Molly Payton – 'Ruins'
Completing her newest EP, Ruins is a stunning track which in reality is far from what its namesake would suggest.
The last few years have been a bit of a whirlwind for Molly Payton; moving around constantly and coming of age against the uncertain and constant state of flux we have all experienced these last years has been difficult on the young artist. Her EP, aptly titled ‘Compromise’, has been an outlet for Payton to work through and put the madness into the right words and is perfectly completed by the track ‘Ruins’.
The track is all about navigating a personal crisis. In her own words, Molly articulates that the song was written to explore the sense of ‘being frustrated and ashamed of myself for not being able to stay on top of my mental health and with someone else for not understanding me’. In the spirit of compromising though, Molly endeavours to have fun with this track allowing for her to channel all those feelings into something positive. The track comes off the ground running with fast paced and upbeat instrumentals setting the tone for a tidal wave of heart. Molly’s vocals from the get go are pointed and emotive. She opens with:
‘Did you listen to a single word that I said? I tend to get a little caught up in my own head.’
It is always exciting and intriguing when lyrics open with a question as immediately there is a dialogue opened up between the artist and the listener. Molly doesn’t just facilitate a conversation about her mental health and wellbeing, she throws it at you whether you’re prepared to catch or not. While in times gone by she has been candid about her mental health, this song is purposefully direct. Perhaps what Molly is saying is that for too long she has compromised and not been heard and now is the time for her to be unapologetic and unabashed about what she is feeling.
The music video which accompanies the track is another triumph. In perfect reflection of the song's opening, the video starts with Molly’s head through an open car window. The wind races through her hair, echoing the rhythm of the guitar and drums. As the vocals come in, we are drawn almost immediately to her face – a confrontation where she asks us if we are truly seeing and listening to her. Camera shots taken from above her head make Payton appear small and distorted, similar perhaps to the way she has grown to see herself. She is caught up in her head and is not able to see nor navigate things properly. Moments later, the camera is positioned on the floor and Molly engulfs the screen. This constant shifting from one angle to the next illustrates the madness and change she has had to endure these last few years. By the end of the video, the camera angle is able to settle on Molly, suggesting now that she has found her peace and compromise and is able to move forwards.
Having already supported Arlo Parks, Beabadoobee and Tom Odell, there’s a lot to look forward to with Molly’s upcoming shows. Right now she is gearing up for performances down under but will be taking to the stage in the UK in the spring. She has hinted on her social media pages at exciting projects to come but for now we will have to compromise.
Words by Kirsty-Ann Thomson
