**In an era of heavy production, The Skinnier Tapes cuts through the noise with stripped-back honesty.**

The Skinnier Tapes is a 5-song piano/vocal EP that unfolds like a diary you weren’t meant to read — raw, unguarded, and deeply human. Written by Maura Streppa and friends between the ages of 20 and 24, these songs capture the turbulence of heartbreak, the pull of old patterns, and the fight to reclaim self-worth.

With nothing to hide behind but piano and voice, the project leans into intimacy. Each track is a snapshot of survival — not just stories told after the fact, but real-time emotional documentation. Together, they form an arc that begins in heartbreak and ends in healing.

stream now

THE “I DESERVE TO TAKE UP SPACE” MOVEMENT

For as long as I can remember, I’ve carried a complicated relationship with my body. When I released my song “Skinnier” in 2022, I was writing from a place of pain, comparison, and feeling like I wasn’t allowed to fully exist unless I took up less space. Seeing that song appear on The Nashville Sign for the first time was a surreal moment, but it also marked the beginning of a deeper healing process I didn’t know I needed.

Now, with the release of The Skinnier Tapes, I’m choosing to close the door on that chapter and open a new one rooted in self-compassion, honesty, and community. This project is an invitation to unlearn the narratives that tell us we have to shrink to be worthy. And I don’t want to do it alone.

That’s why I partnered with The Public Bored to launch the “I Deserve to Take Up Space” Billboard Campaign: a community-driven initiative designed to amplify your stories, your voices, and the moments that make you proud to be exactly who you are.

How It Works

Over several weeks, messages from fans, friends, and strangers will be featured on The Nashville Sign, one of the most visible digital billboards in the city. Each message begins with a simple but powerful prompt:

“I deserve to take up space because…” or “I’m proud of…”

You can submit anything: something you overcame, something you’re learning, something you love about yourself, or something you’re finally giving permission to exist without apology. I’ll be sharing select messages both online and on the billboard, creating a rotating gallery of real, vulnerable, human stories lighting up Nashville.

Why It Matters

This campaign is more than a promotional moment. It’s a reminder that self-worth doesn’t come from shrinking down, fitting in, or meeting impossible standards. It comes from showing up as your whole self and allowing others to do the same.

If even one person sees their message on that screen and feels proud of who they are - or if someone driving by feels less alone because of a stranger’s words - then this campaign has done its job.

How to Participate

Simply comment on any of my social channels, share your message, and tag someone you want to uplift. Your words might be the next to light up Nashville.

submit here