“I do a lot of thinking about when people come to a Molly Grace show, like ‘What do I want them to take away from it?’ The goal is for people to feel empowered,” says the Nashville-based, always sparkling, queer pop artist, before quickly clarifying that it’s just as important for audience and artist alike to be having fun, especially in, “a world that can get really heavy,” Grace says to me during a recent phone chat. This January Molly Grace announced an upcoming headlining tour and her signing to Nettwerk Music Group (home to phriends of PHILTHY like Lily Kershaw, Miya Folick, The Haunt, Together Pangea, and many, many more), in addition to dropping her latest single, “F.E.M.M.E.”
“F.E.M.M.E.” is an anthem about all of the wonderful embodiments of femme queerness, and loving yourself regardless of whichever ones you’re most comfortable embracing… in addition to an acronym for Fabulous, Enticing, Magnetic, Magical, Everything. The song was produced by Cody Fitzgerald, known for his work with our buddies Pom Pom Squad and Lawrence. “He is amazing! Honestly, we had the best time,” Molly tells me. She and Fitzgerald worked on the song in his home studio in New York where they quickly became friends. “He’s a great collaborator. He wasn’t afraid to offer up new ideas and push it forward,” Grace explains.
Last year Molly Grace embarked on the “Lovesick Tour,” her first-ever headlining jaunt, which included a March stop at The Lounge at World Café Live, although she’s gearing up to return to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection, and she’s getting an upgrade. In a few weeks Molly Grace kicks off the “But I’m a Pop Star!” Tour, whose second date will have her headlining The Foundry at The Fillmore on February 21st. And while I’m plenty curious to hear what’s planned for the live show, I’m equally (or, if I’m being honest, perhaps more…) interested in her thoughts on Jamie Babbit’s classic Gen X/millennial queer coming-of-age romcom that inspired the tour’s moniker and came out two years before the 23-year-old was born, But I’m a Cheerleader…
“I watched it for the first time like a year and a half ago. I was like, ‘I’m gay, I feel like this is my responsibility to watch this [laughs],’ and I just loved it. I love Natasha Lyonne, and I’m a big fan of Drag Race and I didn’t even realize RuPaul was in it,” Grace tells me of her first time viewing the 1999 film. She also says that she thinks the film fits the tone and aesthetic of her new music: “It’s just so campy and plays well with the themes of ‘F.E.M.M.E.’” And while Molly doesn’t fall into the category of cinephile, she does admit she’s a big enjoyer of movies: “Me and all of my friends have a Regal pass, and I go to at least one movie a week! I wouldn’t consider myself a movie buff, but I love horror movies; I love A24 and Blumhouse. And I love a good romcom!”
Molly Grace tells me she feels like she’s been doing music her whole life, but she has had some major highlights recently, like playing Bonnaroo last year, alongside a lot of her favorite acts. She also says that a recent Nashville release party for “F.E.M.M.E.” gave her a really satisfying opportunity to get friends’ and fans’ reactions to her latest sounds IRL: “It’s funny, because when songs release, it’s all in your phone [laughs].” But the single’s also gotten some love from a few publications that are especially near and dear to Molly: “Places like GLADD and Out, which are all outlets that I read!”
According to Grace, those who attended her show last year at World Café Live can expect something a little different of her stop at The Foundry: “We’re introducing some new elements. For those who saw the last Philly show, it’s gonna be a level up! And I love The Foundry!” And Molly says that she has a ton of new music coming soon (“I’m going to be releasing lots of stuff this year, maybe even doing a big ole project… Molly Grace fans can expect to be fed!”), and while there are no official release dates, she does tell me that audiences at her upcoming shows will hear quite a bit of it: “I’m performing a lot of new stuff that’s unreleased. So, those coming out to the ‘But I’m A Pop Star!’ Tour will be the first to hear a lot of songs.”
The “But I’m A Pop Star!” Tour will also have Molly partnering with LIFEBEAT, a program of the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation that fights for social justice and human rights for those affected by HIV and AIDS, with a portion of ticket sales going to the program and LIFEBEAT booths appearing at select shows. LIFEBEAT has previously partnered with a handful of artists of whom Molly tells me she’s a huge fan (like Remi Wolf and our longtime phriend Sammy Rae), but she also says the pairing just feels like an obvious choice: “LIFEBEAT is wonderful! Obviously, they’re doing great work, and it just makes sense, with myself being queer, and much of my fanbase as well, and Elizabeth Taylor is such an icon!”
*Get your tickets here.
