Artist Of The Week #140 - Molly Payton

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This week’s Artist of the Week is London based Molly Payton, who has just released her new EP ‘Porcupine’ - the six tracks send out as a bold statement on where Molly is and where she definitely aims to be in the future. Introducing herself fully to the world with this EP certainly puts Molly out there as one of the top new talents arriving on the indie scene. She took a moment to talk to us about the release. 



Hey Molly - how are you? 
I’m good thank you!

So your EP is out now, how does it feel to have it out there in the world during such a troubling time for the creative industry? 
It feels good, these songs are so special to me and I’m so happy I can share them with people now. Obviously it’s sad that I won’t be able to play the songs live for a while, but i think people take comfort in music now more than ever. If Porcupine can do that for someone then I’m happy.

It is titled Porcupine - does that hold a certain meaning to you? 
Well at the time when I was recording the ep last summer my hair broke off and formed spikes around the top of my head so I looked like a porcupine for a wee while. Also a lot of the songs talk about keeping people at arms length as a defence mechanism so it felt like it made sense as a title.

How does it differ from your last EP? 
I’m still young and learning constantly as I write and record so I think there’s a natural progression shown between the eps because of that. Also because I had access to a band in the second ep I was able to bring in heavier influences from the music I listen to so that’s reflected a lot in the sound.

Where was it recorded? Any behind the scenes stories from the recording process?
We recorded most of it in saccharin studios during the heat wave last summer. On the hottest day it must’ve been about 35/36 degrees and I got pretty close to passing out.

Originally from New Zealand, but you moved to London at the age of sixteen - that must have been quite the experience? 
It was fucking terrifying to be honest hahaha, but if I hadn’t moved I’d probably be at uni in Nz studying business or something along those lines so I’m grateful every day that I moved.

You met musical Oscar Lang at an early stage of your music career - how did that friendship lead help your career and lead to the moment you are now with it? 
I honestly don’t think I’d have a career at all without Oscar. We met at school through our music tech teacher, then he recorded my first song in his room and I was only really ‘found’ in the first place because he posted it on his soundcloud. 

Do you have a favorite lyric on the EP? If so, which one and why? 
“Girls in cars and boys on speed, needs are wants and wants are needs, fall in love or spread the seed.
Stadium of ecstasy, do whatever makes you feel, it’s time to write the highlight reel.”
'Going Heavy' is my favourite song lyrically, just because it perfectly sums up that summer after I first left high school.

Now the EP is out there - what next for Molly?
World domination and then home to New Zealand for Christmas


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