Mollie Elizabeth, a 22-year-old musician from Washington state, is gaining attention with theatrical, kooky art-pop that carries a darker, more personal undercurrent. Her new EP, People Pleaser, playfully dismantles the societal standards imposed on young women, which she describes as "the many twisted, weird dark webs that are coated in this sparkly pretty lens."
A Childhood Shaped by Nature and Music
Elizabeth says she trusted nature over humans from an early age. "I used to think I could talk to birds," she explains. "I learned at a very young age that I trusted nature more than humans. Animals can be violent and cruel but there's always a reason for what they're doing, whereas humans do things that are unnecessarily evil."
Her music and aesthetic have always been intertwined as a way to cope with a difficult period in her life. "My music and my aesthetic have always been intertwined because I was finding ways to make life enjoyable when I was in such a dark period of my life," she says. On the breakthrough song Run Rabbit, which sounds like a jaunty carnival showtune, she sings, "My mother taught me to just survive, put on a smile, just find a vice."
Rose-Tinted Lens and a New EP
Elizabeth describes herself as "a big advocate for rose-tinted lenses." She explains, "When things get really hard I would much rather sing a song about it than dwell on it. I don't shy away from talking about the hard things I've experienced, but what's really helped me heal is putting into words what I've experienced and then filtering it through a whimsical lens."
The EP People Pleaser includes tracks like Gimme More!, which laughs at money obsession with the line "Don't be stingy, sell a kidney," and Puppet Show, which skewers the plastic surgery industry. The release follows her move to Los Angeles this year, where she signed a record deal after years of releasing music on social media.
From the Woods to Los Angeles
Elizabeth notes the contrast between her previous secluded life and her new surroundings. "It's very strange, coming from a secluded life in the woods to LA where it's all billboards, opulence and designer goods," she says. She now does her grocery shopping in princess dresses and fancy hats as her self-created world begins to merge with reality.
With her first London date sold out and a tour planned for next year, she has been surprised by the response. "I'm letting people know they're not alone. If you're feeling crazy, join the club. If you're feeling broken, join the club. Be as strange and weird as you want. I've learned other people really enjoy that. I had no idea."
Mollie Elizabeth's EP People Pleaser is out now. She plays Hoxton Hall on November 17 and Union Chapel on February 17.
