If you're going to emerge from the shadows of arena stages into your own spotlight, you might as well do it from an empty flat with nothing but creativity for company. For Polly Money – fresh from her stint as part of The 1975's live ensemble – this particular moment of solitude feels less like hiding away and more like hatching a plan. Her upcoming EP 'T-Shirt Nothing Else' isn't just a collection of songs; it's a diary of life between the big shows, when magic happens in transit lounges and on midnight tour buses.

"All of these songs really came out while being on tour the past couple of years," Money explains, painting a picture of long-distance musical ping-pong with her creative partner Connor that would make the postal service proud. "It's been the first time me and my mate Connor have written and recorded so closely together, and all of these songs, bar 'T-shirt', were written by sending stuff back and forth to each other while I was away."

This accidental anthology approach to EP-making feels perfectly Money – she wasn't even trying to make a project initially, which probably explains why it works so well. "At first, I wasn't really writing for any particular project, so it's been so much fun picking these particular songs for this EP." It's the kind of organic evolution that takes you back to her Cornish roots, where music wasn't a career choice so much as it was breathing.

Speaking of Cornwall – turns out Falmouth isn't just pasties and postcards. "Cornwall has a great music scene, and where I grew up in Falmouth is a super creative area," she reflects, before revealing her early acoustic leanings were "potentially by design" based on what gigs were actually available down south. Thank goodness for siblings with burning software though – "my brother would burn me CDs of stuff he liked, so that was always cute."

Fast forward to now, and Money's found herself surfing the nostalgia wave that's washing over both music and fashion like a particularly stylish tsunami. "I'm finding the nostalgic era we're in inspiring, both from a music and fashion sense," she admits, before dropping the kind of influences that make music nerds weak at the knees: "There are a few albums I'm finding particularly great: 'Heaven or Las Vegas' by the Cocteau Twins and 'Reading, Writing and Arithmetic' by The Sundays."

Lead singles 'Anything' and 'i'm not proud' showcase exactly why Money's evolution feels less like a dramatic makeover and more like someone coming into sharp focus. "I generally want all my music to sound warm and cosy most of the time," she notes, explaining why the EP's title feels like both an invitation and a statement of intent. "Despite it only being five tracks, each song fits a different mood. It doesn't feel like a huge step away from what I've done before, just a progression."

It turns out playing in other people's bands is basically a masterclass in How To Be A Better Musician 101. "Every artist or band I've played for has come with their own set of challenges, which has been so invaluable to me as a musician," Money reflects with the wisdom of someone who's seen every possible backstage drama. "It's taught me so much about how to play in a band and how to make what I do complement the people I'm playing for. Touring is intense, and I think it's nice to try to be somebody people want to be around."

For someone who's been writing songs since forever, Money still approaches songwriting with the wide-eyed wonder of a kid who's just discovered that music exists. "Writing, for me, is this magical thing that just drops out of the sky. I still have no real idea how to write a song; I just love the fact that suddenly, you have this idea that didn't exist when you woke up," she marvels, before adding, "When I started writing, it wasn't a conscious decision; I just did it, and I imagine that's the same for quite a lot of people. I try to keep that playfulness in it so it still feels new and an exciting thing to do."

As for 2025? Money's got that glint in her eye that suggests big things are brewing. "I actually do have big plans for 2025, but I won't spill all the beans now. It's so exciting to be at the start of this new campaign, and I just want the music to reach people both online and live." She's particularly buzzed about the current state of play: "Honestly, I am absolutely buzzing for the female artists that are dominating the industry at the moment; it's about time. I also can't wait to tour these songs with my band."

Polly's crafting something that feels both intensely personal and universally relatable – like reading someone's diary and finding your own story in the margins. Her journey from Cornish music fan to touring musician to solo artist isn't just another music industry fairy tale; it's what happens when raw talent meets perfect timing. As 'T-Shirt Nothing Else' prepares to make its March debut, it feels less like a new chapter and more like the start of a whole new book. ■