Tony Molina

Tony Molina
Background information
Born1985 (age 40–41)
OriginMillbrae, California
Genres
Years active2001 - present
LabelsSlumberland, Matador
Member of
Formerly of
WebsiteBandcamp

Tony Molina (b. 1985) is an American singer-songwriter and guitarist from Millbrae, California. He began playing in hardcore punk bands as a teenager and young adult before establishing himself as a solo performer of indie rock and power pop songs. He has released albums on Slumberland and Matador Records.

Molina was previously a member of Ovens and Violent Change. His solo career began in 2008, when two friends could not show up to a recording session, and asked him to take the session for them. Molina agreed, and recorded his solo songs during that session. These recordings became his debut solo album, Embarrassing Times.

Molina’s second solo album, Dissed and Dismissed, was awarded a score of 7.5 out of 10 by Pitchfork Magazine. His follow-up album, Kill the Lights, was named Stereogum's album of the week in July 2018, and received praise from Paste and Vice magazines. Molina also recorded and toured with The Softies and released material as The Lost Days, a duo with Sarah Rose Janko of Dawn Riding.

Molina is married to Alicia Vanden Heuvel of the Aislers Set. The couple co-produced and recorded Molina's 2025 album On This Day in their home studio, which was co-released on Vanden Heuvel's label, Speakeasy Studios SF. Vanden Heuvel also directed several music videos for In the Store, Molina and Janko's debut album as the Lost Days.

In 2026, Paste listed Molina as one of the 75 best guitarists of the 21st Century.

Discography

Studio albums

Title Year Label Notes
Embarrassing Times 2013 650 Tapes (2009), Catholic Guilt Records (2023) Debut album. Initial release was 50 cassette copies, offered for free with mail-order copies of Ovens's self-titled record from Aquarius Records. Re-released on vinyl in 2023.
Dissed and Dismissed 2013 Melters / Slumberland Originally released in a limited pressing of 500 copies; reissued by Slumberland in 2014
Kill the Lights 2018 Slumberland Records Named Stereogum's Album of the Week
Songs from San Mateo County 2019 Smoking Room Rarities compilation of unreleased and unfinished material recorded 2009–2015
In the Fade 2022 Summer Shade / Run for Cover Records
On This Day 2025 Slumberland Records / Speakeasy Studios SF / Olde Fade 21 tracks in 23 minutes

EPs

Title Year Label Notes
Six Tracks EP 2013 Matador Records Released as part of Matador's Singles Going Home Alone series; B-side features a cover of Metallica's "Orion"
Confront the Truth 2016 Slumberland Records Eight-track acoustic EP
West Bay Grease 2017 Smoking Room Solo live cassette recorded at 1234 Go Records, Oakland; limited to 50 copies
Pacific Northwest Tour 2023 Tour EP

Collaborative releases

Title Year Artist Label
Live in San Francisco 2021 Rose Melberg & Tony Molina Self-released
Tony Molina & The Softies 2023 Tony Molina & The Softies Slumberland Records

Band discography

Molina has recorded as a member of several bands throughout his career.

Violent Change

Title Year Label
Suck on the Gun 2012 Melters

Caged Animal

Title Year Label
Caged Animal EP 2013 Melters

Ovens

Title Year Format Label Notes
Ovens 2009 CD (44 tracks) tUMULt Compiled from mid-2000s sessions; first release of the recordings
Ovens 7" 2011 7" vinyl (8 tracks) Catholic Guilt Records Songs from 2008 recording sessions
7" 2014 7" vinyl (4 tracks) Melters (MELT004) Recorded in 2005 by Kurt Bloch; mastered by Paul Oldham
Ovens 2022 2×LP, 45 RPM (Tankcrimes TC131) Tankcrimes First vinyl pressing of the 2009 CD; first time on streaming platforms; 200 black / 1,800 white vinyl

The Lost Days

Title Year Format Label Notes
Lost Demos 2021 Cassette, LP The Long Road Society, Mapache Records (rerelease) First release
In The Store 2023 LP, CDr Speakeasy Studios SF

References

  1. ↑ "Tony Molina — Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews". AllMusic. Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  2. 1 2 "Meet Tony Molina: Bay Area Hardcore Veteran Unfurls Decadent Guitar Pop". SPIN. 2013-06-26. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
  3. ↑ "Dissed and Dismissed". Slumberland Records. 2014. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  4. ↑ "Tony Molina drops 'Six Tracks E.P.' on Matador". The Bay Bridged. 2013-10-09. Archived from the original on April 24, 2015. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
  5. 1 2 "Tony Molina, "Embarrassing Times"". Thrillhouse Records. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  6. ↑ Zoladz, Lindsay. "Tony Molina: Dissed and Dismissed". Pitchfork. Retrieved 8 April 2026.
  7. ↑ "Tony Molina: Kill the Lights". Paste Magazine. 2018. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  8. ↑ "Tony Molina's New Album Is a Low-Key Ripper, Like the Man Himself". Vice. 2018. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  9. ↑ Breihan, Tom (2018). "Tony Molina 'Kill The Lights' Review: A Quick Fix Of Starry-Eyed Beauty". Stereogum. Retrieved 2026-04-07.
  10. ↑ "Chatting with the Softies About Their New Tony Molina Collaboration". Chickfactor. 2023. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  11. ↑ "Tony Molina + Sarah Rose Janko Announce Debut The Lost Days Album". Stereogum. 2023. Retrieved 2025-04-07.
  12. ↑ Tony Molina discography at Discogs
  13. ↑ Breihan, Tom (2025-09-23). "Tony Molina Announces New Album On This Day: Hear Three Songs". Retrieved 2026-06-29.
  14. ↑ Speakeasy Studios SF (February 6, 2023). ""In the Store" by The Lost Days". YouTube. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  15. ↑ Speakeasy Studios SF (May 23, 2023). ""Gonna Have to Tell You" by The Lost Days". YouTube. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  16. ↑ Speakeasy Studios SF (February 27, 2023). ""For Today" by The Lost Days". YouTube. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  17. ↑ "The 75 greatest guitarists of the 21st century". Retrieved 2026-09-07.
  18. ↑ "Tony Molina — Embarrassing Times". Discogs. Retrieved May 22, 2026.
  19. ↑ Zoladz, Lindsay (March 25, 2014). "Tony Molina, Dissed and Dismissed". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  20. ↑ Breihan, Tom (July 24, 2018). "Album of the Week: Tony Molina Kill the Lights". Stereogum. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  21. ↑ Berman, Stuart (July 24, 2019). "Tony Molina, Songs from San Mateo County". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Hooky Folk-Pop, Straight from the Source: Tony Molina's On This Day Lands Nov. 14". The Fire Note. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  23. ↑ "On This Day". Bandcamp. November 14, 2025. Retrieved April 24, 2026.
  24. ↑ "The Lost Days––Lost Demos". Discogs. Retrieved 2026-05-16.
  25. ↑ "The Lost Days––In the Store". Discogs. Retrieved 2026-05-16.