Regular readers should know the name MOLTENO by now. The East London-based artist has been gracing our pages since 2018.
By Graeme Smith
Feature photo by Simone Meissl Wearing
We’ve been enraptured by her Elements series. Each new release takes on one of the elements of air, water, fire, and earth. Element 3 is water and its from that project that her single Daydream is taken.
The title suggests some light dreaminess but at the core of Daydream is a reflection on unhealthy relationships. The lyrics are necessarily brooding as MOLTENO reminisces on darker chapters.
“I wrote Daydream looking back at relationships that weren’t good for me and finding the pull still there years later. I think most of us have a memory like that: one we’ve quietly made more beautiful than it was, because the truth is harder to sit with,” she says.
The single opens lushly with layers of electronica accompanying a wistful, soulful vocal. The opening verse simmers before an image-laden chorus captivates. It’s understated and powerful for it. Things finally boil over in a stirring climax.
As well as our own coverage, MOLTENO has attracted the attention BBC Radio 6 Music’s Tom Robinson, WONDERLAND, NOTION, EARMILK, Amazing Radio, Spotify Editorial and Apple Music Editorial.
If you want to keep up to date with what she’s doing, you can by heading to her website, and by following her on Facebook, X, Spotify, Soundcloud, Bandcamp, YouTube, and Instagram.
Daydream is out now, and you can listen to it below.
Supported by Musosoup #SustainableCurator