Molly Payton got intimate for her Rolling Stone AU/NZ ‘In My Room’ session.
The London-based Aotearoa singer-songwriter released her highly anticipated debut album YOYOTTA back in August, named after the title track “You’re On Your Own This Time Again.”
It’s a fitting title for this “deeply personal project” that captures the artist at her most vulnerable. Packed with polished indie rock, YOYOTTA features Payton’s haunting vocals and sharp lyrics, making a strong statement—especially when you learn more about her recent life experiences.
Across its 10 emotionally charged tracks, the album juxtaposes the thrashy, high-energy “Accelerate” with the stripped-back, tender stream of consciousness found in songs like “Asphalt.” It culminates in Payton navigating her father’s imprisonment while also leaving her record label and moving back to NZ from the UK. Created alongside her longtime collaborator Oscar Lang, the album highlights Payton’s distinctive sound.
Initially, Payton shied away from confronting her father’s imprisonment to keep her focus on her career.”When it happened, I had just released my first bit of music and started to find my footing in the industry, and I felt as if by pausing and taking the time I needed to process it all I’d be giving up my ‘shot’,” she says. “So, I kept pushing through, releasing and avoiding it.”
In 2022, after leaving her record label and returning to her childhood home in New Zealand, she was finally ready to face the upheaval in her life, which led to the creation of YOYOTTA. “By this point I hadn’t been able to write property in about a year. I felt so lost, and suddenly this great big shadow that had been following me around felt unavoidable.”
Following the release of her debut album, Payton took part in our ‘In My Room’ series, where she performed a stunning acoustic set directly from her bedroom.
Watch Payton’s full ‘In My Room’ session above.
On the live front, Payton has just been announced to perform at new Hawke’s Bay music festival SLACKBARN!, which will be held at Black Barn on January 18th. SLACKBARN! also features other Kiwi acts like The Black Seeds, Half Hexagon, Rita Mae, and Muroki.
This year saw Payton take part in Georgia Lines’ popular music web series, INTROS, where she was described as a “thoughtful singer-songwriter who cites timeless talents such as Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, and Neil Young as major songwriting influences.” You can watch the full episode here.
Molly Payton’s YOYOTTA is out now.
