INTERVIEW: Moli collaborates with POOLCLVB for banger 'Erase'

UK-Belgian singer-songwriter Moli released her debut EP Résumé, a gorgeously unique blend of jazz, R&B and electro, late in 2018. Throughout last year she released a number of singles, moving her sound fully into electropop ranging from sassy bangers (‘On The Weekend’) to laid back, tropical swayers (‘Lonely Nights’). At the end of January she released the smooth, synthpop track ‘Something I Said’ which was quickly followed by a collaboration with Sydney producer POOLCLVB on the techno dance track ‘Erase’, for which Moli wrote the lyrics and performed the vocals. Moli recently joined Women In Pop tell us more about this collaboration and what else is going on in her career.

Hi Moli! Great to chat with you. First of all, how is everything with you at the moment?
Everything is going great, thank you very much. I’ve been focused lately on finishing up some new music that I’m super excited about. Been collaborating with some cool writers and producers. Really enjoying the journey!

You have collaborated with POOLCLVB on the brilliant single ‘Erase’, which was released at the end of January. How did this collaboration come about?
I wrote “Erase” in London a couple years ago with Lewis Thompson and Chris Fabich. I really loved the song but we couldn’t find the right home for it at first. It was sitting with us for quite some time until it finally was picked up by POOLCLVB. He loved it, spiced it up and gave it a whole new life.

POOLCLVB lives in Australia and you live in Europe – how did the recording session happen?
We actually ended up using the vocals that I recorded back in London when the song was first written. I tried to re-record them in Berlin and sent the new vocals over. But there was something special about that first raw take that we couldn’t recreate. So we decided to keep the original vocals on the track.

How does the whole creative process differ for you collaborating on a song with another artist as opposed to creating a song for yourself?
I think every artist has their own signature regarding tastes and sounds. I’m very picky for instance when it comes to creating my own songs. When I collaborate, I have to share that creative space and bring different worlds together. I have to let go of having 100% of the creative control. It’s very refreshing.

As well as singing the track you wrote the lyrics, what was the inspirations behind your words?
I wrote this track at a time of my life when I was still heartbroken and couldn’t let go of this person. I really wanted to be able to just erase him from my head but I was incapable of doing so. I kept going back in time and thinking about all those great times that we had.

Who is on your dream list of artists to collaborate with?
Blood Orange, Lykke Li, Steve Lacy, Clairo, The Japanese House, Frank Ocean and many many more!

As well as ‘Erase’ you have also recently released your own single ‘Something I Said’, which is such a great song. Can you tell us a little about the creation of this track?
A while ago I went on a couple dates with this one guy that I really liked and found myself falling for. After the second date he didn’t contact me again. I had been ghosted and I felt pretty terrible. I started over thinking every little thing that I did or said that could have pushed him away. I went to the studio during that time and that’s how ‘Something I Said’ was born. It’s a compilation of all my insecurities regarding the situation.

You released a number of singles last year, what can we expect from you musically in 2020?
I was really trying to find my sound over the last year. I was a bit conflicted over what direction to go in after I released my first EP and felt pretty lost. The last year has really enabled me to grow musically and as a person. My vision has gotten clearer. I’m planning on releasing a bunch of new music in 2020 that I’m so excited about because it really feels like my own.

We are now unbelievably into the ‘20s, if you look back over the 2010s what stands out to you as the musical highlights of the last decade?
That’s a hard one! So much has happened, the industry has changed and so much music has come out. Streaming platforms have made it way easier to release music, it’s sometimes hard to keep up but it’s also so great to be able to constantly discover new artists.

The term “Pop” has also I think become much vaguer. There’s more freedom when it comes to mainstream.

My personal highlight was Frank Ocean’s “Blonde” Album from 2016 that really took me on a journey like no other album had done before.

Is there anything else exciting coming up for you in the coming months?
Mostly will be focusing on finishing my upcoming songs and writing new ones. And I am playing my first little headline tour in March in Cologne, Berlin and Hamburg. I’m so excited!

‘Erase’ by POOLCLVB featuring Moli is out now across all platforms. Listen here.

To keep up with all things Moli, you can follow her on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Spotify.