Born in the 90s in the Swedish capital city of Stockholm, MOLØ has been at the forefront of the Swedish dance music scene for a while now. Growing up she was inspired by her father who is considered as one of the founders of the music scene in Stockholm. When she was just 20 years, she decided to explore the music production and DJing world and before she knew it she was diving deep into the scene. While she became a mainstay in the local scene, playing at gigs in most of the Stockholm clubs, MOLØ kept her head down and continuted to work relentlessly in the studio.

Soon enough, she got the opportunity to play a warmup set for Vivrant label owner Jeremy Olander at one of the label showcases and delivered the most talked about set of the night. This gave birth to a long standing relationship with the label which till continues to bear fruits. Her stint with Vivrant also earned her a residency at the revered Kvarteret nightclub in Stockholm.

In 2019, MOLØ collaborated with Jeremy Olander to make her debut on Vivrant with their track Vanadis which became a huge success. Vanadis has garnered over one million streams on Spotify. On the back of this success, MOLØ entered the studio once again during the Covid pandemic and wrote her debut EP – Luma which was released on Vivrant.

We have had the privilege of listening to MOLØ live quite a few times and it has been a journey each time. Her sets are not at all formulaic and always engage the crowd and draws them in. One of the finest track selectors on Vivrant and Anjunadeep, MOLØ has become a formidable force in the European dance music circuit and has played at some of the biggest festivals in Europe.

This May, MOLØ returns to India for a packed double weekender tour which will see her play in Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Goa. For those of you who were there at the Anjunadeep Open Air showcase in Goa last December, you remember the surreal set she played during the beautiful sunset.

We had a nice chat with MOLØ as she soaks in the summer sun in Goa and prepares for the second leg of her India tour which will see her play in Mumbai on Friday 24th May and Goa on Saturday 25th May.

Hi MOLØ, how are you doing? Are you enjoying your time in India?

I’m doing very well. Enjoying my time here in India.

This is one of your longest stints in India. What have you been up to in between the two gig weekends?

I’ve been in Goa, focusing on recharging and getting ready for the next weekend. Enjoying plenty of Paneer Tikka and taking it easy.

Let’s talk about your early influence. Your father is regarded as one of the founding personalities of the Stockholm nightlife. How did that influence you as an up-and-coming artist?

It influenced me a lot, probably more than I’m aware of. I think especially his passion for music introduced me to very diverse sounds and showed me how powerful music can be.

You made your debut on Vivrant almost 5 years back with Vanadis. Since then, you have had multiple releases on the label. You have also been touring with Jeremy Olander over the last few years. How has your experience been with the label?

Vivrant has been super important to me during my career. From the moment they took me under their wing until now, giving me the freedom to release this album. It says a lot about what they mean to me. Having a label behind me that values my voice and believes in me really builds a sense of peace and confidence as I grow as an artist.

2024 saw the release of your album Aqua Lull. Featuring a very contrasting soundscape than we have seen you produce in the past. Could you tell us what inspired this album?

I think I felt a strong urge to explore new creative territories and experiment with different sounds compared to when I started. I initially started making club music when I first started producing, but lately, I’ve found myself creating something entirely different in the studio. And rather than feeling tied to a specific genre, I embraced the freedom that drew me to electronic music in the first place. This album is a reminder to simply create whatever resonates with you.

Tell us more about your creative process. What does your production routine look like? Are you someone who locks themselves up in the studio? Or do you like to produce on the go?

It varies depending on the stage of the process. When I’m brainstorming ideas, I find it best to lock myself in the studio or another quiet space to ensure I have total focus. The same goes for mixing.

At the same time, I don’t rely heavily on a ton of equipment, so I can work as a fairly mobile producer. If I have well-developed ideas that need arranging or further development, I can handle them while on the go. However, some tasks require that I lock myself in for more focus.

From being considered as a rising star on the home circuit in Stockholm to having your own residency at revered Kvarteret nightclub, you have come a long way. Tell us about the scene back home.

The local music scene has been incredibly important to me. It’s where I got my start, and I always look forward to playing in Stockholm whenever I can. The scene isn’t massive, and venues faced closures during Covid. Thankfully, it’s slowly making a comeback with many exciting new concepts and performances. The passion for music is strong, and there’s definitely no shortage of talent.

We have seen a lot of artists face a conundrum when it comes to being different or trying to fit in. You on the other hand have always been pushing the envelope. Does this come naturally to you or do you face this struggle at times too?

It feels natural, yet there’s always a struggle to stay true to my artistic vision while resonating with listeners and the industry. In today’s environment, it’s very difficult to break through if you don’t make compromises, which I think is pretty frustrating. For me, balancing authenticity and relatability is key, and keeping reminding myself why I’m doing this and what truly matters to me.

You’ve been somewhat of a mainstay at the Anjunadeep Explorations festival in Albania. Your set has been one of our favorites at the festival. How has your relationship been with the label?

We have a very good relationship. Anjunadeep has always had open arms and a very family-like atmosphere. I really admire the relationships they’ve built. Not just with the artists but also with the fans. Everyone feels like one big family. 

Can you discuss with us a project where you faced creative challenges and how you overcame them? What advice would you give to young artists who face creative blocks in various forms?

With this album actually. I felt pressured to create something for a peak time set. However, what I was making in the studio was quite the opposite. And as I was working on the music, I started feeling insecure, not only because I questioned the quality but also because I couldn’t envision where it could possibly be presented. I began comparing myself to other artists, which only fueled my creative block. 

I believe that the first thing one must do is accept that you are in a creative block and not try to fight it. Accept that it is a part of the journey. When experiencing a creative block, it’s easy to feel discouraged and lose confidence in our abilities. However, it’s important to remember that a creative block is a temporary setback and doesn’t define our expertise. It can be an opportunity to try new things and find inspiration from unexpected sources. We’re all different and imperfect, and the imperfections are what makes each of us and our work interesting. What’s most important is finding the best strategies and approaches for you, staying open to change, and remembering that creativity is always there to assist, not hinder.

How do you handle feedback and criticism from artists or labels or fans?

I want to consider myself very open to receiving feedback and criticism. At the same time, I know I have a very clear vision of what I want to create and how I want things to sound or look like. So I’m probably open as long as the feedback or criticism feels relevant to me haha.

We’ve seen you play barefoot both at festivals and clubs too. Let us in on the secret behind that.

Honestly, I don’t know how it started, but I can’t remember the last gig I played wearing shoes. It’s like a reflex for me to take them off.  I guess I feel more grounded and connected that way. But it’s really nothing I planned, it just evolved over time as part of my routine. Fun fact, when I mentioned to my dad that I prefer performing without shoes, he told me that he used to do the same during his touring days, so maybe it runs in the family.

Rapid Fire :

• If you were to start your own music festival, who would the first artist you would book? – Kelly Lee Owen
• Favorite Indian Meal? – Paneer Tikka Masala
• Jeremy Olander or Dhillon? – Jeremy!
• One artist you would love to remix? – Maya Jane Coles
• Where would you setup a studio – By the beach or Cliffside? – Cliffside