Molly Smitten-Downes

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Molly Smitten-Downes

| image = Molly, ESC2014 Meet & Greet 07 (crop).jpg

| caption = Molly Smitten-Downes (2014)

| birth_name = Molly Alice Smitten-Downes{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/Molly+Smitten-Downes|title=Molly Smitten-Downes Discography at Discogs|publisher=Discogs.com}}

| alias =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1985|4|2}}

| birth_place = Anstey, Leicestershire, England{{cite web|url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Eurovision-2014-Molly-Smitten-Downes/story-20746020-detail/story.html |title=Eurovision 2014: Molly Smitten-Downes, from Leicestershire, to represent UK in song contest |publisher=Leicester Mercury |access-date=4 March 2014}}

| origin =

| genre = Folk, pop{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26431800 |title=Molly Smitten-Downes: Eurovision will be a challenge |publisher=BBC News|date=4 March 2014|access-date=4 March 2014}}

| occupation = Singer, songwriter

| years_active = 2005–present

| label = {{flatlist|

| website = {{URL|officialmolly.com}}

}}

Molly Alice Smitten-Downes (born 2 April 1985{{Cite web|url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/officers/pet-krVbcQyLUGA9JdPrz_mL-Yc/appointments|title = Molly Alice SMITTEN-DOWNES Companies House}}), known by her mononym Molly, is an English singer and songwriter.

Early life

Born in Anstey, Leicestershire,"[http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/ve-just-got-deliver-killer-vocal-don-t-bigger/story-20787130-detail/story.html Eurovision 2014: Leicestershire's Molly Smitten-Downes on why she's just got to deliver that killer vocal] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502210039/http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/ve-just-got-deliver-killer-vocal-don-t-bigger/story-20787130-detail/story.html |date=2 May 2014 }}", Leicester Mercury, 10 March 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014 Molly grew up in Rothley and attended Our Lady's Convent School (later known as Loughborough Amherst 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/former-academy-contemporary-music-student-6769299 |title=Former ACM student to represent UK in Eurovision Song Contest |date=4 March 2014 |publisher=GetSurrey.co.uk |access-date=4 March 2014}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-26414284 |title=Eurovision Song Contest: Little-known artist set to be UK's hopeful|publisher=BBC News|date=3 March 2014|access-date=27 September 2015}}

=2011–13: Career beginnings=

An acoustic EP Fly Away with Me was released on 18 December 2011.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/shadows/487415556?i=487415560 |title=iTunes – Music – Fly Away With Me – EP by Molly |publisher=iTunes |date=18 December 2011 |access-date=1 March 2014}} EP track "Shadows" was sampled by grime artist Marger and has been released on iTunes through 360 Records (21 August 2011).{{cite web|author=MTV UK |url=http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/urban/2734-fresh-marger-feat-molly-shadows |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709152024/http://www.mtv.co.uk/music/urban/2734-fresh-marger-feat-molly-shadows |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 July 2011 |title=Fresh: Marger Feat. Molly – 'Shadows' |publisher=Mtv.co.uk |access-date=3 March 2014}} "Beneath The Lights", her collaboration with Swedish producer Anders Hansson, was released in April 2013 with Anders' project Dream Beats.{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/beneath-the-lights-single/id641453788|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702040315/https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/beneath-the-lights-single/id641453788|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 July 2014|title=iTunes – Music – Beneath the Lights – Single by Molly & Dream Beats|website=iTunes |access-date=2 March 2014}}{{cite web|author=Joseph 'JP' Patterson |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/introducing/2011/07/jps_underground_tracks_of_the_6.shtml |title=Introducing blog: JP's Underground Tracks of The Month |publisher=BBC |access-date=3 March 2014}} "Never Forget", her collaboration with producer Darren Styles, was written and recorded in 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.nme.com/nme-video/youtube/id/wbzXsoGroQk/search/darren-styles--chris-unknown-feat-molly |title=Free Music Videos, Video Interviews, Music Video News, Live Sessions and Clips |publisher=Nme.Com |access-date=3 March 2014}}

=2014: Eurovision Song Contest=

File:Molly - Children of the Universe presentation.webm

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".{{cite web | url=http://esctoday.com/77171/united-kingdom-molly-smitten-downes-copenhagen/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303155910/http://esctoday.com/77171/united-kingdom-molly-smitten-downes-copenhagen/ | archive-date=3 March 2014 | title=Eurovision United Kingdom: It's Molly Smitten-Downes to Copenhagen! }}{{cite web | url=http://esctoday.com/77182/tonight-song-presentation-uk/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140303161427/http://esctoday.com/77182/tonight-song-presentation-uk/ | archive-date=3 March 2014 | title=Eurovision Tonight: Song presentation in the UK }}{{cite news|url=http://www.eurovision.tv/page/news?id=molly_smitten-downes_to_represent_the_uk|title=Molly Smitten-Downes to represent the UK|publisher=eurovision.tv|date=3 March 2014|access-date=4 March 2014}} Molly wrote "Children of the Universe" herself and has described her ambition to write music that "breaks down political barriers".{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-26431800|title=Molly Smitten-Downes: Eurovision will be a challenge|publisher=bbc.co.uk|date=4 March 2014|access-date=7 March 2014}} Prior to the contest, Molly signed a record deal with Warner Music UK on 1 April 2014.{{cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/79388/uk-mollys-album-deal-warner-music-uk/ |title=UK: Molly's album deal with Warner Music UK |publisher=esctoday.com |date=1 April 2014 |access-date=1 April 2014}} On 4 April, Molly announced that she would release her song "Children of the Universe" on 28 April 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a562398/mollys-eurovision-song-children-of-the-universe-gets-studio-version.html |title=Molly's Eurovision Song 'Children of the Universe' gets studio version |publisher=Digital Spy |date=4 April 2014 |access-date=4 April 2014}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://esctoday.com/81589/united-kingdom-children-universe-clip-released/ |title=United Kingdom: Children of the universe clip released |publisher=esctoday.com |access-date=24 April 2014}} The following day, Molly appeared on BBC Radio 1's Innuendo Bingo.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K80ltxhzzSE|title=Innuendo Bingo with Eurovision Contestant Molly Smitten-Downes|last=BBC Radio 1|date=24 April 2014|via=YouTube}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://wiwibloggs.com/2014/06/05/molly-smitten-downes-glastonbury-2014/52554/ |title=MOLLY SMITTEN-DOWNES TO PERFORM AT GLASTONBURY 2014 |date=5 June 2014 |access-date=5 June 2014}}

In 2015 she teamed up with German DJ and producer Zwette to make "Rush"{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/Zwette-ft-Molly-Rush/release/7300037|title=Zwette ft. Molly* – Rush|website=Discogs|date=23 March 2015 }} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/lantern-mw0002841558|title=Lantern – Hudson Mohawke – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic|website=AllMusic}}

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.{{cite web|title=BBC – Eurovision 2014 – Media centre|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/mediapacks/eurovision2014|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 April 2014}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Eurovision-contestant-Molly-Smitten-Downes/story-23852671-detail/story.html|title=Eurovision contestant Molly Smitten-Downes receives honorary award from Leicester College|publisher=Leicester Mercury|date=31 October 2014|access-date=1 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141101223349/http://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/Eurovision-contestant-Molly-Smitten-Downes/story-23852671-detail/story.html|archive-date=1 November 2014|url-status=dead}}

Discography

=Extended plays=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col"\| Title ! scope="col"\| Album details
scope="row"\| Fly Away with Me \| Released: 18 December 2011 Label: Independent Format: Digital download

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

scope="col"| Title

! scope="col"| Album details

scope="row"| Fly Away with Me

Released: 18 December 2011
Label: Independent
Format: Digital download

=Singles=

==As lead artist==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Year ! scope="col" colspan="8"\| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"\| Album
scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| UK {{cite web\|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/molly/\|title=Molly > UK Charts\|publisher=Official Charts Company}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| AUT {{cite web\|url=http://austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Molly+%5BUK%5D\|title=Discographie Molly\|publisher=Austrian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung)\|last=Hung\|first=Steffen}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| BEL {{cite web\|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Molly+%5BUK%5D\|title=Discografie Molly\|publisher=Belgium (Flanders) Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung)\|last=Hung\|first=Steffen}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| DEN {{cite web\|url=https://danishcharts.dk/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Molly+%5BUK%5D\|title=Discography Molly\|publisher=Danish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung)\|last=Hung\|first=Steffen}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| GER {{cite web\|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/artist.asp?name=Molly+%5BUK%5D&country=de\|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140707094230/http://www.officialcharts.de/artist.asp?name=Molly+%5BUK%5D&country=de\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=7 July 2014\|title=Discographie Molly\|publisher=German Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung)\|last=Hung\|first=Steffen}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| IRE {{cite web\|url=http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Molly+%5BUK%5D\|title=Discography Molly\|publisher=Irish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung)\|last=Hung\|first=Steffen}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| SCO Peak positions for Singles in Scotland: For "Children of the Universe": {{cite web\|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20140518/41/\|title=Chart Archive > May 24, 2014\|publisher=Official Charts Company\|date=24 May 2014}} ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"\| SWI {{cite web\|url=http://hitparade.ch/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Molly+%5BUK%5D\|title=Discographie Molly\|publisher=Swiss Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung)\|last=Hung\|first=Steffen}}
scope="row"\| "Beneath the Lights" (with Dream Beats) \| 2013 \| – \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \|\| — \| rowspan=3 {{N/A\|Non-album singles}}
scope="row"\| "Children of the Universe"{{Ref_label\|A\|a\|none}} \| rowspan="2" \| 2014 \| 23 \|\| 63 \|\| 139 \|\| 37 \|\| 94 \|\| 36 \|\| 15 \|\| 63
scope="row"\| "Lock Up Your Daughter"{{Ref_label\|B\|b\|none}} \| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| – \|\| –
colspan="18" style="font-size:85%"\| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

scope="col" rowspan="2"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year

! scope="col" colspan="8"| Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album

scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| UK
{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/molly/|title=Molly > UK Charts|publisher=Official Charts Company}}

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| AUT
{{cite web|url=http://austriancharts.at/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Molly+%5BUK%5D|title=Discographie Molly|publisher=Austrian Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung)|last=Hung|first=Steffen}}

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| BEL
{{cite web|url=http://www.ultratop.be/nl/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Molly+%5BUK%5D|title=Discografie Molly|publisher=Belgium (Flanders) Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung)|last=Hung|first=Steffen}}

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| DEN
{{cite web|url=https://danishcharts.dk/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Molly+%5BUK%5D|title=Discography Molly|publisher=Danish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung)|last=Hung|first=Steffen}}

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| GER
{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.de/artist.asp?name=Molly+%5BUK%5D&country=de|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140707094230/http://www.officialcharts.de/artist.asp?name=Molly+%5BUK%5D&country=de|url-status=dead|archive-date=7 July 2014|title=Discographie Molly|publisher=German Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung)|last=Hung|first=Steffen}}

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| IRE
{{cite web|url=http://irish-charts.com/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Molly+%5BUK%5D|title=Discography Molly|publisher=Irish Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung)|last=Hung|first=Steffen}}

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| SCO
Peak positions for Singles in Scotland:

For "Children of the Universe": {{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/scottish-singles-chart/20140518/41/|title=Chart Archive > May 24, 2014|publisher=Official Charts Company|date=24 May 2014}}

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"| SWI
{{cite web|url=http://hitparade.ch/showinterpret.asp?interpret=Molly+%5BUK%5D|title=Discographie Molly|publisher=Swiss Charts Portal. Hung Medien (Steffen Hung)|last=Hung|first=Steffen}}

scope="row"| "Beneath the Lights"
(with Dream Beats)

| 2013

| – || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

| rowspan=3 {{N/A|Non-album singles}}

scope="row"| "Children of the Universe"{{Ref_label|A|a|none}}

| rowspan="2" | 2014

| 23 || 63 || 139 || 37 || 94 || 36 || 15 || 63

scope="row"| "Lock Up Your Daughter"{{Ref_label|B|b|none}}

| – || – || – || – || – || – || – || –

colspan="18" style="font-size:85%"| "—" denotes a single that did not chart or was not released.

==As featured artist==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col"\| Title ! scope="col"\| Year ! scope="col"\| Album
scope="row"\| "Shadows" (Marger featuring Molly) \| 2011 \| rowspan="4"\| Non-album singles
scope="row"\| "Never Forget You" (Darren Styles featuring Molly) \| 2013
scope="row"\| "Rush" (Zwette featuring Molly) \| rowspan="2"\| 2015
scope="row"\| "Breathe" (Si Tew featuring Molly)

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

scope="col"| Title

! scope="col"| Year

! scope="col"| Album

scope="row"| "Shadows"
(Marger featuring Molly)

| 2011

| rowspan="4"| Non-album singles

scope="row"| "Never Forget You"
(Darren Styles featuring Molly)

| 2013

scope="row"| "Rush"
(Zwette featuring Molly)

| rowspan="2"| 2015

scope="row"| "Breathe"
(Si Tew featuring Molly)

References

=Notes=

{{ordered list|type=a

|1= {{Note_label|A|a|none}} 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.

|3= {{Note_label|B|b|none}} Was released as a free download gift from the artist herself.{{cite web|last1=Mulhall|first1=Garrett|title=UK : Watch Molly's 'Lock Up Your Daughters' and download free as her gift to you|url=http://eurovisionireland.net/2014/10/23/uk-watch-mollys-lock-up-your-daughters-and-download-free-as-her-gift-to-you/|website=eurovisionireland.net|publisher=Eurovision Ireland|access-date=1 November 2014|date=23 October 2014}}

}}