Interview: Molly Rennick of ‘Living Dead Girl’ on Christmas Show

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TORONTO – The Canadian metal band “Living Dead Girl” has a style that is a unique combination of Marilyn Manson meets (fellow Canadian front woman) Avril Lavigne, with an amalgam of genres including goth, rock, metal, industrial, pop and punk rock. The band will present a Virtual Christmas Show on December 12th, 2020. 



Formed in 2017, Living Dead Girl has previously released three independent singles and is now set to release a full-length album, “Exorcism,” produced by Mitchell Marlow. The band is fronted by 21-year-old Molly Rennick, whose amazing vocal range has her seamlessly switching from taunting high-pitched croons, to harsh menacing barks, to haunting growls with relative ease.



On the 11 banging tracks on “Exorcism,” Rennick channels her inner goth-girl-gone-bad attitude. Songs include the raging, down-tuned riffs of the title track and “Worship Me.” The infectious “Villain” has a singalong chorus, and the enticing, taunting melodies of “Beautiful” and “Alive” has Rennick commanding your full attention.

Molly Rennick of ‘Living Dead Girl’
Photo credit: LivingDeadGirl.ca

Music reporter Jeff Doles of HollywoodChicago.com recently talked to Living Dead Girl lead singer Molly Rennick about her influences, writing process and the band’s upcoming virtual Christmas Show.

HollywoodChicago.com: I have read in previous interviews that Avril Lavigne is a big inspiration to you. In what way has her life story, music and persona empowered you on your current musical path?

Molly Rennick:  Her life story really empowers me because she came from a very similar background that I do … we’re both from small towns in Ontario and have a lot of things in common in our upbringing. It’s so inspiring for me to see someone from a similar background make it in the music industry, and at the level that she has achieved. It’s reassuring to see fellow small-town Canadians become successful, despite not being born with connections to Hollywood or the entertainment industry. She just kind of showed me that it is possible, and she worked really hard to get where she is.

Her music and persona have always inspired me as well because she totally clashed with the other female artists at the time she emerged, those dancing and lip syncing pop stars. They never appealed to me the way Avril did. Her skateboarding and smashing guitars just always seemed so badass to me, and I wanted nothing more than to be the ‘edgy’ girl like her.

HollywoodChicago.com: Your vocal approach and rock star attire has a Marylin Manson vibe to it. What attracts you to his music and persona, and how has his career influenced yours?

Rennick: Manson was my introduction to that style, both in music and fashion. I stumbled across the Personal Jesus music video when I was nine years old and I’d never seen a man wearing makeup like that before – I was so intrigued and thought he looked like such a unique artist. I remember just being mind-blown seeing that creativity, as he was nothing like I had ever seen before. 



I bought my first black lipstick very shortly after, and started experimenting with makeup. Discovering him and his music was a turning point in my life, it was what took my interest in rock music to the next level. Suddenly it wasn’t just about heavier music, it was about being theatrical too. I watched so many of his live videos, studying the way he moves and acts on stage, his makeup and costumes. Everything about him as an artist just amazes and inspires me.

HollywoodChicago.com: As a songwriter, what is the process that you go through to create new music?

Rennick: Musical inspiration usually comes to me at random. When I’m in the middle of doing something totally non-music related, I always have lyrical ideas popping into my head. I grab whatever is near me to write it down … sometimes I type them on my phone, but if that’s not handy they end up on napkins and receipts.

I try to write about both the things that are personal to me and also make it feel like something the audience can relate to, so I generally keep things vague enough for the listener to be able to interpret however they like. I always start with a topic, then lyrics, then the melody line.

HollywoodChicago.com: Why is it important to you to sing lyrics that you wrote personally?

Rennick: It’s very important for me to write my own lyrics because the biggest reason I love music is that it allows me to express myself. Whether it’s saying something that I hope can impact someone else, or me venting about something I otherwise couldn’t express with just words, music allows me to send a message. Other than singing covers obviously, I couldn’t sing music that I didn’t write. It would remove the personal aspect of it for me, and I wouldn’t truly feel like it’s mine.

Part of my satisfaction I have with my music is knowing that I created it, and that I wouldn’t be there if they weren’t my own lyrics.

Virtual Christmas Show with Living Dead Girl
Photo credit: LivingDeadGirl.ca

HollywoodChicago.com: Finally, what are the details on your upcoming Virtual Christmas Show on Saturday, December 12th?

Rennick: I’m very excited about our virtual show … it’s the first one we’ve ever done and won’t be the last. Christmas is the season of giving, and my favorite cause to support is our local animal shelter, the Lakefield Animal Welfare Society. It’s no secret that Living Dead Girl are animal lovers; my family has rescued five cats and one dog, and we like to help out our local shelters whenever we can.

Before the pandemic we’d visited the shelter many times to socialize with the cats, donate food, blankets, money and whatever we could. We played a show back in March for my birthday where we raised $2,200 for the shelter, and the happiness that brought me was such an amazing feeling, so I wanted to do it again. I hope with this virtual show we are able to make a difference for the animals and volunteers at the shelter and help make their Christmas season a great one!

Tickets can be purchased through (click link) LivingDeadGirl.ca/Christmas-Special using Paypal and any major credit card. They’re only $10, but exclusive merchandise packages will be available to purchase during the show to benefit the animal shelter as well.

Follow Living Dead Girl:
Website: CLICK HERE 

YouTube: CLICK HERE 
Facebook: CLICK HERE 
Instagram: CLICK HERE 

Interview by: Jeff Doles
Published by: Patrick McDonald, Editor, HollywoodChicago.com