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Her first offering came in the form of 2018’s debut EP Mess, co-produced with Dirty Hit signee Oscar Lang. The two met shortly after Molly began at her new UK school, and bonded over Beabadoobee’s early releases, which Oscar produced. Molly credits Oscar with instilling her with enough confidence to share her first track on Soundcloud.

Whilst Mess cast a reflective gaze to her teenage years, Porcupine emerges as bigger, fuller and louder, a reflection of Molly’s changing tastes as she works with and meets new people. “I’ve definitely gravitated towards a heavier, very ‘90s [sound],” she notes. “I love slacker bands like Happyness and big, noisy bands like Red Hot Chili Peppers, Pavement and Nirvana.” While she will always want meaning in her songs, she also wants to “make music that people can jump around to”.

Recorded in a heatwave and written to the backdrop of Molly’s first summer post-high school, Porcupine also draws from Molly’s sonic influences - combining soaring vocals reminiscent of indie darlings like Big Thief or Julia Jacklin with the energetic guitar-driven sonics and witty lyricism of contemporaries such as Snail Mail and Beabadoobee. Molly’s sound emerges unique to her, embracing the roots and influences of her New Zealand upbringing, yet grounding itself in the youthfulness and enthusiasm of navigating young adulthood in her new London setting. 

With her evocative lyricism, ever-expanding sound, and wry humour as a fixture Porcupine is both a snapshot and introduction to the world of Molly Payton, a bold new talent and most welcome arrival to the scene.