Molly Roberts Talks New Single, Six Nations Performance And More

My earliest musical memory is my mum teaching me how to play the piano when I was about five or six. She’s an incredible musician and taught me so much.

When did you begin songwriting?

I was always writing stories and poems from about eight years old, and I loved to sing. I think I combined the two when I was about ten, just before starting high school. The songs were awful though! I hadn’t really understood song structures yet, and some of them were over ten minutes long! Thankfully my songwriting has improved since then.

You have released your latest single ‘Hurricane’. What was the story/inspiration behind the track?

I wrote Hurricane about two years ago with Amy Wadge, who is an incredible songwriter. She’s won a Grammy and has worked with artists like Ed Sheeran, P!nk and Diana Ross. She heard some of my music and invited me to her studio in Wales for a chat. I ended up playing some of my unreleased songs on her piano, and she invited me back a few weeks later to write together.

Hurricane was the first song we wrote. At the time, I was very new to the industry and felt quite lost, like my dreams were so big and overwhelming. We wanted to write something powerful and anthemic a song about rising above than doubt.

Did you use any particular instruments, microphones, or recording equipment to help you get a particular sound/tone for the record?

The song went through a few rewrites and re-records. It wasn’t easy making it sound as powerful and anthemic as the lyrics felt, but I think we got there in the end. I recorded a lot of piano takes, and the vocal was actually done in one full take. I’ve been in sessions where I’ve recorded vocals 15 times and we’ve always gone back to the first take. Sometimes the first take holds all the emotion which is what I always want my vocals to have.

Which of your tracks hear you at your a) happiest, b) angriest and c) most reflective?

Happiest is probably Hurricane because it’s uplifting and empowering. I wouldn’t say angriest, but my most emotional record to date is Goodbye – it’s also my most streamed. I poured everything into that track. Most reflective is probably a song called Stars, which I released at the end of 2024. I wrote it for my grandmother Maggie after she passed away.

 Who were the musicians on the song with you?

I try to get live instruments on my tracks as much as possible, budget allowing. I have an amazing band – Sam Monaghan is my guitarist, Jacob Moseley is my drummer, and Carwyn Jones is my bassist. In January we finished recording my EP at Real World Studios in Bath and tracked lots of live takes. It was great fun and moving forward I want to try and only have live instruments on all my future records.

Where is your hometown and could you describe it in five words?

My hometown is Cardiff in Wales.
Beautiful, bold, busy, exciting, home.

How do you look after your voice?

On a show day, I only drink hot drinks. People don’t realise that cold drinks actually cool down your vocal cords, so you should never switch from a hot drink to a cold drink just before singing as it strains your voice. I do vocal warm-ups and try not to speak too much. I love warm Ribena with honey. I grew up singing classical music and was taught proper vocal technique. I’m so grateful for that now because it gives me a lot of control over my voice – I can shape it exactly how I want to.

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2026?

Yes! We’re about to announce a tour following my EP release later in 2026. I can’t say too much yet, but all will be revealed very soon via my socials!

On the 15th February you performed at half-time during the Six Nations Wales v France match at Principality Stadium in Cardiff. How did that opportunity arise and what are your memories of the day?

I actually performed at the Principality Stadium in 2023 as part of the European Championships, so my name and music were already known to the stadium team. My grandfather Meirion Roberts, passed away last year and he played rugby for Wales in the 1960s and earned multiple caps etc – so it felt very special to sing at Wales v France in the Six Nations.

The biggest crowd I’d sung to before was about 8,000 at Cardiff Castle opening for Jess Glynne, so going from that to over 60,000 people was a huge jump, but I absolutely loved it. There has never been a Welsh woman to headline the Principality Stadium, so I’m manifesting that one day I will. It may take me a few decades ha!

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

I hope people feel less alone – and more empowered. If someone leaves believing in themselves a little more than when they walked in, then I’m happy!

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

I like to keep my sets organic and natural. Last year we put a band together for the first time, and I love performing my songs live with them. I have soft piano ballads in my catalogue but also big anthems with powerful drum parts, and I love that contrast. I adore recording on a grand piano and hope one day to own one – I already know which one I will buy! And I am hoping to one day build a beautiful recording studio in the Welsh countryside.

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

I studied French and English at university, so I love to read. I love One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez. I also think The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is an incredible novel and would make an amazing film – the themes of destiny and following your dreams really resonate with me so I could definitely write something special for that!

Do you have any visualisers to accompany the new music?

Yes – we’ve filmed a lot of visuals in Wales. I love drawing on nature in my music videos, and we’ve shot in some really beautiful, iconic Welsh locations.

Who are some of your musical influences?

Joni Mitchell, Carole King, Tracy Chapman and Coldplay have all influenced me massively. I also love Demis Roussos- he has one of the most beautiful voices I’ve ever heard.

Do you have any new music releases planned for this year?

Yes – my debut EP will be out this year. I honestly can’t wait.

What makes Molly Roberts happy and what makes you unhappy?

Music makes me happiest – singing is my favourite thing in the world. Dogs (I’d love to rescue a golden retriever one day) and being with my family and friends.

What makes me unhappy is when music is reduced to numbers and statistics – when it’s judged purely on streams, followers or algorithms instead of emotion and storytelling. I believe art should move people first, and the numbers should come second.