Moliy

Moliy Artistfacts

  • October 4, 2001
  • Moliy - born Molly Ama Montgomery in Accra, Ghana - grew up in a home where music was part of the family's daily rhythm. Her father played guitar, her mother sang in the church choir, and after praying, the whole family would gather to sing together. This musical environment, paired with lively karaoke sessions with friends and relatives, laid the foundation for her music career.
  • Moliy's music blends Afrobeats, dancehall, hip-hop, and R&B with lyrics in English and her native Ghanaian Twi - a sound that is unmistakably global yet deeply rooted in West African tradition.
  • Before music, Moliy was employed restocking lingerie at Victoria's Secret in Orlando, Florida. At 19, overwhelmed by back pain and burnout, she made a spontaneous career pivot. "They were calling me in for work. I just muted my phone and never went back," she told Billboard with a laugh.
  • After quitting retail life in Florida, Moliy moved back to Accra, Ghana, where friends introduced her to local producers and studio sessions. Immersed in the city's creative circles, she decided to pursue music full-time.
  • Influenced by Nigeria's genre-blending alté scene, Moliy realized that even if she didn't sound like a "traditional" Ghanaian artist, there was still space for her voice. "That just kept me going," she told Billboard, reflecting on her perseverance in defining her own style.
  • In 2020, Moliy featured on Amaarae's viral hit "Sad Girlz Luv Money," which was later remixed with Kali Uchis. The remix reached #80 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #28 on Rhythmic Airplay, putting Moliy on the global map.
  • Moliy 2024 song with Silent Addy, "Shake It To The Max (FLY)," went viral on TikTok and broke into the Hot 100.
  • Moliy maintains a busy schedule but still priorities self-care. "I love getting my nails done, that always makes me feel like a bad B," she told Essence. "I also like to listen to meditations and things that will make my mind feel at peace. I do that almost every day to get my mind right. Sometimes I'll also unwind with it at the end of the day."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Mac Powell of Third Day

Mac Powell of Third DaySongwriter Interviews

The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"

Jackie DeShannon - "Put a Little Love in Your Heart"They're Playing My Song

It wasn't her biggest hit as a songwriter (that would be "Bette Davis Eyes"), but "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" had a family connection for Jackie.

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"

Allen Toussaint - "Southern Nights"They're Playing My Song

A song he wrote and recorded from "sheer spiritual inspiration," Allen's didn't think "Southern Nights" had hit potential until Glen Campbell took it to #1 two years later.

Stan Ridgway

Stan RidgwaySongwriter Interviews

Go beyond the Wall of Voodoo with this cinematic songwriter.

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin Popoff

Rush: Album by Album - A Conversation With Martin PopoffSong Writing

A talk with Martin Popoff about his latest book on Rush and how he assessed the thousands of albums he reviewed.