Meet Mollie Jane | Songwriter, poet and front woman of Mollie Jane and The Band Milk

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mollie Jane and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mollie, what role has risk played in your life or career?

I’m born and raised in LA and have lived here for 26 years. I’ve watched a lot of artists come to this city with a bright hunger in their eyes for opportunity and collaboration, and I’ve seen that translate into beautiful art. On the other side of the coin, I’ve also watched a similar hunger turn into a sacrificing of integrity. I think one of the biggest risks you can take as an artist is to remain strong in your integrity amongst the compromise of working with people who are going to help elevate your craft, and hopefully aid in carrying it where it is meant to grow.

I started my first record when I was 17 and I walked away from it because the production was not representative of my artistry. After years of communication about what kind of production I wanted and not a lot of that creative direction fulfilled – it felt like it was my producer’s record, and not my own. So I walked away. I wasn’t willing to sacrifice my truth for the sake of probably having a lot of doors open for me early on. It was one of the best decisions I ever made for myself as an artist because I gave myself permission to trust my own rectitude. I took the risk of being righteous in what was mine to claim — my name.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

I love art so being an artist feels more intuitive than being a businesswoman, if I’m being frank. But I have learned that it’s important to wear more than one hat as an artist pursuing a career. It’s not easy because of the politics of the industry… but if you know your rights and are a good communicator, it gets easier. But I’ll never sell my soul. Have been offered a couple of times, and am always happy to decline. Evolving into my career as an artist, is exactly that — an evolution. It’s so much fun and sometimes a little painful too. Like life! I think my initial experience of being brought into the music industry really left a taste in my mouth about what it could be like working with producers.

Anyone that loves me knows I’m stubborn, so for a while I was adamant about producing my own music and having myself and our band (Mollie Jane and The Band Milk), be the ones in charge of production. It was my own way of making sure I had complete control over the sonics of my music. Luckily, I was able to grow out of this perspective and have been much more open to working with the right person/people in that regard.

Over the last year and a half or so, I have been incredibly fortunate to work with and be in collaboration with some folks who have lent their gifts and resources of perspective to me. It’s been so fruitful and nourishing opening up musical collaboration — it’s nourishing to me to be inspired by my peers. It reminds me that at the end of the day, resonance really is the most powerful currency.

My music is made up of some kind of evolving collection of stories from my soul, and I share them in hopes that resonance and love is awakened in whoever may hear them. That’s my intention. This is my biggest hope and intention with our band’s conceptual record, “Door To Knowhere” (which is to be released in pieces, starting this fall on September 7th). After almost 3 years of this labor of love amongst loss, I hope it enlightens people as much as it has enlightened myself and everyone involved.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I think the map of LA changes immensely every 3 miles you go, so it really just depends! To me, Mid-city and Koreatown are the heart of LA but there’s an electricity to being Downtown. The food, the art, the exposure in the stark difference between the housed and the unhoused community. It’s an important part of town to experience because it offers a transparent perspective of the people of the city and what they choose to make of that. Being Downtown inspires me and there are some hidden gems of creative spaces that I’ve been lucky enough to have found over the last year or so. If you want to be inspired, go Downtown.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

After I walked away from my “first record, I took 3 of my songs to an independent recording studio called Seaward Studios. Alec Sherrie founded the studio and instantly became a brother and a believer in my music and the vision I had for myself. Joseph Freeman and Alec co-produced my first EP. Alec introduced me to Ian Hubbell and Kit Perkins who played on that EP. After a year of playing live together, we founded The Band Milk. Since then, Kit and Ian have been my soul brothers and always will be, no matter what. I have also been very uplifted and inspired by a dear mate and songwriter, Eli Pafumi. We toured together years ago and were very much a part of each other’s middle of a beginning as songwriters pursuing careers. He always uplifted me and encouraged me to play the music and take the gigs that scared me. His support of my music and myself since we toured has been true a gift.

Recently over the last year, I’ve been lucky enough to have collaborated with the brilliant, Gal Musette, who produced and co-recorded my single, “On The Roof” at Jon O’brien’s studio. Jon was also a collaborator in recording and working with him and Gal was very special. Additionally, I’ve been working with Nate Haessly and recording with him. He’s a real one and is probably the best recording engineer I’ve yet to work with. He mixed our band’s upcoming single, “Nothing” (out on September 7th). We’ve also been recording some of my solo music together. I can’t wait to share that music.

Website: molliejanemusic.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/molliejanegreen/

Other: https://www.instagram.com/mjandthebandmilk/

Image Credits
Alissa Wyle — Holysmoke Photogrpahy Mary-Alex — Citrus Fruit Snaps Your Friend Juniper