Molly Grace @ Paradise Rock Club 10/19

Molly Grace is the next pop princess. With groovy beats, delightfully sassy lyrics, and an effortless stage presence, Grace played a show this Sunday at Paradise Rock Club that was nothing short of “Heaven Sent.”

Grace, whose full name is Molly Grace Zeytoonian, is an up-and-coming pop musician from Lexington, MA. Her Sunday show at Paradise Rock Club was part of the tour for her first studio album, “Blush,” which blends pop with a touch of funk and disco. Grace is a professionally trained vocalist, but she is most well-known for her innovative social media presence. She built her brand from the ground up on TikTok, creating dances to go along with her songs, advocating for women’s empowerment, and positioning herself as an undiscovered talent.

Meg Smith, with whom Grace collaborated on the song “Girls Just Wanna Be Famous(er),” opened the show with a bang. Smith sported a majestic outfit, wearing a halo and angel wings, and introduced herself as the “patron saint of pop music.” She ran through some of her catchy pop tunes, showcasing her powerful belt and charismatic stage presence, but audience interaction was where Smith truly shone. At one point, she brought out a decibel reader to let the audience’s cheers determine what cover she would sing, which resulted in a lively performance of “I Kissed a Girl” by Katy Perry. Although Smith’s music was less my speed, I appreciated the dynamic energy she brought to the stage. 

Before long, the lights dimmed, and the audio message: “You can never have too much blush,” flowed gracefully from the speakers. I imagine that Grace may have been inspired by the ethereal concert introductions of some of the biggest players in the industry, such as Taylor Swift, whose intro is adored by her fan base. 

Then, Grace and her two backup singers, whom she later introduced as her “lover girls,” took the stage. Grace also wore a halo and angel wings, and began her set with “Lemme Lemme,” a jazzy track that combines synths, bass, and cowbell. She and her lover girls broke out into the TikTok choreography at the chorus, which the crowd eagerly joined in on.

Grace played a string of songs from “Blush,” and with each one, I was more and more impressed by her vocal ability. In an age where branding can take priority over musicianship, it’s refreshing when an artist can do both. I also admired her witty lyricism, which felt reminiscent of Sabrina Carpenter’s clever lines.

Of the songs from “Blush,” I was most drawn to “Call it Quits,” which strays from the lighthearted, lovestruck vibe of most songs on the album and dives into the complications of unrequited feelings. I also loved Grace’s performance of one of her hits, “Soprano.” With dazzling vocals layered over flowy synths and a vibrant trumpet, the song was hard not to enjoy. If I hadn’t been writing notes, I would have been dancing.

Grace juxtaposed her upbeat tunes with a vulnerable, reflective acoustic section. She performed “Soft,” which is recorded on “Blush” as a voice memo. Staying true to the song’s origins, Grace played it completely unplugged—no microphone or amplifier. Then, we were treated to a Boston-themed deep cut called “Red Line” that isn’t usually on Grace’s setlist. Despite being a lesser-known song, the crowd had a great time with the lyric, “Pretendin’ like we go to Harvard. But we weren’t that bright.”

Grace also used the acoustic section to give her lover girls a chance to shine. The three covered “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield. Each lover girl sang a verse, and then Grace joined them at the chorus, where they all sang a beautiful three-part harmony.

Grace didn’t forget about her earlier songs from past EPs, and played tracks like “Woman’s Intuition” and “Lady Lady.” “Lady Lady” was a standout and felt like funk with a hint of pop as opposed to pop with a hint of funk.

As her set came to a close, Grace said, “I have good news and bad news. What do you want first?” The crowd replied that they wanted the bad news first. “That’s so Boston of you,” she joked. The bad news was that the show was about to end, and the good news was that she was ending it with her viral hit “Femme.” This “HOT TO GO!”-esque track was a strong end to an even stronger set. Though this pop princess’s future is still “Unwritten,” I know it has great things in store.