Mollie's Feel-Good Feed: Music for cosy nights in and my new tiredness hack

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published 16 October 2020

Plus, the chic new Netflix show everyone is obsessed with RN

Welcome to Mollie’s Feel-Good Feed, a place where each week Mollie King shares her round-up of the things bringing her joy in these strange and uncertain times. Check back each week for uplifting music, self care tips and, hopefully, a smile being put on your face.

This week I’m sat writing my column in what feels like the perfect location for inspiration and thought; a café hidden away in a converted barn, with side rooms filled with candles and potted plants. If I were a filmmaker – which I've dreamed about countless times – I would say this was the location for a meet-cute in a romantic comedy. Maybe I've spent too much time watching The Holiday this week!

Aside from that, my recommendations have brought me a lot of joy over the last few days and have given me the warmth needed as winter draws ever closer. I hope they bring you that same feeling.

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Singles

It’s no surprise that one of the biggest songwriters of our generation has released yet another hypnotically catchy pop song, although this time it’s under her own name, Julia Michaels. After writing huge hits for the likes of Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez, she’s successfully carved out her own path and identity – one of the hardest things for a writer and producer to do!

With the opening lyric: ‘He says I’m pretty upside down, pretty right side up, too,’ you know from the get-go that you’re in for even more of Michaels’ trademark clever and thought-provoking lyrics with Lie Like This. The song has the perfect feel-good factor we need right now, while remaining understated and cool. Julia, you’re a certified favourite in Feel-Good Feed!

My next must-listen comes from an artist who I’ve previously raved about in this very column and who collaborated with Julia Michaels on what has to be one of my top five songs of the last few years, JP Saxe. Titled If the World Was Ending, it’s a song that, in my opinion, didn’t get the hype it deserved when it was first released last year, but it found a second wave this year in these tricky times.

Having played that song over and over again, I’m delighted with his new release as it has a similar feel, this time with Brighton singer/songwriter Maisie Peters. The combination of these two voices gives me everything I love in a duet, along with great storytelling, which these two both do so well in their own right. Maybe Don’t is understated, beautiful, and well worth a listen.

Albums

As the longer nights draw in rain hammers against the window panes, there’s something I find truly romantic about those we spend indoors with the luxury of watching something we haven’t seen before, or stumbling across a band or artist we’ve not yet heard.

This week I had exactly that experience as I came across London singer/songwriter Amber Bain, aka ‘The Japanese House’ and her EP Chewing Cotton Wool. With a laid-back electronic feel to her music, she’s created what I think is the perfect EP for this time of year; light a candle, snuggle up in something warm and listen to something slightly different.

TV shows

I’m sure you’ve seen it pop up when you log into Netflix, but Emily In Paris seems to be the talk of the town, whatever town you’re in! Lily Collins comes into her own as she leads this new, light-hearted comedy-drama. Created by the genius behind Sex and The City, Darren Star, it’s no surprise this has become a firm favourite among viewers looking for something cheeky and easy going in these uncertain times. Escapism at its most chic!

Self care

Like lots of you I'm sure, for me a full night's sleep is a real treat, rather than a guarantee. Because of my radio show I’m up between 4.30am and 5am three times a week, and as hard as I try, it’s often hard to lay in longer on the days I could sleep in until a more reasonable hour!

Undoubtedly the signs of tiredness creep up on me and try as I might to hide them under a hat, or (quite conveniently) these days a mask, I’ve hunted down other methods to hide the signs, and have come across Ciaté London. Their Watermelon Under Eye Patches are a quick and easy way to revitalise this area and hide that ‘I'm unbelievably tired’ look – which is apparently now my signature look!

These quick fix hydrogel patches have become a little friend of mine that I often pop on in the car or while doing other jobs. They really can be a secret weapon to hide your true energy levels. Speaking of which, I’m wondering why I don’t have them on right now?!

Read more Mollie's Feel-Good Feed:

Thanks so much for reading Mollie’s Feel-Good Feed – check back on Marie Claire every Friday for more of my feel-good recommendations.

Take care and stay safe!

Mollie King rose to fame as one-fifth of the multi-platinum selling girl band, The Saturdays. The last few years have seen her become a Radio 1 DJ, present across flagship TV shows and a campaign in Parliament.

During her time in The Saturdays, the group sold over five million records worldwide, achieving 13 Top 10 singles and five Top 10 albums. The band also embarked on four nationwide tours and had three primetime TV series, including Chasing the Saturdays for E! which aired in over 40 countries.

In 2018, Mollie turned her hand to presenting and after guest presenting for several weeks on Matt Edmondson’s Radio 1 show, she was offered a permanent role at the station. The duo began hosting the Matt & Mollie Weekend Breakfast show and 2021 moved their new afternoon slot. Mollie also presents her own Friday morning show Best New Pop, sharing music from her most loved genre. After only six months into her role at Radio 1, Mollie won the silver award for ‘Best New Presenter’ at the 2018 ARIA Radio Academy Awards.

In addition to Radio, Mollie has also guest presented This Morning several times, including a month-long stint in the summer of 2018. She’s covered the entertainment slot on Lorraine, and guest presented on Blue Peter. In 2019, Mollie hosted The Greatest Dancer podcast for the BBC. She also presented the BBC Radio 1 Teen Awards, alongside Greg James and Maya Jama, which aired on BBC2. Mollie also took part in the 15th series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2017, making it all the way to the semi-finals.

Away from her TV and Radio work Mollie writes a weekly column for Marie Claire magazine, ‘Mollie’s Feel Good Feed’ and has worked with numerous brands including Estée Lauder, L’Oreal, Amazon, GHD and Aspinal of London.

Mollie is a proud ambassador for the Dyslexia Association, a learning disorder she was diagnosed with as a child. Mollie is very passionate about campaigning for early diagnostic tests in schools, as well as funding to support children through education with Dyslexia and spoke about this in Parliament in 2019.

Mollie is also a Born Free anti-captivity ambassador, has worked closely with the charity Mothers2Mothers and traveled to Ghana in 2014 with REDD charity to help raise awareness and funds for HIV.