Artist Name: Molly Devine

Release Name - To Be

Release Date - Friday 14th February 2025

Genre - Indie, Pop, Dance

Tamaki Makaurau-based indie artist Molly Devine reveals ‘TO BE’, a radiant, disco-infused dance number, and the first of a series of singles to be released from this rising talent.

Borne out of lucid dreams of dancing and sunshine, ‘To Be’ is a cracking, profoundly positive disco/soul tune that celebrates authenticity and self-acceptance.

A song about letting go of self-doubt and just being, Devine wrote ‘To Be’ during a period of isolation as she envisioned dancing in grassy fields to live music, surrounded by her friends and loved ones. That vision is strongly evoked in, and radiates through the song’s joyous energy and jubilant, uplifting disco chorus.

‘To Be’ was brought to life in collaboration with renowned Producer Greg Haver (drums), who enlisted some of Aotearoa’s finest musicians in Marika Hodgson (bass), Steve Small (keys), and Tom Healy (guitars) to craft a captivating soundscape with the soulful, funky disco feel that Devine envisioned, and she couldn’t be more thrilled with the result.

Says Devine: “Working with Greg was magical. He made me feel so relaxed so I could just be wildly creative and sing my heart out. It was so special to have my ideas brought to life by such incredible musicians. They were all so kind and enthusiastic and I felt respected and nurtured by the whole experience. Marika is the funkiest, most exciting bass player, completely captivating, and Tom gave each track a unique and wild flavour. Steve’s disco solo was a life highlight, and Greg’s never-ending bag of fun percussion was a constant source of joy.”

The video for ‘To Be’ was filmed as part of a magical aquatic-themed New Year’s Eve party in the forest of Northlands’ beautiful Tangihua Ranges. Devine had seen her friends putting all the sets together in the months leading up to the party, and felt inspired by the setting as the perfect place to capture the art of ‘being’.

Says Devine: “My friends Josh Apperley and Sophie Jones-Williams stepped in to direct, and we filmed it over two days while still managing to fit in a lot of good times partying and dancing! It was very organic. I was so excited when I first saw it because I felt it had captured me being authentically myself. A lot of the shots are me singing while my boyfriend DJ’s, and I didn’t even know Josh was filming!”

Originally from Ōtepohi, the singer-songwriter/producer and music classroom teacher has spent her whole life around music. An enthusiastic and supportive Kaiako at Marist College in Tamaki Makarau by day, Devine fully immerses herself in her art, spending her time writing, producing, performing and DJ’ing her own music. She has completed multiple national tours, and supported a diverse selection of artists such as Anastacia, the Doobie Brothers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, and Billy Idol.

Graduating from Otago University with a Master’s Degree in Music, Devine has skills not only in performance and song-writing, she is accomplished in arranging, band and vocal direction, composition, live and studio sound production and also boasts an impressive resume of playing for the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, singing alongside NZ music legends Martin Phillips (The Chills), Shayne Carter (Straitjacket Fits), Graeme Downes (The Verlaines), Nadia Reid, and Anthonie Tonnon.

Listen out for more new music to come from this unique and multi-talented artist through 2025.

STREAM ‘TO BE’ HERE

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