Today we’d like to introduce you to Molly Moore.
Hi Molly, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in New York and became extremely inspired to pursue music at a very young age. My father was a professional musician and multi-instrumentalist, and he also wrote original music. My mother was passionate about singing and my sister makes original music as well. Being surrounded by so many creative people within my own family encouraged me to really explore my own abilities. I started acting professionally at the age of 10 and auditioned for commercials, film and tv until I was 18. At 19, I made the move to Los Angeles and began pursuing writing for other artists. I was working as a waitress in a restaurant to pay my rent and lied about getting a publishing deal in order to quit after about eight months. I ended up writing with a ton of different people and working odd jobs until I actually signed my first publishing deal at 23. It was at that time that I began writing for my own projects again, I also found myself in a serious relationship and ended up forming a band with my partner.
At 25, my dad unexpectedly passed away and that created a big rift in my life. I was extremely depressed and my relationship ended shortly after. In facing so many transitions at once I focused inward and made my first album “Voice on the Internet”. The body of work is about my distorted relationship with the internet. I felt an extreme dissonance in who I was and who I was projecting online. I knew that nobody had any clue about how much I was struggling based on the photos and captions I posted. I also found myself having an extremely difficult time trying to get over someone that I was so close to for so long when the internet allowed me to continue checking in on their life so easily. The album has been a huge outlet for me in expressing the more uncomfortable aspects of what I’ve been through, especially in regards to my first real breakup. The response has been so encouraging, especially being independent, and I’m so excited to continue my journey releasing music, having real conversations and advocating for mental health.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has NOT been a smooth road!!! There have been so many obstacles and challenges. At the very beginning, I didn’t know how I could ever make music full time. I felt like I would be working jobs I hated to pay my rent forever and I would never have the opportunity to dive fully into what I love. Financial struggles have been at the forefront of my journey and even though I’ve been lucky enough to support myself through my music, constantly reinvesting any money I make into my own career has been rewarding and also extremely difficult. I’ve also struggled with negative self-talk. I’ve found, through therapy, affirmations and mindfulness, that I have a choice in which voice I follow and that has been one of the most liberating realizations that I’ve come to.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I make music! I write songs, I sing songs, I creative direct my photoshoots and videoshoots. I am also a very active part of managing my career. I’m so proud that I have started to established myself as an artist. What sets me apart from others is my drive, humor, and excitement to embrace challenges. I’ve discovered so many incredible parts of myself that I didn’t even know existed in creating a safe space for my more difficult emotions. Grieving is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to learn how to do, and it’s been expansive in showing me how much resilience I have and how much stronger I am than I ever knew.
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
I have been reaching out to people that I don’t know on the internet for as long as I can remember. It has proven to be an incredible tool for me, and I always encourage others to do the same. When I was 18, I was able to meet my favorite songwriter Claude Kelly from a cold email that I sent to his “info” email on his website. His manager responded and invited me to the studio. I would send emails like that often, never getting discouraged if I didn’t get an answer. I always like to find unique ways to make sure somebody knows my name before they know me or my music. I utilize social media to do this, to find people’s emails, and to do research on who I might want to connect with. I’ve always been a major advocate for this as it is one of the only ways I’ve managed to have a career in music. Don’t be afraid to reach out to people you don’t know – but always be mindful of the way you are approaching that communication. I always saw that record labels didn’t accept unsolicited submissions, but that never stopped me from trying to make personal connections with people at labels and other music companies, so that eventually my “submission” wouldn’t be considered “unsolicited”.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: mollymooreofficial.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/mollymoore
- Facebook: facebook.com/mollymooremusic
- Twitter: twitter.com/missmollymoore
- Youtube: youtube.com/himynameismollym
- SoundCloud: soundcloud.com/molly_moore
Image Credits:
Photographer: Ryan Jay
