Molly Payton announces forthcoming mini-album, shares latest single 'You Cut Me So Much Slack'.
Announced for Pitchfork Music Festival Paris & Supporting Oscar Lang on tour this October
Molly Payton announces her forthcoming mini-album Slack today, out October 1st via The Orchard, and shares new single and video ‘You Cut Me So Much Slack’.
The London-based 20-year-old has recently returned from a long stint in her homeland of New Zealand, where she created Slack remotely with her frequent collaborator Oli Barton-Wood (Nilüfer Yanya, Porridge Radio, Sorry), as well as Grammy-award winning producer Jimmy Hogarth (Sia, Amy Winehouse) and British songwriter Benjamin Francis Leftwich. She will also headline DIY magazine's next IRL showcase alongside Pixey on August 24 at Signature Brewery in London, and join Oscar Lang on his UK tour this October.
‘You Cut Me So Much Slack’ is accompanied by a video directed by Taylor Mansfield, which carries on the storyline from previous single and video for ‘Honey’, showing the delirious aftermath of a breakdown in communication. Molly’s mini-album follows her breakout EP Porcupine, released last Autumn to wide critical acclaim, including Pigeons & Planes, Dork, The Line of Best Fit , Steve Lamacq at 6Music and Jack Saunders at BBC Radio 1. It also caught the ears of fellow artists, including Arlo Parks, who chose Molly to appear alongside her takeover of Spotify’s ‘Our Generation’ playlist, commenting of Molly’s music
“there was just this sense of rawness and earnestness that really reminded me of things that I’ve lived myself.”
Molly explains that ‘You Cut Me So Much Slack’ was the genesis of her coming project Slack, representing a shift in both her mindset and lyricism with a renewed focus on self-reflection and accountability.
“‘You Cut Me So Much Slack’ is a song I wrote initially for my EP Porcupine, but decided just before it came out that it fit better in this project.
Molly explains
In Porcupine when I wrote about friendships and relationships I was placing a lot of blame on other people, whereas my coming project Slack is more self-reflective and centres around taking responsibility for your own faults in order to grow.
My anxiety used to make it almost impossible to communicate and express my feelings to someone, and when I tried it would never come out the way I wanted it to.
That’s what this song is driven by, that frustration and desperation of wanting someone but not being able to tell them."
The thematic shift is one that mirrors Molly’s return to her roots. Originally intended to be a short stay, her time in New Zealand was extended as UK lockdowns prevailed. As well as spending time with the friends and places she left as a teenager, it also fuelled her resolution to reconnect with the memories and tribulations of her past, and process them through her songwriting. Revolving around the adage of looking back in order to move forward, she describes her coming output as “honest, reflective and hopeful.” Her time back home also allowed her to rediscover the catharsis of playing live, with Molly performing a series of full-capacity headline gigs against the backdrop of New Zealand’s low Covid rates and eased restrictions.
Molly Payton’s first offering came in the form of her debut EP Mess, which was co-produced with Oscar Lang, who she met at her new school soon after relocating to the UK at age 16. This was followed up by 2020s Porcupine, which saw her strike up a new songwriting partnership with producer Oli Barton-Wood, embracing a fuller sound, a direct reflection of her contemporary experiences in London and changing tastes. Praised for her evocative lyricism and evolved songwriting, Molly’s new singles compromise none of her edge, yet offer a more personal look into the workings of the young songwriter, and forecasts bright things as she returns to London.
Stream ‘You Cut Me So Much Slack’ here
Festival Appearances
Sun 15 Aug | Leicester | 110 Above Festival
Fri 24 Aug | London | DIY IRL at Signature Brewery
Sat 25 Sep | Bristol | Dot to Dot Festival
Sun 26 Sep 2021 | Nottingham | Dot To Dot Festival
Fri 01 Oct | Liverpool | Liverpool Sound City Festival
Sat 23 Oct | Newcastle| Hit The North Festival
Sat 20 Nov | Paris, France | Pitchfork Music Festival Paris
Oscar Lang Tour support dates
Tue 19 Oct | Manchester | The Deaf Institute
Wed 20 Oct | Liverpool | Jacaranda Records
Thurs 21 Oct | Sheffield | Yellow Arch Studios
Mon 25 Oct | Leicester | The Cookie
Tue 26 Oct | Brighton | Komedia
Weds 27 Oct | Tunbridge Wells | The Forum
Thu 28 Oct | London | Camden Assembly
Comments