] The track "Blondes," with its playful yet candid lyrics expressing attraction to blonde women amid tequila-fueled nightlife escapades, gained initial traction through a viral TikTok video where Peach PRC overlaid a song snippet while explaining its thematic origins in personal anecdotes.[4] Uploaded independently via platforms like Spotify and Apple Music, the single amassed millions of streams and views on TikTok by late 2019, driven by user-generated content and duets that echoed its irreverent take on sexuality and desire.[19] The video's success exemplified how TikTok's mechanics—favoring high-engagement, niche confessional pop—propelled her from obscurity, as shares and recreations highlighted the song's quotable, humorous lines on superficial attractions and relational mishaps.[20] By 2020, Peach PRC's follower count had surged, building a dedicated online community through consistent uploads of raw, unpolished clips that prioritized authenticity over polished production.[21] This organic growth, reaching over one million followers amid the platform's explosive user expansion during the early COVID-19 lockdowns, established her as an independent digital influencer before any formal industry involvement, with "Blondes" serving as the cornerstone of her pre-label visibility.[22] Her approach—leveraging algorithmic boosts for explicit, self-deprecating content on failed romances and identity explorations—laid the groundwork for sustained virality without external promotion.[12]Breakthrough singles and industry signing (2021–2022)
In February 2021, Peach PRC released "Josh" as her major-label debut single through Island Records Australia, a track characterized as a pointed critique of manipulative male behavior in romantic relationships, often described as a "kiss-off to the worst ex ever."[23][24] The song peaked at number 38 on the ARIA Singles Chart, marking her first entry on that ranking and demonstrating a transition from independent viral releases to broader commercial traction.[3] It garnered substantial radio airplay on Australian commercial stations, a notable achievement given the challenges local artists face in securing playlist inclusion amid dominance by international acts during 2021.[25] By mid-2024, "Josh" had accumulated over 36 million streams across platforms, underscoring its role in elevating her profile.[24] The success of "Josh" facilitated Peach PRC's signing with Republic Records in partnership with Island Records Australia, expanding her reach beyond domestic markets.[26] This deal aligned with the release of "God Is a Freak" in February 2022, a single tied to her public disclosure of identifying as a lesbian earlier that month, which she framed as a liberating personal milestone influencing the song's themes of self-acceptance and queer expression.[26] Like its predecessor, the track broke similar radio barriers for Australian performers, contributing to her industry validation through increased production support and distribution capabilities.[25] These releases represented pivotal inflection points, shifting her from DIY TikTok-driven output to professionally backed efforts with measurable chart and streaming benchmarks.EP releases, tours, and international expansion (2023–present)
In April 2023, Peach PRC released her debut extended play Manic Dream Pixie via Republic Records and Universal Music Australia, featuring six tracks including the singles "Kinda Famous", "Perfect For You", and "F U Goodbye". The EP debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart, marking her first chart-topping release and achieving tens of millions of streams globally. This success occurred during a period of strong competition from international acts, including sustained chart presence from Taylor Swift's Midnights era. A deluxe edition followed later in 2023, expanding the project with additional content. Subsequent singles built on this momentum, with "Secret" released on February 29, 2024, produced by Space Primates and positioned as a lead-in to further touring. Peach PRC has discussed how her sobriety journey, publicly shared through TikTok and interviews since at least 2021, shaped her creative process during this phase, emphasizing confessional songwriting amid personal recovery. Promotion faced challenges from the January 2024 licensing dispute between Universal Music Group and TikTok, which temporarily removed Universal catalog from the platform until resolution in May 2024, prompting adaptations like increased focus on other social media and live performances. Peach PRC headlined her first major Australian arena tour, the Secret PRC Tour, in 2024, performing across the East Coast to sold-out crowds and fostering inclusive environments for queer audiences through high-energy, interactive shows. International expansion accelerated in 2025 with a UK headline tour from June 18 to 24, followed by a North American outing starting September 13 in San Francisco at August Hall, including dates in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago at Bottom Lounge on September 17, Toronto, Boston, and Brooklyn. These tours represented her first major forays into these markets, supported by growing streaming metrics and fan engagement beyond Australia and New Zealand.Personal life
Family and relationships
Peach PRC, born Sharlee Jade Curnow on April 2, 1997, in Adelaide, South Australia, maintains limited public disclosure regarding her immediate family structure, with no verified reports of siblings.[1] She has described her upbringing in Adelaide as marked by parental neglect, specifically noting that her mother and stepfather provided minimal supervision during her childhood, while characterizing the stepfather as "pretty abusive."[12] In terms of romantic relationships, PRC dated Australian comedian Alex Williamson prior to her music career breakthrough, with the partnership ending acrimoniously. On April 28, 2021, she publicly alleged via social media that Williamson exhibited abusive, manipulative, and predatory conduct throughout their time together, including physical aggression and coercive behaviors; Williamson denied these claims in subsequent statements, attributing conflicts to mutual volatility.[27] [28] In November 2021, New South Wales police issued Williamson an Apprehended Violence Order (AVO) requiring him to maintain distance from PRC, following reports of post-breakup interactions.[29] PRC was later in a relationship with Sam Biondi, described as her longtime partner, which concluded in October 2022 as announced on her TikTok account.[30] No further details on the duration or circumstances of this relationship have been publicly elaborated beyond the breakup confirmation.Sexuality and public disclosures
Peach PRC's early releases reflected attractions to both sexes, consistent with her prior self-identification as bisexual. Her 2019 track "Blondes" depicts a desire to entice a woman away from her boyfriend, with lyrics such as "Tell him he's fine / He's just no longer mine."[31] In contrast, the 2021 single "Josh" addresses a male ex-boyfriend's unwanted persistence, drawing from a real-life experience.[4] These songs emerged while she was still exploring her sexuality, as she later noted in interviews that tracks like "Blondes" and "Colourblind" were released amid personal uncertainty.[13][32] On January 16, 2022, PRC publicly came out as a lesbian via TikTok, captioning a video teaser for her song "God Is a Freak" with "came out as a lesbian today (to be fair the closet was made of glass lol)."[33][34] The disclosure coincided with the snippet's viral traction, which she cited as prompting the timing, and marked a shift from her earlier bisexual identification.[35][32] In subsequent affirmations, PRC has described feeling welcomed by the lesbian community and emphasized her identity through music, such as labeling 2023's "Like A Girl Does" a "lesbian pop anthem."[36][37] She has also shared on social media in 2023 and 2025 her ongoing commitment to this identity, including reflections on pre-coming-out experiences.[38][39] PRC's TikTok content has intertwined these disclosures with her sobriety journey, which she credits for broader personal insights, though she has not explicitly attributed her sexual identity realization solely to it.[40][41]Artistry and influences
Musical style and themes
Peach PRC's music fuses hyperpop and bubblegum pop elements, characterized by maximalist production featuring bombastic beats, distorted guitars, and layered synths that evoke early 2000s and mid-2010s pop aesthetics with a contemporary twist.[6][4] She describes her sound as "girly hyper-pop," emphasizing its sickly sweet, over-the-top quality where "everything is thrown at the wall."[4] This approach results in confessional "depression-pop" anthems that blend upbeat, danceable rhythms with emotionally raw content, often transforming emo-like introspection into sparkly electronic tracks.[42] Lyrically, her work centers on explicit explorations of sex, romantic relationships, and self-empowerment, drawing from autobiographical diary-like entries that candidly address personal frustrations, including those stemming from interactions with men.[6][42] Recurring motifs include queer desire and the complexities of female experiences in love, such as closeted attractions and religious trauma intertwined with sexuality, presented through first-person narratives that prioritize unfiltered emotional honesty over subtlety.[4][43] These themes often juxtapose humor and absurdity with deeper vulnerability, fostering empowerment through direct confrontation of relational dynamics and mental health struggles.[6][42] Her visual style complements this sonic maximalism with candy-colored, fairy-tale-inspired aesthetics in music videos and performances, dominated by vibrant pinks and campy, tacky elements that create a whimsical contrast to the gritty, confrontational lyrics.[6][4] This signature pink-hued presentation underscores a hyperfeminine, playful facade while amplifying the thematic tension between surface-level sweetness and underlying relational candor.[6]Songwriting approach and inspirations
Peach PRC's songwriting process is deeply confessional, akin to journaling, where she channels personal experiences and emotions into lyrics to process complex feelings. She begins by drafting from texts, poems, or raw thoughts, often drawing directly from her life events—such as past relationships and her time as a stripper—while emphasizing personal agency and growth rather than portraying herself as a victim. This approach allows her to transform dark or introspective themes into upbeat, anthemic pop structures, avoiding melancholic ballads in favor of clever, rhythmic narratives.[40][13] She frequently uses TikTok as an initial testing ground for unfiltered ideas and drafts, posting candid content about her mental health, sobriety, and sexuality, which feeds into her songwriting catharsis. This platform enabled early experimentation with vulnerable disclosures, such as her public coming-out around 2021, before refining them into full tracks. PRC has noted that verbalizing thoughts online or in music is essential for emotional processing, stating, "I can’t really process what I’m thinking or feeling until I either verbalise it online or put it into music."[40][44] Her inspirations draw heavily from early 2000s and 2010s pop icons, including Pink, Britney Spears, Kesha, Katy Perry, and Carly Rae Jepsen, whose bold, experiential styles shaped her affinity for vivid, personality-driven lyrics. Additional influences include Y2K pop-rock acts like All American Rejects and Wheatus for their storytelling cadence, as well as The 1975's poetic guitar-driven elements, evident in tracks like "Symptomatic." PRC also cites unconventional sources such as children's cartoon soundtracks, old YouTube parody videos, and synaesthetic associations—like perceiving music as "ultra-violet"—stemming from her childhood fascination with fairy tales and her mother's pink aesthetic.[44][13][45] Following her industry signing, PRC shifted toward selective collaborations while preserving independence, as seen in her work with songwriter Bonnie McKee on "Forever Drunk" in 2022, a partnership she described as surreal given her history dancing to McKee's tracks during stripping shifts. This balance allows professional input on production without diluting her core confessional voice, though she has released provocative singles like "God Is a Freak" independently to bypass potential management vetoes.[13]Public reception and impact
Commercial achievements and chart performance
Peach PRC's single "Josh", released independently in early 2021, marked her initial entry into mainstream charting by peaking at number 38 on the ARIA Singles Chart. Following her signing with a major label, the track "Manic Dream Pixie" propelled her to her first number-one position on the ARIA Singles Chart in May 2023.[7] Her self-titled debut EP, Manic Dream Pixie, simultaneously debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart that month, outperforming releases from artists like Morgan Wallen and representing a shift from her earlier independent releases to label-backed commercial peaks.[46][47] Subsequent singles demonstrated sustained chart momentum, with "Time of My Life" debuting on the ARIA Singles Chart in August 2024.[48] Her catalog has accumulated over 220 million streams across platforms as of mid-2024, driven by viral TikTok traction that amassed 1.7 billion views and supported her transition from self-released tracks to broader revenue through digital sales and playlist placements.[49][50] This social-to-streaming pipeline, bolstered by 2.2 million TikTok followers and over 4 million combined across platforms, underscores her independent origins in fan-funded virality before label amplification scaled earnings.[51][52] Live revenue complemented recorded metrics, with global sold-out performances reflecting demand from her TikTok-converted audience, including international expansions that capitalized on early self-made buzz without initial label infrastructure.[52] By 2025, this foundation enabled U.S. market penetration, evidenced by high attendance at dates like her September show at The Hall in Chicago, aligning with her progression from niche digital independency to verifiable multi-platform commercial viability.[53]Critical reception and cultural influence
Peach PRC's music has received praise from critics for its candid exploration of personal vulnerabilities, including mental health challenges and queer identity, positioning her as a voice of unapologetic authenticity in contemporary pop. NME's review of her 2023 debut EP Manic Dream Pixie awarded it four stars, commending its "raw, heartrending emotion" and ability to blend playful silliness with serious introspection, which underscores her versatility beyond superficial pop tropes.[43] Billboard has similarly highlighted tracks like "God Is a Freak" (2022) in its Pride songs selection, noting her provocative questioning of societal norms as a standout contribution to queer representation in music.[54] Live performances have drawn acclaim for her commanding stage presence and audience connection, with reviewers from 2023 onward describing her shows as immersive spectacles that amplify her thematic resilience. A 2023 review of her Manic Dream Pixie tour praised her "undeniable" talent and dynamic energy, even amid vocal challenges, emphasizing how her delivery fosters intimacy in larger venues.[55] By 2024, critiques of her Enmore Theatre set lauded her "mesmerizing" execution across upbeat anthems and reflective ballads, attributing her appeal to a polished yet vulnerable persona that resonates with fans navigating similar struggles.[56] Culturally, Peach PRC has influenced Australian pop by challenging radio conservatism with explicit, confessional content that secured mainstream airplay, as seen in her breakthrough singles' chart trajectories and EP debuts. Her TikTok origins have rippled into a broader wave of vulnerable, hyper-personal artist expressions on the platform, inspiring a generation of creators to prioritize raw storytelling over polished narratives. As a self-identified lesbian artist, she embodies hyperfeminine queer visibility, contributing to discussions on the evolving landscape of gender-diverse Australian music, where outlets like The Music have positioned her alongside emerging talents reshaping industry norms.[57] This influence extends to fostering safe performative spaces for queer audiences, evident in her award wins, such as the 2024 Shure Rolling Stone Best Single for "Perfect for You," which interpolates early-2000s pop while affirming personal agency.[58]Controversies and criticisms
In April 2021, Peach PRC publicly accused comedian Alex Williamson, her former partner, of predatory behavior during their relationship, alleging it took place when she was 19 years old and he was 29; she stated her intent was to warn other young women about such dynamics.[27][59] Williamson denied the claims of abuse or grooming, describing the relationship as consensual, though he was subsequently dropped by his management agency amid the fallout.[59] Her August 2024 music video faced backlash for including scenes of a nude strip search in a women's prison and references to the death penalty, with online commentators and media outlets criticizing the content as insensitive and disconnected from real-world implications for female incarceration.[60] Detractors argued the portrayal risked trivializing traumatic experiences, though Peach PRC has not publicly responded to the specific complaints. In February 2024, during Universal Music Group's licensing dispute with TikTok—which temporarily muted promotion for many Australian artists including Peach PRC—she highlighted the platform's selective enforcement and broader negative impacts on independent musicians, pointing to instances where non-Universal content faced undue restrictions.[61] This episode underscored critiques of her heavy reliance on TikTok for virality, with some observers noting the fragility of such algorithm-driven success amid platform volatility.[61]Discography
Extended plays
Peach PRC's debut extended play, Manic Dream Pixie, was released on April 28, 2023, through Republic Records, marking her first major-label project following a series of independent singles.[7][62] The six-track EP debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart, achieving her first chart-topping position and accumulating tens of millions of streams across platforms.[7][63] The EP features production from collaborators including Kesha's team for select tracks and emphasizes themes of self-empowerment, relationships, and personal reflection, aligning with Peach PRC's transition to broader commercial visibility.[64][63] Its track listing includes:- "Kinda Famous"
- "Perfect For You"
- "F U Goodbye"
- "Loved You Before"
- "Favourite Person"
- "Like A Girl Does" (on deluxe editions)
Singles
Peach PRC's independent debut single, "Blondes", was released on 19 June 2019.[66][67] The track did not achieve notable commercial chart performance. Her major-label debut, "Josh", arrived in early 2021 and marked her first entry on the ARIA Singles Chart, peaking at number 38.[3][7] "God Is a Freak" followed as a standalone single on 3 February 2022.[68] It generated significant online buzz, including endorsements from artists such as Billie Eilish, but lacked reported peaks on major charts like ARIA.[69] In 2024, "Secret" was issued on 29 February via Republic Records.[69][70] No peak chart positions or certifications have been documented for this release as of available data.Promotional singles and features
Peach PRC provided guest vocals on Leat'eq's "Tokyo (Bubblegum)", a bubblegum pop track released on October 20, 2021, which blended electronic elements with playful lyrics and contributed to her early visibility in collaborative projects.[71] In February 2023, she participated in Apple Music's Home Session series, recording stripped-down versions of her single "Perfect For You" alongside a cover of Kylie Minogue's "Love at First Sight", produced with minimal instrumentation to highlight her vocal delivery and released exclusively on the platform as a promotional showcase.[72][73] These efforts emphasized her adaptability across formats without tying directly to core album cycles. No official remixes or additional compilation appearances featuring her contributions were released post-2023 as of October 2025.Live performances
Headlining tours
Peach PRC's inaugural major headlining tour, the Manic Dream Pixie Tour, took place across Australia from April to May 2023, with performances in Adelaide at The Gov on April 27, Melbourne at the Forum on April 28 and 29, Perth at Astor Theatre on May 2, Sydney at Enmore Theatre on May 4 and 5, and Brisbane at The Tivoli on May 6.[74][75] The tour, supporting her debut extended play Manic Dream Pixie, sold over 12,000 tickets nationwide, marking a significant step in her live performance career.[76] In early 2024, she launched the Secret PRC Tour, an East Coast Australian headlining run spanning March 21 to April 6, featuring expanded dates at larger venues including two nights at Melbourne's Forum on March 21 and 22, Sydney's Enmore Theatre on March 29 and 30, and Brisbane's Riverstage on April 5 and 6, with additional stops in Wollongong and Canberra.[77][78] This outing represented her largest Australian headline venues to date and incorporated setlist updates reflecting newer singles like "Freak" alongside core tracks from prior releases.[77] Peach PRC expanded internationally with her debut North American headlining tour in September 2024, beginning September 13 at August Hall in San Francisco, followed by dates in Los Angeles, Chicago's Bottom Lounge on September 17, Toronto, Boston's Royale, and Brooklyn.[79] The tour's setlists evolved to emphasize her growing discography, blending high-energy pop tracks such as "Josh" and "Like A Girl Does" with fan-favorite earlier material, adapting to diverse audiences while maintaining her signature theatrical production.[79] No major headlining tours were announced for 2025 as of October 2025.[80]Festival appearances and collaborations
Peach PRC made her debut at Splendour in the Grass in July 2023, performing on the main stages in Byron Bay, Australia, where her set drew crowds with high-energy renditions of tracks like "Heavy" and "Josh," contributing to the festival's mix of pop and alternative acts.[81][82] In July 2024, she appeared at Spin Off Festival in Adelaide, Australia, sharing the bill with artists including girl in red and G. Flip, delivering a set that highlighted her pop-punk influences amid the event's spin-off from the canceled Splendour lineup.[83] Peach PRC performed at Bludfest on June 21, 2025, in Milton Keynes, UK, where she joined Yungblud for a live rendition of their collaborative track "Cruel Kids," an unreleased song featuring her verse; the performance was noted for its magical stage presence and vocal delivery, with festival organizers describing her as "looking and sounding like an angel."[84][85] Later in 2025, she took the stage at All Things Go Music Festival across its New York City (September 27) and Columbia, Maryland (September 28) editions, sets including "Blondes," "Loved You Before," and "Forever Drunk" that were praised for high energy and crowd engagement, with reviewers noting she "popped off" and energized the audience alongside headliners like Doechii.[86][87][88][89] She also appeared at Yours & Owls Festival on March 1–2, 2025, in Wollongong, Australia, focusing on her manic pop style in a boutique setting that emphasized emerging Australian talent.[90]Awards and nominations
ARIA Music Awards
Peach PRC has received four nominations at the ARIA Music Awards, spanning 2023 and 2024, recognizing her work in pop releases, visual media, artwork, and production engineering, though she has yet to secure a win.[91][92]| Year | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Best Pop Release | "Perfect for You" | Nominated |
| 2023 | Best Video | "Manic Dream Pixie" (Kyle Caulfield, director) | Nominated |
| 2023 | Best Cover Art | Manic Dream Pixie (Billy Zammit, artwork) | Nominated |
| 2024 | Best Engineered Release | "Time of My Life" (Josh Harris, engineer) | Nominated |