Words by: Julia Poholek

Following the release of her 2020 debut album, Voice on the Internet, LA-based artist Molly Moore is back with a new EP, Escapism. Small and mighty with just four tracks, the piece is a snack-sized pop delight that’ll keep you blissed out from start to finish.

The first track is “Shy,” bursting out of the gate with an infectious dance beat that immediately sets the tone of the EP. The song leads with a freewheeling confidence that makes it easy to see why it was chosen as the opening track. It’s a celebratory exploration of the electric sensation of beginning to develop feelings for someone, unsure of if they feel the same way. As listeners, we’re wrapped in a crystal clear production quality which, coupled with the free-spirited nature of the song’s beat and lyrics, lets us know that we’re in good hands. We hear a muffled bass rhythm from the start of the track, and it’s reminiscent of the thumping, stifled bass you’d hear as you pull up to a house party and approach the door. All the action is happening inside, and as this element is employed in the song, we’re eager to be let in and can’t help but feel like we’re missing out on something big.

Coming in as the dynamic second track is “Do They?” — catchy and built up with layers upon layers of different instruments in lively, harmonious dialogue with each other. Keeping us on our toes by featuring unpredictable instruments, the most exciting part of the song just might be the manic bit of recorder melody we hear that closes out each chorus. It’s oddly funny, perfectly placed in the song, and will instantly put a smile on your face when it shows up. How often do we hear a wind instrument play a featured role in a pop song? It’s something you never knew you needed.

“Vacation” is a slow groove that warms you to your core with its languid, relaxed feel. It highlights the feeling of pouring your time into a budding relationship, only to question whether it has lasting power and can survive the honeymoon stage. Certain words are elongated, stretching the texture of the song and creating a near-sultry listening experience. Take the word ‘paradise,’ for example: “You been a nice vacation/And I been thinking about staying//I been a nice vacation/But you been thinking about staying/You know I know nothing’s real in paradise.” ‘Paradise’ is already fraught with enough mental imagery to make you want to leave town for a deserted island ASAP. Here, Moore doubles down, making the word syrupy and thick. She succeeds in invoking all the dreamlike visions that ‘paradise’ suggests.

The final song on Escapism encapsulates the essence of the EP’s title. It’s about the simple thrill of getting lost in infatuation, and how that experience can transport you to another mindset entirely. Slipping into the song seamlessly, NoMBe plays the male counterpart to Moore, acting as the other entity in this game of wanton desire. Their voices mesh beautifully, and the lyrics are playful in a way that draws on the early stages of a new relationship or romantic interest. “Say my name like Marco Polo (polo!)/Got my body going loco (loco!)/Should we stay or should we go go? (go go!)/Never try we’ll never know.” The falsetto, distanced echoes of “polo!,” “loco!,” and “go-go!” are undeniably joyful, yet followed by a faint shadow of knowing the thrill of this new romance could be short-lived. It’s all part of the bargain when you invest yourself in another person, and especially when that person overtakes the very necessary personal growth one must try to maintain. New love – a riveting, exciting mess of emotions with no certain outcome. And Molly Moore captures it all on her new EP, Escapism.

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