EP Review: Molly Green - 'Naked'
NAKED is Molly Green’s debut EP - a raw, soulful and delicate portrait of this rising artist
As a recent graduate of Music at Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, this neo-soul singer-songwriter from Bristol has introduced herself and her vocals with poise and clarity on this acoustic four-track EP (‘Just A Girl’, ‘SUGAR’, ‘I’m Ready Now’ and ‘Dusky Haze’) released on 2nd July. Signed to the label Modern Sky, Molly recorded this EP during lockdown with just her vocals paired with an electric guitar.
The first track on NAKED is ‘Just A Girl’ - a song about dealing with a breakup and moving on. With a mix of scatting and melodic guitar, this track has the easy listening of Corinne Bailey Rae and Jack Johnson. Molly sings about ‘starting a new chapter of life’ and ‘letting go of yesterday’ in this bubbly track which embraces uncertainty and new beginnings.
The second song on NAKED is a cover of ‘SUGAR’ which was originally by the hip-hop band Brockhampton. Molly strips this track down and allows her vocals to take centre stage. With lyrics such as ‘I move mountains on my own’ and ‘You can find me dancing in between the raindrops’, the imagery of this song suits and shows off Molly’s jazzy undertones perfectly.
Prior to this EP Molly released two singles this year - ‘Dusky Haze’ and ‘Square One’, with the latter catching the attention of Joy Crookes. The next song on the EP, ‘I’m Ready Now’, was written especially for the gig where Molly supported Joy Crookes back in early March. It is a song that communicates her feelings towards finishing her studies in Liverpool and establishing herself as an artist who is confident and ready to perform. Molly sings ‘Won’t you stop and hear me sing’ and ‘Watch out I’m coming through’ - a bold and gritty address that would have no doubt captured the audience's attention.
The last track on NAKED is an acoustic version of her single ‘Dusky Haze’ released earlier this year. The lyrics ‘Suddenly my life feels like a dusky haze’ is a feeling that many can associate with and have experienced during lockdown. In the same way ‘Just a Girl’ feels like a hopeful summertime song, ‘Dusky Haze’ conjures up Autumnal scenes and lazy Sunday afternoons on the sofa. According to Molly, ‘Dusky Haze is about that dreamy feeling you have when you’re falling for someone’ - being swept away softly and thinking about ‘the bliss for days’. Occasionally the tone of the guitar in this track has a Khruangbin type sound about it which adds to the dreamy atmosphere.
Molly’s musical influences range from jazz, soul, RnB and blues with the likes of Nina Simone, B.B King, Moloko and Texas being part of her childhood soundtrack. Her sound has the intimacy and clarity of Carmody’s vocals, in moments the sassiness of Sophie Faith, and the soulful tones of Joss Stone.
Molly Green’s debut EP NAKED is a beautiful collection of stories, emotions and imagery brimming with anticipation for her future. Speaking of her music, Molly says that ‘My aim is to make my audience feel what I am feeling’ - this is very clear in ‘I’m Ready Now’ which communicates the frustrations and excitement involved with being an up-and-coming artist today. Hopefully it will be not too long before Molly can perform this EP live and audiences can experience her soulful vocals and be captivated by her storytelling.
Words by Lizzie Connor
Photo Credit: Kai Gillespie