At a time when so much pop music revolves around romance and heartbreak, Molly Stone is shining a spotlight on a different kind of love. Her latest single, I Got You, is an upbeat celebration of friendship, chosen family, and the wonderfully chaotic moments that define our closest relationships. Blending infectious pop hooks with her trademark honesty and humour, the track captures the feeling of having someone by your side through every questionable decision, triumph, and setback.

Written alongside Maddox Jones and producer Dave Crawford at Plastic Tree Studios, I Got You channels the carefree energy of a windows-down road trip anthem while remaining rooted in genuine emotion. As Molly continues to carve out her own space in the pop landscape, authenticity remains at the heart of everything she creates. We caught up with her to discuss the inspiration behind the song, the importance of chosen family, collaboration, vulnerability in songwriting, and why the best friendships are often just a little bit unhinged.

“I Got You” centres on friendship and chosen family—what first made you want to explore that theme in a song, rather than romance or self-reflection?

I’ve said it so many times before, but I’m endlessly inspired by women, especially female friendships, and the way we show up for each other through everything. Relationships can come and go, but your best friend is often the person who’s there through every high and low. That kind of unconditional love is so special to me. I also love writing about the slightly chaotic side of friendships. There’s something funny and relatable about that “Should I drive past my ex’s house?” “Absolutely, I’ll drive you” energy. It’s a little bit toxic, a little bit unhinged, but you’re in it together. I think that’s such a real part of so many friendships, and it felt really fun to capture in a song.

You describe the track as celebrating the “unhinged, crazy moments” between friends—can you recall a specific real-life moment that captures the spirit of the song?

I don’t think there’s one specific moment—it was more inspired by hundreds of little ones. It’s those moments where you both have the exact same slightly toxic thought, make eye contact, and just know how ridiculous you’re being. I’ve had so many unhinged experiences with my friends, whether I’ve been the one causing the chaos or just the spectator cheering them on. Obviously, we know better than to act on most of those thoughts, but it’s fun to laugh about them and indulge in that side of your friendship sometimes. That’s really the energy I wanted to capture in the song.

When you were writing with Maddox Jones and working with Dave Crawford at Plastic Tree Studios, what did each of them bring to the creative process that shaped the final direction of the track?

Maddox is just a ball of energy and ideas. His brain must be moving at 100 miles an hour, which is amazing when you’re writing because there’s never a shortage of creativity. Dave is such a talented musician and producer, and the chemistry between the two of them is incredible because they’ve worked together for so long. The whole process just felt really natural and easy. We listened to a few upbeat reference tracks, including some Chappell Roan, because I’d been really inspired by her music at the time. I remember saying, “I want a love song, but for your best friend”—the kind of song you’d scream at the top of your lungs together on a road trip with the windows down. This is honestly a song I don’t think I would’ve written on my own. Collaborating with Maddox and Dave pushed the idea somewhere I wouldn’t have gone by myself, and I think that’s exactly what makes it so special.

How do you usually know when a personal story is ready to become a song, rather than staying something private?

For me, it’s pretty instinctual. I just get the urge to write about something, and if I can’t stop thinking about it, it usually ends up becoming a song. I’ve never really been afraid of sharing personal parts of my life because I think that’s how we connect with people on a deeper level. I always appreciate it when the artists I love are vulnerable and let people see the real person behind the music, so I try to do the same. The more honest and raw I can be, the better. That’s the kind of music I want to make.

Sonically, “I Got You” sits in a bright, upbeat pop space—how intentional was the balance between emotional sincerity and high-energy production?

It was always meant to be bright and upbeat because that road trip feeling was there from the very beginning. I wanted it to be the kind of song you’d blast in the car with your best friend, windows down, singing at the top of your lungs. The emotional side wasn’t something we had to force. It came naturally because every lyric is rooted in real moments and experiences from my own friendships. So while the production is fun and energetic, the sentiment is completely genuine. I think that’s what makes it work—it’s a feel-good pop song with a really honest heart.

Did the song evolve significantly from its first writing session to the final recording, and if so, what changed most along the way?

Honestly, it stayed pretty much exactly the same as the demo we made on the very first day. Writing with Dave and Maddox is just so easy, and the song clicked almost immediately. It had that feel-good energy from the start, so there was never a point where we felt like we needed to reinvent it. There were little production tweaks here and there, but the heart of the song, the melody, and the overall vibe were there from that first session. It just felt like a banger straight away.

You’re often compared to artists like Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Lily Allen, and Chappell Roan—how do you feel about those comparisons, and where do you feel your sound diverges most strongly from them?

It’s honestly crazy to be compared to any of them because they’re all such incredible artists and songwriters. I definitely think there are little elements of each of them in what I do, along with so many other artists who’ve shaped me over the years. I’ve learnt so much just from being a fan and paying attention to the little details in their music and songwriting. I think seeing artists do things I loved almost gave me permission to do my own version of them. I remember hearing Lily Allen singing in her own accent as a kid and thinking, “Oh… I didn’t know that was allowed!” It was such a liberating moment because it made me realise you don’t have to fit into this perfect mould to make great pop music. I’ve had loads of moments like that with different artists throughout my life. Then, over the last few years, working with different producers and writers has helped me develop my own sound even further. I think all of those influences are there, but at the end of the day I’m just trying to make music that feels authentic to me, rather than trying to sound like anyone else.

Your songwriting often blends humour with emotional honesty—do you find humour helps you say things that would otherwise feel too vulnerable?

I love including humour in my songs—sometimes I can’t even help it. There have been songs of mine that people have described as funny, and I didn’t even realise I’d written them that way. I think it’s just part of how I communicate in everyday life. It definitely doesn’t belong in every song, but I love the contrast of taking a really heavy or emotional subject and throwing in a slightly ridiculous line to balance it out. For me, humour doesn’t take away from the vulnerability at all. If anything, it’s just another way of delivering it. Sometimes the funniest lines are also the most honest.

What does “chosen family” mean to you personally, and how has that idea shaped your identity both as an artist and as a person?

Chosen family means the people who choose to stand by you, and who you choose right back. I feel incredibly grateful for the people I have in my life, and so much of my inspiration comes from those friendships and relationships. I’ve definitely met my fair share of people with bad intentions, so when you find genuinely good people, you really appreciate them. That’s something I wanted to honour with this song—to say thank you and give a little nod to the people who’ve been there for me. Even the people I work with now have become part of that chosen family. Yes, we have professional relationships, but they’re also my friends, and I have so much love for them. It’s a really special feeling to have people on your team who genuinely see you, believe in you, and want the best for you. That’s something I never take for granted.

In a pop landscape that often leans into stylised personas, how important is it for you that your music feels emotionally unfiltered or authentic?

For me, the goal has always been to genuinely connect with people. Of course I want to build a recognisable brand and have my own identity as an artist, but it has to feel authentic to who I am. I’ve never been very good at being anything other than myself. The only way I can be consistent is by being honest, because trying to play a character would be exhausting and people would probably see through it anyway. I think audiences connect with authenticity more than perfection. If someone listens to one of my songs and thinks, “I’ve felt that too,” then I’ve done what I set out to do.

Can you walk us through a typical writing session for you—do lyrics or melody usually come first, or does it depend on the moment?

If I’m writing on my own, it’s usually really spontaneous. A lyric, a title, or just a random concept will pop into my head and I’ll quickly jot it down. Sometimes I’ll keep writing there and then, and other times I’ll take that idea into the studio and build it with someone else. I’d definitely say I’m more lyric-focused. The melody often comes naturally too, but when I’m collaborating I usually like to let the producer or co-writer take the lead on shaping that side of things while we bounce ideas off each other. Other times, I’ll go into a session with people like Dave and Maddox and we’ll build a song from scratch around an idea I’ve had. Honestly, that’s probably my favourite part of the whole process. There’s something so exciting about making something out of nothing. One minute it’s just a random thought you had while driving down the M25, and by the end of the day it’s a fully formed song. I never get tired of that feeling. Literally feels like magic.

What role do your friendships play in your wider creative process outside of songwriting—do they actively influence your sound and perspective?

My friendships influence pretty much every part of my creative process. They provide so much inspiration and support, but they’re also actively involved in what I make. I’ve even written with some of my friends who are poets, and to me there’s not that much difference between writing a poem and writing a song—it’s all storytelling. I love involving my friends in my music videos too, whether they’re in front of the camera or working behind the scenes. There are so many talented people around me, and I really want to build with them rather than do everything alone. Hopefully one day I’ll be able to pay them a lot better! I’m always sending demos to my friends for their opinions, but I love having them involved in much bigger ways than that. It makes the whole process feel more collaborative, more personal, and ultimately more authentic to who I am.

If “I Got You” had a visual world or music video concept, what imagery or storytelling would best represent it?

Well… I actually do have a music video planned for it! I was brainstorming it today with one of my producers and friends, Reya, so I probably shouldn’t give too much away. What I can say is that it’s definitely going to match the energy of the song. Expect friendship, chaos, and a few questionable decisions… in the best possible way. It’s going to be a little bit unhinged, which feels very on-brand.

What do you hope listeners feel about their own friendships after hearing this song for the first time?

I hope people hear it and immediately think, “Oh my God, this is so us,” and send it straight to their best friend. That’s probably the biggest compliment the song could get. More than anything, I hope it makes people feel grateful for the friendships they have. I want them to feel seen, whether they’re the sensible friend or the one encouraging all the questionable decisions! At its heart, the song is just a celebration of those people who stick by you through absolutely everything, and I hope listeners come away appreciating those relationships a little bit more.

Looking ahead, does “I Got You” represent a new creative direction for you, or is it more of a continuation of themes you’ve been building for a while?

I think it’s more of a continuation than a completely new direction. My goal has always been to make music that captures different emotions and different moments in life. I want to be the kind of artist where, if you want to cry, I’ve got a song for that. If you’re angry, I’ve got a song for that. If you want to scream the lyrics with your best friend in the car, I’ve got a song for that too. I’m really enjoying the freedom of not having to stay in one box or stick to one sound. I hope the consistency in my music comes from my personality, my songwriting, and my voice, rather than being tied to a specific genre. That feels much more authentic to me as an artist.

Instagram, Spotify, YouTube