Molly Grace Is Creating a World Where Everyone Belongs

By: Aneesha Mahapatra

At just 24 years-old, Molly Grace, originally from Lexington, Massachusetts, is bringing sparkles, queer joy, and unapologetic self-expression to the pop music scene.

Since debuting in 2021, the singer-songwriter has built a loyal fanbase with her theatrical performances, playful lyrics, and pop sound. She has headlined multiple tours, opened for Betty Who, and performed at festivals like Bonnaroo and All Things Go.

Now, as she continues celebrating the release of her debut album, “Blush”, Molly took her Pride Month tour, “Lovergirls: A Sapphic Soirée”, across the country including a stop at Purgatory in Brooklyn. Ahead of the show, she spoke with Girls Like Magazine about the future of queer representation in pop music, creating community through her performances, and the dreams she's manifesting for the next chapter of her career.

Your Pride Month Tour was centered around freedom, self-expression, queer joy, and community. What does queer joy mean to you personally and how has that evolved over the years?

“My goal with these shows is all about showing up for my fans. I want to interact with them, create a space that is equally just as much for me. The world feels a bit heavier every day and so I selfishly love being able to create these spaces to encourage expression and people to be themselves while being a part of it. All my shows are partnering with a local alternative organization, so it’s nice and an easy way for me to give back and make it purposeful.”

What are you most hopeful about for the LGBQT+ community as you look ahead to the future?

“What’s been really exciting to see is pop. Pop music has always been here, but a lot of the queer artists are really coming into mainstream, such as Chappell Roan, Renee Rapp, Doechii, and Muna. All these artists are in the forefront, and I’m hopeful for more of that.”

“For better or for worse, I feel like being queer or ‘queer-coded’ is very trendy, even in music and style, and I feel like that’ll be a good thing. I’m excited to see more queer artists break into mainstream media because for a long time, it was almost like ‘Don’t write about your true self and keep everything neutral’, so that’s exciting to see as we progress forward.”

What do you hope fans feel when they walk out of one of your shows?

“Empowered and good. I try really hard to curate a space that is accepting, fun, and lighthearted. We’ll get into ballads sometimes and have emotional moments, but in general, I want people to feel confident and uplifted.”

“Blush” introduces a new side of your artistry- looking back, what did creating that album teach you about yourself and as an artist?

“Creating an album is such a labor of love. It taught me a lot about the industry and how beautiful it is to create a whole album and build a world around it since it’s different from doing just a single. My goal with ‘Blush’ was to create a beautiful project that was kind of an introduction to the flavors and sounds that I love and like to make as an artist. It’s fun, flirty, and cheeky- there’s some RnB, disco, funk, and some soul. I feel like it has everything I love inside of it and I’m excited.”

Was there a particular moment in your life that gave you the courage to be so unapologetically yourself in your music?

“I must be honest and say that I’m naturally bold and hard for me to not be myself. I feel like what has really cemented it for me was that I’ve grown in my project, started going on tour, and meeting people in real life to see how much community it created and what it means to people. It gives me a sense of purpose to see how people are able to see themselves in me in many different ways.”

Where do you draw inspiration from when you’re writing?

“Sometimes, it’s like something going on in my life or something that occurred in the past which could be a fun concept. Or sometimes, it’s like hearing a word and building a world around that word, even. Honestly, most of the time what I like to do is step into the room with a vibe. I’ll play a song and be like ‘What would my take be on this kind of word?’ or even draw some inspiration from it.”

Who is an artist you look up to?

“Definitely Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones. They were really innovative in his vocal arrangement, but someone more recent is Raye. I think she’s amazing and she really breaks the rules of songwriting and pop, which I take inspiration from when I’m in the studio and writing a song. I like to push myself and think of her when I know I don’t want to be just a safe choice, but more creative and fearless.”

What are some dreams and goals you’re manifesting for yourself in the next few years?

“I’d love to open for another artist or do another headline or sold-out tour. I’m also manifesting a second album that I’m super proud of and feel like a natural progression- like an evolution of my artistry that feels essential. Obviously, also manifesting ‘Best New Artist’.”

Who’s a dream artist you’d love to collaborate with?

“Doechii, for sure.”