MOLLY STONE - THE SOFTIES EP
Molly Stone has always had a knack for making emotional honesty sound effortless. She has spent the past few years carving out a space in contemporary pop and acoustic singer-songwriter music where vulnerability meets wit. Her latest release, The Softies, a four-track EP, sees her leaning fully into her gentler side, yet it is far from soft in its emotional impact. Instead, Stone demonstrates that tenderness can be powerful, precise, and deeply resonant.
From the opening notes of ‘Maybe I’m a Handful’, it’s clear that Stone has curated this EP with intentionality. The song introduces her voice in all its warmth, tempered with a knowing sharpness that fans will recognise immediately. There’s a playful honesty here, an unflinching acknowledgement of her own complexities, delivered with a vocal clarity that makes every lyric land. Co-written with Marc Rapson, the track strikes a delicate balance between intimacy and confidence, showing that gentleness does not require submission. It’s a tone that carries across the entirety of the EP, setting the stage for what follows.
‘Glitter’ continues this thread, showcasing Stone’s signature ability to mix emotional vulnerability with clever observation. The song shimmers not only in name but in its production, courtesy of Reya, who keeps the arrangement minimal enough to highlight Stone’s vocals while adding subtle textures that give it depth. The lyrics are approachable yet cutting, demonstrating Stone’s gift for capturing the emotional contradictions of everyday life. The track is effortlessly charming, making the listener feel as if they are being confided in rather than performing for an audience.
Perhaps the most poignant moment of The Softies comes in ‘You Left So Suddenly’, a song that addresses the death of Stone’s father. Here, her tenderness becomes almost tangible, the restraint in her delivery amplifying the weight of the words. There’s a grace to the simplicity of the instrumentation—a quiet acoustic framework that allows the emotional core of the song to shine. Stone’s voice, clear and controlled, carries both sorrow and acceptance, showing an emotional maturity that anchors the EP. It’s a reminder that softness can hold immense strength, and that the quietest moments often leave the most lasting impressions.
The EP closes with ‘I Just Wanna Give You Love’, featuring Nathan Thomas. This track feels like a warm exhale, a culmination of the themes threaded throughout the previous three songs. Thomas’ presence adds a conversational dynamic, and the duet format reinforces the EP’s sense of connection and intimacy. It’s a gentle, unhurried song that doesn’t rely on bombast to be affecting. Instead, its power lies in its sincerity, the clarity of its emotion, and the feeling that Stone’s gentleness is shared, extended outward, rather than kept private. By the end of the track, the listener is left with a sense of completion, a journey from playful self-awareness through grief and tenderness to emotional warmth.
What makes The Softies particularly compelling is the way Stone balances vulnerability with agency. Too often, ‘soft’ music can risk slipping into saccharine sentimentality, but Stone’s voice, both literally and metaphorically, keeps the EP grounded. Her lyrics are candid without being confessional in a way that alienates the listener; they feel like invitations, not admissions. And while the EP’s four tracks are unified by mood rather than narrative, there is a natural flow, a sense of cohesion that makes it feel like a deliberate statement rather than a collection of leftovers.
The EP situates Stone firmly in the realm of contemporary folk-pop, with touches that fans of Taylor Swift, Lily Allen, Sabrina Carpenter, and Ed Sheeran will recognise and appreciate. Yet it never feels derivative. Her voice is unmistakable, sweet, nuanced, and confident, and the production highlights it beautifully without ever overshadowing the storytelling. The minimalist approach allows the emotional clarity of the songs to shine, reminding the listener that sometimes, less truly is more.
The Softies is an EP that rewards attentive listening. Each track has its own emotional arc, and each showcases Stone’s ability to combine technical skill with vulnerability and wit. It’s a work that proves softness is not weakness; it is precision, control, and honesty delivered with care. In just four tracks, Molly Stone has created a body of work that is intimate, approachable, and enduring, a perfect reminder that gentleness can cut as deeply as any bravado.
It’s an EP that leaves its mark not by shouting, but by whispering, by holding space for feeling, and by trusting the listener to meet it there. With this release, Molly Stone not only confirms her voice as distinct and compelling but also expands her artistry in ways that suggest she is only just beginning to explore the depths of her expression.
