Nashville-based singer-songwriter Molly Grace has captivated audiences across the globe by celebrating queer joy. She just announced that her next single, “Mad at Her Forever,” will be released on March 7. Her candid lyricism and sparkling pop tracks have set her apart from the noise and cemented her as a leading voice for self-love.

The Concert Chronicles staffer Samantha Davidson sat down with the star to chat about all things tour, music, and inspiration. 

Note: Some questions and answers have been slightly edited for brevity and clarity.

The Concert Chronicles: You’re about to embark on the “But I’m A Pop Star” East Coast tour. What is one of your favorite memories from a live show?

Molly Grace: Live shows are like my bread and butter. That’s my favorite part of being an artist. I was actually just looking back through footage of when we did Bonnaroo, and I had my three best friends there who do my backup vocals and dancing. There was a moment on stage where I looked down the line, and we all made eye contact, and we were like, “Oh my God, we’re here.” Let me think of like a fan moment, too. We did a pop-up show when I was in LA, and it was honestly tiny. There were probably less than 15 people in that room, and it was one of my favorite shows. The energy was amazing. Turns out there was a fan who literally flew in from, I think, Kentucky just to come to the pop-up show. I feel like I got to be super candid with everyone. I got to really meet everyone, and it was just a highlight of tour.

TCC: That sounds so awesome. Intimate venues are the best because you can really connect with each person and see they’re singing the lyrics to you.

MG: Totally. It’s so special!

TCC: As a Boston girl yourself, I wanted to point out that you’ll be playing The Sinclair, which has been a stepping point for legendary pop artists like Chappell Roan. How does it feel to be on the same path and have reached this level of resonance with fans? 

MG: Especially it being my hometown, I’m like, “The Sinclair is crazy.” It’s also these venues on this tour are some of the biggest I’ve ever headlined, which is really scary and also really exciting. Tickets are selling, you know, we’re doing it. Just thinking about the other legends who have come through all these venues is really exciting and affirming. Of course, I dream about the day I’m playing an arena, but I also am not rushing away this time in my life at all because I love getting to play these stages. Like you said, with these venues, I can really look at everyone in the audience and stay after the show and talk to everyone. Also, with it being a hometown show, it’s special because my family gets to come. There are also always a couple of random people from high school that maybe we were kind of school friends but not outside of school friends who show up and it’s really special to get to see those people, too.

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TCC: I can’t wait! Your most recent single, “F.E.M.M.E.,” is a joyous anthem that rejects the notion that your sexuality is tied to your looks. You have a knack for creating clever double meanings, like expanding the word femme into an acronym. What can we expect from “Mad at Her Forever”?

MG: In the past, I haven’t listened to my own music a lot, like, I won’t put it on in the car. But “Mad At Her Forever” and the next music that’s gonna follow it, I listen to it all the time. I think the fans are really gonna like this one. It’s very disco-pop; it’s just danceable. Also, the title is not what people would expect. It’s a little bit of a twist title. It’s very playful and cheeky.

TCC: Your aesthetic and references are perfect. What inspired you to base the single cover for “F.E.M.M.E.” off of But I’m a Cheerleader?

MG: Well, first of all, But I’m a Cheerleader is just such an iconic piece of queer culture and lesbian culture specifically. I just thought that the message kind of resonated because, like you said with “F.E.M.M.E,” it’s like the whole idea that your sexuality isn’t really tied to what you look like or what people expect of you. That’s kind of a big part of the main character’s journey; she’s like, “Oh, but I’m this hyper-feminine girl who goes to school and gets good grades and is on the cheer squad. Why would I be gay?” So, I just thought it would be a nod to a great piece of art and also relevant to the stories. ?

TCC: You’re partnering with LIFEBEAT for this tour. How did you select this foundation and why is this cause important to you?

MG: They reached out to me, which was so exciting. LIFEBEAT is a program with the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, and they partner with a ton of artists. I believe they’ve also partnered with Sammy Rae & The Friends and Remi Wolf, so a lot of other legends that I love. They work with artists to raise money and awareness around HIV and AIDS prevention and general sexual health. We’re donating part of ticket sales to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation but they’re also going to be tabling at a few of the shows and providing resources for fans. I think that’s really cool to have them on the ground with us. It was honestly just kind of a no-brainer to work with them because working for the queer community largely is very important to me. Also, Elizabeth Taylor is just a glamour icon and amazing woman herself, and so I was like, altogether, this is a big yes.

TCC: That’s incredible. It’s Random Acts of Kindness Day when we’re having this interview. What is a helpful piece of advice or moment of kindness that someone showed you that you would want to pass on to someone else just starting their career?

MG: In my sophomore year or my junior year of college, the band Melt was coming to Nashville, and I love them. I’ve been such a fan of them since high school. They already had an opening act, but basically, me and my team really bugged them, and we were like, “Would you let us be an extra opener for you?” Obviously, they didn’t really need one because they already had one, but they let us perform, and that was such an amazing opportunity. That was the first time I got to open for anyone like that. I feel like those little moments of other people in the industry giving you the chance to be on a stage like that is really special, and I hope I get to do that for other people too. There’s a lot you can get by just advocating for yourself, but also, there are certain spaces that you can’t really get into unless you have someone else batting for you.

TCC: I love that. I saw them when they came through Boston this past year, and they had a local opener for each show. Maybe you inspired that. I feel like that’s such a great way to sneak in some advice, too, that you really have to put yourself out there when you’re starting your career and go for things that you might not think are possible. You went for it and it worked out.

MG: Yeah, it’s a thin line bugging people sometimes. It works, you know? Sometimes, you kind of have to be like, “Hey, I’m doing something cool over here.” Every once in a while, eventually, you know, they notice. That’s definitely advice for people starting out to not be afraid to put your name into the conversation even when it feels awkward or you might think you’re not ready for it or you don’t deserve it. It’s like, you know, being your own biggest fan and advocate.

Catch Molly Grace live on the?“But I’m A Pop Star” East Coast tour. Tickets are selling fast, so grab some here before they’re gone for good.

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