Q&A: MOLLY PAYTON
AUCKLAND-BORN, LONDON-BASED ARTIST MOLLY PAYTON HAS A MAGICAL ABILITY TO MAKE YOU FEEL SO DEEPLY WITH HER MESMERIC VOCALS, EVOCATIVE LYRICISM AND BROODING MUSIC THAT HAS A WONDERFUL SENSE OF NOSTALGIA AND FAMILIARITY TO IT. SHE TELLS US ALL ABOUT HER LATEST MINI-ALBUM ‘SLACK’.
WE’D LOVE TO KNOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR MUSICAL JOURNEY SO FAR FROM WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED SINGING AND MAKING MUSIC!
I played the piano for 12 years before I started singing or playing the guitar. I never really thought about writing my own songs or pursuing a career in music until I moved to the UK at 16. It never really felt possible when I was in New Zealand, but as soon as I moved to London I started meeting people and it started to seem like a real option for me.
WE’RE SO OBSESSED WITH YOUR MINI ALBUM ‘SLACK’! CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT WHAT THEMES YOU DELVE INTO IN ‘SLACK’ AND HOW YOU LANDED ON ITS NAME?
It's all about self reflection and looking back to help you move forward. I guess the title kinda came from the idea of cutting yourself some slack; giving yourself the time to make mistakes and learn from them.
YES THAT IS SO IMPORTANT! WHAT WAS THE WRITING PROCESS LIKE FOR ‘SLACK’?
All over the place to be honest! Some of those songs are from 2 or 3 years ago and some of them I wrote two months before it came out. The pandemic made it hard to write and record this project in the way I initially intended to - I think everyone in the creative industries has kind of had to learn to roll with the punches in that sense. For example when my trip to NZ got extended because of how bad things were in London, I had to make the call to finish the second half of the album in Auckland. My producer Oli Barton-Wood was based in London so we were dealing with a 12 hour time difference. It was a really interesting way of working.
‘HONEY’ IS ONE OF OUR FAVE TRACKS OF YOURS! CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE MEANING OF THIS TRACK AND THE INSPIRATION BEHIND IT?
‘Honey’ is about that moment in a relationship where things stop working as well as they used to. This song was me taking responsibility for my part in the decay of it all, acknowledging that I'd been distant and that I’d keep trying to make things work. I think there’s also an undercurrent of frustration with myself for letting my past interfere with my present.
WHAT WERE SOME OF YOUR MAIN HIGHLIGHTS WORKING ON THE EP?
Probably recording ‘While You’re Driving’, my favourite song from ‘Slack’. Reuben Scott and I recorded the drums and rhythm guitar live and I think that really set the tone for the rest of the track. It’s just one of those rare songs that turned out almost exactly how I imagined it before we went into the studio.
WHO ARE YOUR BIGGEST INSPIRATIONS IN MUSIC?
Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Elton John are three artists that I grew up on who’ve really influenced me. Big Thief have been my favourite band for the last year or so since I first heard their music. Adrianne Lenker is probably one of my favourite songwriters of all time.
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR FAVOURITE NZ ARTISTS RIGHT NOW AND ARE THERE ANY SONGS IN PARTICULAR THAT YOU ESPECIALLY LOVE OR CONNECT WITH?
Three Quarter Marathon is probably my favourite NZ band at the moment - ‘Wise Words for Bored Birds’ is a great song.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT NEW ZEALAND? DO YOU HAVE ANY FAVOURITE PLACES TO TRAVEL TO OR LOCAL SPOTS YOU LOVE VISITING?
I can’t describe it to be honest, it’s just that feeling I get when I get off the plane that I'm home you know? My favourite place in the whole world is St Arnaud, Lake Rotoiti in the South Island. I've gone there for summer every year since I was born and I dont think I’m ever as happy and relaxed as i am when I'm there.
AMAZING! WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST LESSONS YOU’VE LEARNT IN YOUR CAREER SO FAR, AND WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR OTHER KIWI ARTISTS OUT THERE?
The main thing is to make sure you have a few people around you who you really trust, that way when issues come up (as they inevitably will in the music industry) you know who’s on your side. Also try not to think too much about your audience when you’re writing and recording a project. I’ve found that the moment I think about who’s gonna think a song is cool or if people are going to ‘get’ what I'm creating, everything gets a lot more stressful. Make music that’s honest and that you’re proud of and someone out there will connect with it.
WE LOVE THAT PIECE OF ADVICE! LASTLY, IF YOU COULD SAY ONE THING TO EVERY PERSON IN THE WORLD, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
I guess be kind when you can.
THANKS SO MUCH MOLLY! MAKE SURE YOU KEEP UP WITH HER ON INSTAGRAM, FACEBOOK, SPOTIFY OR APPLE MUSIC.
