Molly Payton - “Honey”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 9; Popularity Index: 6

Pairs Well With…Lucy Dacus, Jenny Lewis, Angel Olsen

Breezy indie rock and classic songwriting form the backbone of Molly Payton’s debut full-length record Slack. Bursting songs stemming from bedroom folk, there’s electric texture without losing the deep, emotional core of the New Zealand artist’s music. You can sense power-pop and power-balladry influences across Slack, but Payton transforms those influences into a much more melancholy space even when hitting a big, rock chorus. Her vocals match the emotional builds of her music, a textured instrument with an alto richness, but with an ability to stretch from dreamy to empowering throughout the moving tracks that make up Slack. Payton takes influence from grunge and 00s rock in ways that add depth to her personal, loving tone. There’s longing on much of the songs on Slack, a quality that she matches with a mix of driving and somber atmospheres. (Kevin McStravick)