Tomboy Tuesday: Molly Martin
Molly Martin (she/her) is a Philly-born, Nashville-based musician. Her debut album, "Mary," is coming out soon. We're excited to share more about her music career, and thoughts on style and fashion.
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TomboyX: Where are you from, and when/how did you start making music?
Molly Martin: I’m originally from Philly but have lived in Nashville for 6 years now. I started playing music when I was 15, originally just playing bass. But I started singing and playing guitar soon after and started writing songs at the age of 18.
TBX: How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard you?
MM: I’d say it’s cheeky indie rock reminiscent of early Smashing Pumpkins, Land of Talk, and the attitude of the Pretenders. It’s music that pretends to not care about your feelings but really does.
TBX: What’s your favorite show you’ve ever played?
MM: Every year around the holidays I play a hometown show in Philly and it always feels like a reunion. Everyone from old school teachers to new friends show up and it just feels like a celebration and perfect way to close out the year.
TBX: What are you most looking forward to in the next six months?
MM: Touring more and releasing my debut album titled “Mary”! You only get one debut album, and I feel so proud of this piece of work. My birth name is Mary, and each track feels like a different aspect of the intersection between a buttoned-up Mary and a buttoned-down Molly. It’s an 8-song inquiry into self-discovery, covering everything from life after drinking to sexual assault.
TBX: How have your relationships with clothing and fashion changed over time?
MM: So much! I think my personal sense of style became clearer as my voice as a writer became clearer. I love getting to choose on any given day how masculine or feminine I feel on the inside and how I want to project that outwardly. I’d definitely describe my style as bisexual carpenter energy with a rock alter ego.
TBX: What do you hope people get out of hearing your music?
MM: I hope that people see themselves in my story. Because the feelings of wanting to break out of the boxes the world puts you in, the anger of being made to feel small, and learning to triumph over personal failure feels universal. Not to mention I write from a place of humor, because if you let all of those things crush you into losing that humor then its hard to find the light at the end of the tunnel.
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You can find Molly on Instagram @mollymartinsongs