‘I’m this reserved, awkward human’: love, death and jangles with Alvvays

Molly Rankin was stuck trying to honour her late father’s musicianship, until indie-pop opened a door. She discusses being an unlikely bandleader – and why it’s awkward playing music with your boyfriendAs I’m waiting to be connected to Molly Rankin of the Canadian indie-pop band Alvvays, the video for one of their new tracks In Undertow – an addictive shoegazey swirl of Farfisa and feedback – has just gone live on YouTube. When she comes on the line from Toronto, I ask if she’s watching real-time reactions on the comments thread.“I learned very early on that it’s not good to read that stuff,” Rankin says cheerfully. “I’ll probably go for a long walk for a few hours today and then come back and see if there’s been any disaster.” I read a few of the responses out nonetheless: “This is fricking amazing”; “Totally 80s and totally awesome”; “Molly so cute.” YouTube’s little thumbs-up icon has already been clicked hundreds of times. “Things are always good early on,” Rankin deadpans. Continue reading…