Molly Smitten-Downes

Last updated

Molly Smitten-Downes
Molly, ESC2014 Meet & Greet 07 (crop).jpg
Molly Smitten-Downes (2014)
Background information
Birth nameMolly Alice Smitten-Downes [1]
Born (1987-04-02) 2 April 1987 (age 36)
Anstey, Leicestershire, England [2]
Genres Folk, pop [3]
Occupation(s)Singer, songwriter
Years active2008–present
Labels
Website officialmolly.com

Molly Alice Smitten-Downes (born 2 April 1987), known by her mononym Molly, is an English singer and songwriter.

Contents

Early life

Born in Anstey, Leicestershire, [4] Molly grew up in Rothley and attended Our Lady's Convent School in Loughborough. She began starring in stage productions from the age of eight. She studied music at Leicester College and at the Academy of Contemporary Music in Guildford, Surrey. [5]

Career

2005–10: Stunt

Molly was a member of the British dance music project Stunt, who achieved chart success in 2008 with their collaboration mashup track "Raindrops (Encore une fois)" with Sash!, combining songs "Raindrops" (2006) and "Encore une fois" (1997). In 2009, Smitten-Downes teamed with Swedish producer and singer/songwriter Basshunter, for the collaboration "I Will Learn to Love Again", which is featured on his second UK album Bass Generation . [6]

2011–13: Career beginnings

An acoustic EP Fly Away with Me was released on 18 December 2011. [7] EP track "Shadows" was sampled by grime artist Marger and has been released on iTunes through 360 Records (21 August 2011). [8] "Beneath The Lights", her collaboration with Swedish producer Anders Hansson, was released in April 2013 with Anders' project Dream Beats. [9] [10] "Never Forget", her collaboration with producer Darren Styles, was written and recorded in 2012. [11]

2014: Eurovision Song Contest

Molly presenting herself and Children of the Universe at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014

After being supported and later put forward by BBC Introducing, Molly was approached by Guy Freeman, the executive producer and head of delegation of Eurovision for the BBC and asked if she would like to compose an entry for that year's contest. After initially saying 'I'm so flattered, but it's not for me’ on the grounds that it was not 'suitable' to her creatively, eventually Smitten-Downes was convinced by the prospect of being able to perform a self-penned work on a global stage.

On 3 March 2014, the BBC announced that Molly would be representing the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with the song "Children of the Universe". [12] [13] [14] Molly wrote "Children of the Universe" herself and has described her ambition to write music that "breaks down political barriers". [15] Prior to the contest, Molly signed a record deal with Warner Music UK on 1 April 2014. [16] On 4 April, Molly announced that she would release her song "Children of the Universe" on 28 April 2014. [17] It was made available for digital download on iTunes from 15 April. The song was recorded in Stockholm, Sweden with a 28-piece orchestra and produced by Anders Hansson. The official video for the entry was released on YouTube on 23 April 2014. [18] The following day, Molly appeared on BBC Radio 1's Innuendo Bingo. [19] However at the Eurovision final on 10 May 2014, she was regarded as a front-runner and one of the favourites to win the show. Molly concluded the show performing last and the song was voted 17th (out of 26 entries) gaining 40 points.

2014–15: After Eurovision

On 5 June it was revealed that Molly would perform at the Glastonbury Festival on 27 June 2014. [20]

In 2015 she teamed up with German DJ and producer Zwette to make "Rush" [21] which was released by Spinnin' Records and remixed by Sam Feldt. In September 2015, Molly performed "Rush" with Sam Feldt at V Festival in Chelmsford. Kanye West's producer Hudson Mohawke sampled a remix of "Beneath the Lights" for "Shadows" from his album Lantern . [22]

Honours and awards

Molly was awarded in 2012 the Best Urban/Pop Act at Live and Unsigned and in 2013 won Best Song at the Best of British Unsigned Music Awards. [23] On 1 November 2014, she received an honorary award for her musical achievements at Leicester College where she completed a performing musician course in 2002. [24]

Discography

Extended plays

TitleAlbum details
Fly Away with Me

Singles

As lead artist

TitleYearPeak chart positionsAlbum
UK
[25]
AUT
[26]
BEL
[27]
DEN
[28]
GER
[29]
IRE
[30]
SCO
[31]
SWI
[32]
"Beneath the Lights"
(with Dream Beats)
2013Non-album singles
"Children of the Universe" [a] 201423631393794361563
"Lock Up Your Daughter" [b]
"—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.
TitleYearAlbum
"Shadows"
(Marger featuring Molly)
2011Non-album singles
"Never Forget You"
(Darren Styles featuring Molly)
2013
"Rush"
(Zwette featuring Molly)
2015
"Breathe"
(Si Tew featuring Molly)

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otto Knows</span> Musical artist

Otto Jettman, better known by his stage name Otto Knows is a Swedish DJ, record producer and remixer who has had a number of hits in Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands and has collaborated with artists including Britney Spears, Avicii, Sebastian Ingrosso, Alesso and has made remixes for ATB, Imogen Heap, Lindsey Stirling and others. He is best known for his songs like "Starlight ", "Parachute", "Next to Me", "Dying for You" and "Million Voices".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Krista Siegfrids</span> Finnish singer

Kristin "Krista" Siegfrids is a Finnish pop singer. She represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 with her entry "Marry Me". Siegfrids' debut album, named Ding Dong!, was released in May 2013. As a television presenter, she hosted Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu from 2016 to 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dina Garipova</span> Russian singer (born 1991)

Dina Fagimovna Garipova is a Russian singer. In 2012, Garipova won the Russian version of singing competition The Voice, Golos. Garipova was selected by the Russian broadcaster Channel One to represent Russia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2013 in Malmö, Sweden, with the song "What If". At the competition, she qualified from the first semi-final and placed fifth in the final, scoring 174 points. In 2015, Garipova was one of five jurors for Russia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Dolan</span> Musical artist

Ryan Dolan is an Irish pop singer from Strabane in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. He is known for representing Ireland in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest with "Only Love Survives".

The United Kingdom participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with the song "Children of the Universe" written by Molly Smitten-Downes and Anders Hansson. The song was performed by Molly, who was internally selected by the British broadcaster BBC to represent the United Kingdom at the 2014 contest in Copenhagen, Denmark. Molly and "Children of the Universe" was announced as the British entry in a special presentation show titled The UK Launch broadcast on the BBC Red Button service in March 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Common Linnets</span> Dutch band

The Common Linnets are a Dutch band that was formed in 2013. The band originally consisted of Ilse DeLange and Waylon. DeLange has stated that the group is a platform for Dutch artists to make country, Americana, and bluegrass music, and that the members will be changing. In May 2014, Waylon left the group and was replaced by American country singer Jake Etheridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aram Mp3</span> Armenian singer

Aram Avetiki Sargsyan, better known by his stage name Aram Mp3, is an Armenian singer and comedian. He represented Armenia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen with the song "Not Alone" and took the 4th place.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Softengine</span> Finnish alternative rock band

Softengine is a Finnish alternative rock band that represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark, with their song "Something Better". They released their debut album We Created the World in October 2014. The band's members were born between 1994 and 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twin Twin</span>

Twin Twin is a French music group from Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis. The group consists of Lorent Idir, François Djemel and Patrick Biyik, and is characterised by a mixture of electro sounds, rock, and slam. Twin Twin also represented France in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark, with the song "Moustache". They finished in last position in the grand final, a first for France in the Eurovision Song Contest, with two points.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Children of the Universe</span> Single by Molly Smitten-Downes

"Children of the Universe" is a song by British singer Molly Smitten-Downes. It was chosen by the BBC to represent the United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Denmark. The song was co-written by Smitten-Downes. An indie pop and alternative rock song, it became one of the favourites to win the contest. "Children of the Universe" finished in 17th place with 40 points and gave the UK its best placing since Blue came 11th place in the 2011 Contest. The song reached number twenty three on the UK Singles Chart and charted in Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elaiza</span> German band

Elaiza is a German band from Berlin that represented Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark, with their song "Is It Right". The leader of the group is Elżbieta "Ela" Steinmetz. She was born in Ukraine and is of mixed Polish and Ukrainian origin as her mother comes from Poland and her father is from Ukraine. This cultural background is reflected in the sound of her songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carl Espen</span> Norwegian singer and songwriter

Carl Espen Thorbjørnsen, better known as simply Carl Espen, is a Norwegian singer and songwriter, who represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 with his song "Silent Storm".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Axel Hirsoux</span> Belgian singer (born 1982)

Axel Hirsoux is a Belgian singer. He represented Belgium in the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 in Copenhagen, Denmark with the song "Mother". In the final of the local pre-selection Eurosong, he received more than 50 percent of the televotes and 4 times the maximum of 12 points from the international jury.

Blonde are an English deep house production duo from Bristol, consisting of Jacob Manson and Adam Englefield. They are signed to Parlophone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aminata Savadogo</span> Latvian singer-songwriter

Aminata Savadogo, occasionally known as simply Aminata, is a Latvian singer, songwriter, record producer, and model. She represented Latvia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with the song "Love Injected". She released her debut studio album, Inner Voice, in April 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elina Born</span> Estonian singer

Elina Born is an Estonian singer. She represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 along with Stig Rästa with the song "Goodbye to Yesterday". She previously attempted to represent Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2013 with the song "Enough", and attempted to represent Estonia at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2017 finishing last in the final. She was the runner-up of the fifth season of Eesti otsib superstaari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ann Sophie</span> Musical artist

Ann-Sophie Dürmeyer, better known as simply Ann Sophie, is a German singer and songwriter. She represented Germany in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 with the song "Black Smoke". Her latest single "Phantom Pain" was released in November 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kjetil Mørland</span> Musical artist

Kjetil Mørland, better known as simply Mørland, is a Norwegian singer and songwriter. He represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 along with Debrah Scarlett with his song "A Monster Like Me".

Joanna Deborah Bussinger, known professionally as Debrah Scarlett and as of 2019 known under the moniker Red Moon, is a Norwegian-Swiss singer and songwriter. She represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest 2015 along with Mørland with the song "A Monster Like Me". She competed on the Norwegian version of The Voice in 2013. Since 2020, she has been releasing music as Red Moon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barei (singer)</span> Musical artist

Bárbara Reyzábal González-Aller, known professionally as Barei, is a Spanish singer and songwriter. She represented Spain in the Eurovision Song Contest 2016 with the song "Say Yay!".

References

Notes

  1. ^ Did not appear in the official Belgian Ultratop 50 charts, but rather in the bubbling under Ultratip charts. Added 50 position to actual Ultratip position.
  2. ^ Was released as a free download gift from the artist herself. [33]

References

  1. "Molly Smitten-Downes Discography at Discogs". Discogs.com.
  2. "Eurovision 2014: Molly Smitten-Downes, from Leicestershire, to represent UK in song contest". Leicester Mercury. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  3. "Molly Smitten-Downes: Eurovision will be a challenge". BBC News. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  4. "Eurovision 2014: Leicestershire's Molly Smitten-Downes on why she's just got to deliver that killer vocal Archived 2 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine ", Leicester Mercury , 10 March 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014
  5. "Former ACM student to represent UK in Eurovision Song Contest". GetSurrey.co.uk. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  6. "Eurovision Song Contest: Little-known artist set to be UK's hopeful". BBC News. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  7. "iTunes – Music – Fly Away With Me – EP by Molly". Itunes.apple.com. 18 December 2011. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
  8. MTV UK. "Fresh: Marger Feat. Molly – 'Shadows' | Mtv Uk". Mtv.co.uk. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  9. "iTunes – Music – Beneath the Lights – Single by Molly & Dream Beats". iTunes . Retrieved 2 March 2014.
  10. Joseph 'JP' Patterson. "Introducing blog: JP's Underground Tracks of The Month". BBC. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  11. "Free Music Videos, Video Interviews, Music Video News, Live Sessions and Clips". Nme.Com. Retrieved 3 March 2014.
  12. "United Kingdom in the Eurovision 2014: It's Molly Smitten-Downes to Copenhagen".
  13. "Molly's song for the Eurovision 2014, presentation 3 March 2014".
  14. "Molly Smitten-Downes to represent the UK". eurovision.tv. 3 March 2014. Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  15. "Molly Smitten-Downes: Eurovision will be a challenge". bbc.co.uk. 4 March 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
  16. "UK: Molly's album deal with Warner Music UK". esctoday.com. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 1 April 2014.
  17. "Molly's Eurovision Song 'Children of the Universe' gets studio version". Digital Spy. 4 April 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  18. "United Kingdom: Children of the universe clip released". esctoday.com. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  19. BBC Radio 1 (24 April 2014). "Innuendo Bingo with Eurovision Contestant Molly Smitten-Downes" via YouTube.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. "MOLLY SMITTEN-DOWNES TO PERFORM AT GLASTONBURY 2014". 5 June 2014. Retrieved 5 June 2014.
  21. "Zwette ft. Molly* – Rush". Discogs. 23 March 2015.
  22. "Lantern – Hudson Mohawke – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic.
  23. "BBC – Eurovision 2014 – Media centre". BBC. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  24. "Eurovision contestant Molly Smitten-Downes receives honorary award from Leicester College". Leicester Mercury. 31 October 2014. Archived from the original on 1 November 2014. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
  25. "Molly > UK Charts". Official Charts Company.
  26. Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Molly". Austrian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  27. Hung, Steffen. "Discografie Molly". Belgium (Flanders) Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  28. Hung, Steffen. "Discography Molly". Danish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  29. Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Molly". German Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).[ dead link ]
  30. Hung, Steffen. "Discography Molly". Irish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  31. Peak positions for Singles in Scotland:
  32. Hung, Steffen. "Discographie Molly". Swiss Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung).
  33. Mulhall, Garrett (23 October 2014). "UK : Watch Molly's 'Lock Up Your Daughters' and download free as her gift to you". eurovisionireland.net. Eurovision Ireland. Retrieved 1 November 2014.
Preceded by UK in the Eurovision Song Contest
2014
Succeeded by