With a name that conjures up images of Grimm fairy tale characters and movie heroines from the 1980s, London based singer-songwriter Molly Beanland is set to unleash her fresh brand of intimate tunes that'll have you dancing one minute and dreaming the next.

We caught up with Molly on the snow filled slopes of Saas-Fee in Switzerland where she was shooting a new video for Wham's classic hit festive song 'Last Christmas', she looked 'real pretty' in her neon pink salopettes, just before the lady came to 'volumise' her hair with the aid of mousse, spray and other 1980's hair products, we asked her some questions, here's how we got on....

 

Please introduce yourself and your music in one sentence....

Molly Beanland, purveyor of pop power ballads, synth drama, blushing and sailor costumes.

 

Your 'Night Dreams’ EP is to be released soon, what can we expect?

80s influenced pop music for make out sessions and road trips

 

‘Real Life’ has been released on Soundcloud, how has social media aided you and your music?

The response has been amazing, I’ve never really put anything out before so it’s been great to have such a positive response, you never know how people are going to react to your music when you’re in your bedroom recording it, so it’s kind of terrifying and exciting to make that leap and put it out there, totally rewarding if it garners new listeners and nice reviews! It’s motivating too, it’s pretty hard going trying to launch yourself as an artist. But its stuff like that that makes you keep working, and keep trying harder.

 

Being based in East London have you ever tried Pie and Mash?

On Broadway Market? I threw a party there last month! I live just around the corner. Actually it was Pie and Mash masquerading as Gin Palace… seriously AMAZING cocktails!

 

What is a Molly Beanland live show like?

I’ve taken to wearing an anime sailor suit and waving around a pineapple. We are always developing the live show, there’s so much more that I want to do with it, currently working on adding more props and lights! We work hard to make the show sound as close to the record as possible, so it’s pretty BIG sounding!

 

What is the best advice you ever received and who was it from?  

If you love someone, you love their freedom - my mum.

 

If you could duet with anyone, who would it be?

Right this second... I’d say Kanye West. Been spinning My Dark Twisted Fantasy a lot this week!

 

Your cover of 'Suicide Is Painless' is beautiful, what made you choose to cover that track?

Thank you! I was just listening to a playlist one day and the original came on and I thought I would love to cover it, I have quite a long spotify playlist of things I want to cover!

 

Do you have a favourite quote?

In love with this right now:

"If your deepest self is singing and coaxing you straight toward the bonfire, is it better to turn away? (...) Or...is it better to throw yourself head first and laughing into the holy rage calling your name?” - Donna Tartt, The Goldfinch

 

It has been said there is an underlying darkness to your sweetness, is that true?

When I’m good, I’m very good, but when I’m bad, I’m better.

 

In your opinion, what is the BEST album/record ever released?

Agh! Why do people always ask this, it’s too hard!! Well, if I have to… then Grace by Jeff Buckley takes a lot of beating. That record is pretty perfect in my opinion. There are so so many records I love though, it feels wrong even attempting to pick just one.

 

What classic song would you have liked to have recorded and why?  

Last Christmas - for the royalties baby and also I look quite good in a ski suit.

 

If you were able to read anyone’s diary alive, dead or fictional whose would it be and why?

My own, I’d love to have committed to diary writing but I have absolutely the worst self discipline for things like that! But I’d love to read what former incarnations of myself had to say about the world… or I dunno, maybe that would just be a cringefest...

 

There are many good bands and musicians out there, who would you ask the readers of musicmuso to look out for?

Rob Bravery, Rae Morris and Dwntwn

 

Do you think we can ever live in a world where a chicken can cross the road without having its motives questioned?

If a chicken crosses the road and no one is around to see it, does anyone question it’s motives?

 

What are your plans for 2014?

Well my EP is released on 12th May and then I’m getting ready for lots of live shows and some festival slots.

 

 

Molly was desperately looking for the George Michael look-a-like to shoot the last few minutes of the video, we understand that he was cruising around London looking for a shop that develops photos to crash into. Whilst she was waiting, we threw in some quick fire questions for her to ponder....

 

Coffee or Tea?  Coffee

Coke or Pepsi?  7Up

Drum machine or the real deal?  Drum machine

Mac or PC?  Mac

Fry up or Sunday roast?  Fry up

Lemmy (Motorhead) or Ozzy (Black Sabbath)?  Ozzy

CD or Vinyl?  CD - for road trips!

Car or Motorbike?  Car (see above)

Acoustic or electric?  Electric

Brad or George?  Brad

Shower or Bath?  Bath

Tattoos or Piercings?  Tattoos

Robert De Niro or Al Pacino?  De Niro

God or Google?  Google!!!

 

 

 

Forthcoming Live Dates

21st May @ Hoxton Bar & Kitchen (supporting Solomon Grey) - Gold Dust

27th June @ Upstairs at the Garage (supporting July Child) - MAMA

30th June @ The Waiting Room (headline) - Parallel Lines

 

 

SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook 

Twitter

Soundcloud

 

Musicmuso would like to thank Molly for taking time during the video shoot to answer our questions, we understand that the George look-a-like was arrested after careering into the Southwark branch of 'Kwik-e-Print' in his Range Rover and taken to a police station where he is currently 'assisting police with their enquiries', the video is on hold and it looks doubtful that the Molly Beanland version of the classic track will be hitting the shops this side of Christmas, maybe next year eh?

 

Interview by Mark Wincott