Polly Money always dreamed of playing London’s O2 Arena, but she never imagined it would happen four times in one year while on tour with The 1975. Growing up in a musical household, Polly naturally gravitated toward music, inspired by her siblings and a love of R&B.
A denim lover and our latest playlist curator, Polly’s creative process is as thoughtful as her performances, and she thrives on the energy of a live audience. With heartfelt melodies and undeniable warmth, Polly Money is one to watch—don’t miss her next live set if you get the chance.
What got you into music?
My first memories of properly getting into music are from my family playing music all the time. Whether we were at home, in the car, on holiday, music was always one of the first things to be thought of. I’m the youngest of four, and all my siblings played instruments, so I naturally started picking them up and singing too. I guess I just wanted to do what they were doing, and playing music always felt natural to me.
Who (or what) are your influences, and how have they shaped your style of music and personal style?
I’m really inspired by art in general. When it comes to music I get obsessed with melody. I cut my teeth on R&B when I was a kid and that has certainly shaped how I sing and write melodies now. In the past few years, I’ve gotten more into film and use that as fuel for song subjects. Musicians that have inspired me more recently are ML Buch, Dijon, and Mk.Gee. To me their music sounds like being wrapped in a warm blanket and that’s pretty much always how I want my music to sound. Absorbing what all these artists do has certainly helped shape my current sound.
What's your relationship with your denims or denim in general?
I am actually obsessed with clothes in general, especially denim. Finding the right pair of jeans that fit just right is like the most incredible feeling for me. If I feel good in what I’m wearing—on stage or in daily life—everything else falls into place. Even the smell of denim gets me excited to wear it.
Can you describe your creative process when writing and composing music?
I usually like to write melody, chords and lyrics pretty much all at the same time in chronological order. If I’m writing over a beat that's been sent to me, I like to sit with it, looping it over and over to get a feel for where I want to take it and what the song will be about.
How do you deal with creative blocks or moments of low inspiration?
I try not to put too much pressure on myself if it’s not happening that day. Breaks are key for me, and being outside, so I’ll usually just take a walk, put on some music that inspires me and try again. I always think some distance from a song works too if you get stuck. It’s hard to keep the creative tap constantly flowing so I make a real habit of keeping up with my hobbies so my time doesn’t completely revolve around music and that really helps me.
How do you feel when you're performing live on stage?
Performing live is my favourite thing to do. I reckon I’m more confident on stage than in general life and I really thrive off that feeling. I feel at home when I’m performing and get so much from seeing an audience having a good time.
Do you have any rituals or routines before going on stage or starting a recording session?
I’ve always warmed up before any show or session. I’ve done the same warm-up now for so long that it really calms me. No matter how big the show is, getting a quiet moment doing my warm-up completely sets me up.
What’s your idea behind your Curated by playlist?
I wanted this playlist to feel like a winter Saturday in London. I split the playlist into five parts. It starts with a morning walk, into a cosy afternoon (Sade is like the ultimate cosy artist for me), we’re then getting ready for a night out, we’re in the club, and finally a few songs for the night bus home.
Photos by: Natalie Michele
