Moliy is no stranger to making waves, but her latest hit, Shake It To The Max, has taken on a life of its own. After taking a hiatus, the Ghanaian artist returned back in full force with what would become her biggest solo hit yet. It all started with a simple TikTok: Moliy surrounded by family and friends, swaying their hips in sync with the song’s hypnotic bounce. The clip instantly went viral soundtracking viral dance trends, flooding For You pages, and racking up millions of views. It caught the attention of dancehall heavyweights, Shenseea and Skillibeng who have hopped on the official remix.
Though Shake It To The Max is her biggest solo moment, Moliy is no newcomer to the scene. She has been carving her own path in the industry for years, earning recognition through collaborations with artists like Amaarae as well as lending her airy, ethereal vocals to tracks with BOJ, Juls, Moonchild Sanelly, amongst others. Her sound has been a fuse between Afropop and R&B which has made her a sought-after voice, but now she is fully stepping into her own spotlight.
When we got on the call, Moliy was in high spirits, still basking in the whirlwind of it all. “I was just celebrating with my family,” she tells me, almost in disbelief at how things unfolded. From a spontaneous dance video to a remix with two of the biggest names in dancehall, Shake It To The Max is a testament to the magic that happens when the right song meets the right time.
You’ve worked on different projects and have been part of many collaborations with the likes of Boj, Minz, Juls, and many more. How do you feel your sound has evolved since then?
I feel like when I was doing Wondergirl, I was really exploring the kind of artist I was soundwise. I don’t think I was extremely intentional with how I was creating the project or even gauging how it would be received. I was just enjoying my relationship with music and hopping on things I could vibe with. I think it ended up great but I’m more intentional now with what I want to do. Currently, I’m on a dancehall wave. I’m in the dancehall universe and exploring that genre. You could even say everything in between including Reggae and Island music. I love the way it makes people move. I can relate to it as I listened to it a lot growing up. That’s where I am right now. I don’t think I have done that before. I’m going to it full-force.
Who or what inspired you to pursue a career in music?
I feel like I have always been led by music. I remember growing up. My mum, sister and I would always sing together. We were very musically inclined. My sister and I had consciously decided that we wanted to be professional artists. After high school, I was supposed to leave Ghana and pursue a degree. I left briefly but came back to Ghana and ended up inside music. I had really close friends who were into music. This allowed me to be in the studio a lot. I would write or even help to give melodies. At some point, I just decided to be on the mic. It was a frightening moment for me but as soon as I did it, I felt like I was hooked.
How does the Ghanaian music scene influence your artistry? Do you feel there’s a specific vibe or feeling that you carry from your culture into your music?
I think it’s a part of who I am. In terms of how I make music, I put who I am into it in terms of writing and making music.
Your music continuously surprises us with fresh sounds. How do you navigate experimenting with different styles while staying true to your roots?
I trust my creative compass to explore things. From the start, I knew I did not want to be put into a box. I just trust myself to explore and hope people enjoy it as well.
You’ve built a strong connection with your fans online. How important do you think social media is for today’s artist, and how do you use it to stay close to your audience?
Social media is a huge part of being an artist these days especially if you are independent like me. It’s an important tool to help promote yourself. I feel like I have always had a lot of ideas on how to do it. It’s just the fear of being perceived. From thoughts of being cringe or even the lack of attention. When I knew I was about to drop music again, especially after taking a break from releasing music myself. I spent a lot in 2024 focusing on features but was not dropping my own music. I had a lot of time figuring out how I wanted to approach things in this next wave. I knew I wanted social media to be a huge part. I was going to cross the boundary of caring what others thought but rather just posting what I felt was cool or interesting. Once I decided for myself, it was just doing it and doing it consistently.
The reception of your latest track has been massive. How have you been processing the response from your listeners?
I’m just really thankful. It’s doing crazy numbers in the Caribbean and even outside that. From Europe to North America, it is very interesting. I have been observing and being present in the moment. I’m taking it all in and super grateful.
You’ve been teasing your track for months with snippets and behind-the-scenes content. How did you come up with that strategy? What did you hope to achieve by building anticipation in that way?
I was just having fun. In terms of how it should be perceived, that was the last thing I was thinking about. I wanted people to not think about it at all. It was intended to be fun. You are not supposed to care. I was out with my family and asked my brother to take a video of me. I stood on an outdoor table and started doing it. It was so funny and cute. The first video had little engagement. The next one I celebrated my birthday in October with my family and made them do the dance. The video came out and that’s the one that did numbers. The song brings people together. You are supposed to do it with your family and friends.
When you first heard the verses from the featured artists on your track, how did it feel to hear their unique touch?
I am a fan of Dancehall music. It was amazing seeing them doing the dance or dropping verses. It was a full-circle moment.
I have to ask for the people. Would we get another one with the Stefflon Don verse?
I know we are working on multiple remixes. It won’t be just one but that’s all I can say.
When you dropped the song, did you anticipate a remix ahead?
I think before we dropped it. We expected it.
Over the past few years, your journey as an artist seems to have skyrocketed. What moments or experiences would you say have been key to your growth in the music scene?
I would say getting to work with genuine artists I love and respect. I think that’s the best part of being an artist. Before I was an artist, I had a lot of admiration for people that made me want to be an artist myself. Doing this music thing and getting to work with some of them, there is nothing greater than that.
What can we expect from you in the future?
A lot more baddie music. I’m ready to make people move. And a lot more of my new self-marketing career. Also, festivals. I see myself being a part of that.
