motel void

You’ve just released your new single Molly Coddle. Could you tell us a bit more about the writing and recording process? Will it be part of an upcoming album?

This song – in fact the majority of the next record – was written for my other alias – I seem to write now solely as D. Inver and carry over what works for Route 500 – ‘Molly Coddle’ came about a few years back – I was listening to a lot of Pavement and Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged and I think the freedom of writing for more of an abstract entity allowed me to create something more playful and free – I didn’t even anticipate it being heard but it was one I always enjoyed – I guess it felt like a departure from what I’d been used to creating but I’ve embraced that. I think over the years I’ve come to understand the meaning behind it more clearly – it’s about being held and looked after and having your wounds dressed and acknowledged – I felt alone a lot of my life and particularly growing up queer has led to some real heartache and pain – over the last few years I’ve finally had the strength to look a lot of my life in the eye and reached a point where I could re-emerge and embrace myself fully – the way I should have been able to in my youth – it’s a bittersweet thing to reach that point later in life – it’s also a breath of fresh air to explore it in a more positive, laid back way with this release – and yes, it’s the first single from a new record.

In 2023, you released the single I’ll Play You Out, which gained significant traction on streaming platforms – over a million streams on Spotify. Has that success had a noticeable impact on your career?

Yeah I think the reaction I had to ‘I’ll Play You Out’ has been particularly rewarding – I definitely think it’s opened some doors and led me toward a wider audience and I’m very grateful for that – it’s clear the loss it details is such a universal experience even though my experience was so specific – noticing people singing along to this one at shows has been very heartening and validating.

Were you involved in any musical projects before launching Route 500 in 2020?

Yes – I was propelled into the music industry in another music project that I began straight out of school when I was 18. It’s a period I like to forget – it was not a pleasant experience – I felt like a play-thing – pushed and pulled and manipulated – it was traumatic and I became seriously unwell. It has been an uphill battle to rebuild my life and career again and to be truly happy – years I will not get back – it’s not an experience I grew from it just swallowed me whole – the only way though was to become myself again – also maybe for the first time ever.

You’re based in Brighton – how would you describe the local music scene? Are there any local artists or venues you’d particularly recommend?

I feel like I’m sort of on the outskirts of the scene – though we do have some wonderful promoters and venues – bands that come to mind are a basic fault, van zon and glasshouse red spider mite. I just enjoy solitude.

Who are your biggest musical influences at the moment?

On a big Lou Barlow kick lately – also the lush, reverb drenched sounds of the likes of Midwife and Grouper are scratching a dissociative itch – other recent discoveries are School Fair, The Exit Bags, Thanksgiving and Pedro The Lion.

You’ve already performed at major festivals like Glastonbury and The Great Escape… Do you have any plans to support your new music with live shows?

Truthfully I’m taking some time out – my health has been declining this year – I’m currently away on a restorative venture in southern Italy – and I’m slowing down for a while – that said this is the first release of many and come – the end of summer i’ll be making plans for live shows and I’m keen to see what form they take on – that in no way means I’m stepping back – it just means I’m taking a different approach forward – the future is ambiguous and whatever it will be will work around my capabilities and that soothes me – mostly I just want to keep creating, experimenting and writing and putting it out into the ether – to keep building this contained world with songs, photos, visuals and artwork and hope that more people stumble upon it.