HEARTBREAK BALLAD CONNOISSEUR AND ONLINE SENSATION MOLLY ROBERTS TALKS PERFORMING LIVE, HEARTFELT FAN MOMENTS, AND NEW SINGLE ‘HURRICANE’
INTERVIEW | MOLLY ROBERTS by Martha Munro
After reaching over 2.2 million views on her 2023 song Goodbye, Welsh singer-songwriter Molly Roberts has only been climbing higher and higher. We got the chance to ask her a few questions about her latest single release, Hurricane, as well as her impressive live collabs, day-to-day hobbies, and an exciting upcoming debut EP…
Hurricane seems to be a pretty apt title for a Molly Roberts project right now, since you’re in an absolute whirlwind of success. How’s it been to see your fan base grow and keep growing?
It’s been really exciting! What has meant the most isn’t just the numbers, but the real messages from people saying how my music has helped them through tough times. That’s always been the most rewarding part for me. One lady came to my Cardiff headline show and told me that my song Goodbye is the reason she’s still alive, which was just mind-blowing and so emotional.
You’re best-known for your stellar vocals and intensely heartfelt songwriting. Can we expect more of this with new single Hurricane?
Definitely! Hurricane feels like a true reflection of who I am as an artist. Vocally it’s big, emotional, and raw, and lyrically it comes from a very honest place. For me, the key line is, “there’s so much more than doubt, there’s nothing getting in my way, I’m a hurricane”. I want people to feel empowered when they hear it and that anything is possible.
What is it about this song that made it a stand-out single for you?
From the moment I wrote it with Amy Wadge nearly two years ago, it felt like a song that needed to be performed live. Whenever we’ve played it live, Hurricane seems to connect a lot with people. I have quite a few heartbreak ballads in my catalogue and felt it was time to create something uplifting!
Your live-performance repertoire is pretty astounding, spanning from opening for the likes of Jess Glynne, Sigridand Amy Wadge, to selling out your own UK headline tours, to performing at the Principality Stadium for the European Championships, where you’ll be returning mid-February for the Six Nations Wales v France Match. Have you always been a big performer? What is it about performing live that’s so special?
I’ve always loved performing – growing up I would be singing all the time, I literally couldn’t stop, I just loved it so much! I used to put on concerts for anyone who came to the house. For my 9th birthday, my parents bought me some singing lessons, and I remember my singing teacher saying that she had never heard a vocal tone like that before – and she had taught hundreds of students. From then on, I entered lots of local talent competitions and never stopped. Performing live is what I love most about being an artist, and I hope I’m still doing shows when I’m 70! Last year we got an amazing band together, so my live shows now have evolved from me at a piano to full band shows. Singing in Wales, especially somewhere as iconic and enormous as Principality Stadium is a true honour.
Moving offstage and out of the studio for a moment – what can you usually be found doing away from music? Do you have any interests or hobbies you think would surprise people?
When I’m not working, I love spending time with my family, friends, and my dog Bobby! Wales is such a beautiful country and I love making the most of it – climbing up an amazing mountain called Pen y Fan or going to the beach whenever I can. I studied French at university, and speak fluently but I don’t want to lose it, so I often listen to French podcasts or watch French TV shows.
Your song Goodbye has catapulted into online adoration since its release in 2023, amassing over 2.2 million views. Since we’re getting into February now, what’s one thing you’ve definitely said Goodbye to from 2025?
One thing I’ve definitely said ‘Goodbye’ to is comparison. It’s so easy in this industry to look at other artists and see them hitting major milestones more quickly than you, but I’ve learned that trusting the process and going at your own pace is so important. I also try to remind myself that direction is more important than speed. Just have to keep moving forward.
And of course, your debut EP is on the way this year too! What can you tell us about it?
I’m so excited to be releasing my debut EP this year. It’s the first body of work I’ll have ever released. Up until now, I’ve only put out singles but I want to be an album artist. All my favourite artists such as Joni Mitchell and Carole King have released incredible, timeless albums, and that’s definitely something I hope to create. My EP is honest but there are also a couple of big songs on there that I can’t wait to be released.
If you could describe the upcoming EP in 3 words, what would they be?
Bold, honest, soulful.
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