“I’d love to play in Brazil one day, I’m definitely manifesting that. That moment showed me just how powerful social media can be.” - Molly Robert’s Interview - By The Fans Magazine

Words & Interview: Jenna Stoch, Grace Wearn

Photography credit to retrospective owner.

“By The Fans Magazine is rooted in real connection — a female-led platform built by fans, for fans. We’re all about honest, unfiltered conversations that go beyond the surface, and we’d love to explore the vital elements from your journey so far, your sound and influences, and the key moments that truly drive your music — the ones your fans feel just as deeply as you do.

Molly Roberts, thank you so much for taking your time to speak to us here at By The Fans Magazine. For those who are yet to discover your talent and music, could you tell us a bit about yourself and your artistic identity?”

I’m an artist from Wales making emotional pop ballads. My music is rooted in storytelling and feeling. I’ve always been drawn to songs that truly move people, and that’s what I try to do with everything I write and release.

“Your music is incredibly emotional and heartfelt - where do you draw inspiration from, and how do you translate that into your sound?”

I take inspiration from everything, really- whatever moves me emotionally in the moment. Writing is a very instinctive process for me. I usually follow a feeling first, then build the lyrics and sound around that. I always start at the piano- that’s where I feel most at home, and I think it’s where I write my best songs.

“You recently opened for Bonnie Tyler at the O2 — what did that moment feel like, and how has it stayed with you personally?”

It was such an incredible moment. Bonnie is a huge inspiration to me as a powerful Welsh woman in music, and she was so warm and welcoming. She already knew about me and had heard my music, which meant a lot. She said I reminded her of when she was starting out, and was just genuinely kind and supportive. I felt so honoured to open for her.

“Did that performance shift your perspective on your career or further cement your goals?”

It’s been a really exciting past few months. I performed at halftime at Principality Stadium for the Six Nations Wales v France match in front of over 60,000 people, and then a couple of weeks later, I opened for Bonnie Tyler.

I’ve loved every moment, and if anything, it’s made me love performing live even more. Singing at Principality Stadium made me realise I want to write songs that can fill those kinds of spaces - big, emotional songs that connect with thousands of people at once.

I also decided that I would love to headline the Principality Stadium one day. No Welsh woman has done that before, and that’s a goal I’m going to aim for. It might take time, but I’m going to try! 

“Your song “Goodbye” gained major traction on social media — how do you see social media impacting music today, and what did that moment mean to you?”

It was incredible- and honestly, I didn’t expect that kind of reaction at all. I released “Goodbye” from home in Wales with no real expectations, and within a day I was receiving hundreds of messages, most of them in Portuguese. At first, I had no idea what was happening, but it turned out a national radio station in Brazil had picked up the track, and suddenly it was reaching all these new listeners. I’d love to play in Brazil one day, I’m definitely manifesting that. That moment showed me just how powerful social media can be. A single video can connect you with people all over the world in seconds. At the same time, I I don’t love the idea of creating music just to fit a platform like TikTok for example. I never want to compromise a song to follow a trend or for an algorithm. For me, it’s more important to make something that lasts—music people come back to throughout their lives. I’d rather be vital than viral.

“Your new single “Hurricane” was recently released — what’s the story behind it and what can listeners expect to feel?”

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 came across some of my music and invited me to her studio in Wales for a chat. I ended up playing a few of my unreleased songs, and she asked me back a few weeks later to write together. “Hurricane” was the first song we wrote. At the time, I was still very new to the industry and felt quite lost, like my dreams were so big they almost overwhelmed me. We wanted to create something powerful and anthemic- a song about rising above that doubt and stepping into who you’re meant to be. I think what listeners can expect is a sense of strength and release. It’s about those moments where everything feels uncertain, but there’s still something in you pushing forward. I hope it makes people feel empowered and that they can face whatever they’re going through and come out stronger.

“How does “Hurricane” differ from your previous releases?”

“Hurricane” feels like a step up for me sonically. It’s a much bigger production than my earlier releases. A lot of my past songs have been quite piano-led and rooted in heartbreak, whereas this one is driven by drums and feels much more anthemic. It’s also more uplifting, which is something I’ve been wanting to explore. I think that’s why it worked so well performing it at the Six Nations and why it connected with Radio 2. It definitely marks the direction I’m heading in with my EP and future releases.

“Who are your biggest musical inspirations, and how have they shaped your sound?”

Joni Mitchell has always been my main musical inspiration. I love how honest and raw her writing is - Blue is a masterpiece. I’m really inspired by her lyrics and the way she uses melody. 

“Have there been any particularly challenging moments in your journey so far? How have you navigated them?”

The beginning was definitely the hardest. I didn’t really know anyone in the industry I could turn to for advice, so I had to figure everything out for myself as I went along. That was challenging at times, but it’s also taught me a huge amount and made me confident in making my own decisions and trusting myself. My journey has been quite steady rather than overnight, and I’m really grateful for that. It’s allowed me to build strong foundations and to be prepared for whatever opportunities arise. When I look at an artist like Bonnie Tyler for example, whose career has spanned over 50 years, that’s exactly the kind of longevity I aspire to. I think that not rushing and building things the right way gives you the best chance of having a lasting career.

“Thank you so much! And the last question - what advice would you give to young creatives, especially girls and women, with the same drive and passion as you?”

Trust your instincts and don’t wait for anyone to make things happen for you - whether that’s a label, a manager, or an A&R. You have to go out and create it for yourself. Especially at the beginning, you’re the only person who can make things happen. And having ambition is a powerful thing. It’s not something women should ever feel ashamed of or try to hide, it’s something to be proud of.