West London born and bred, she was taught steel pan by a man in a snakeskin three-piece called Bubbles, but these days prefers to watch the professionals at Panorama. Her love for Carnival runs so deep that she sent the models at her graduate show down the runway to Shurwayne Winchester’s soca anthem wine on it. Get to know Carnival according to Molly Goddard – have fun, dance till you can’t walk… drink rum at 10am.
Be prepared…
“All you need is keys, phone, rum, money. I don’t think there’s anything else.”
But watch out for the Wray & Nephew…
‘Two years ago I drank too much Wray & Nephew and went to bed at 11pm locking my boyfriend Tom out of the house. I didn’t wake up until 4am and he was banging on the back window, the front door. The next day we went to meet friends and the minute we arrived Tom sat on a wall and fell backwards and broke his collarbone so we spent most of the night in casualty, then went back to the party. Don’t do that.”
Make sure you see the floats…
“If you lose your friends, join a float and make friends! This will be my first year not on a float. Dancing behind a float is as good as any sound system because if you like one go with it, but if you’re not into it, another one will come along.”
Keep eating…
“Ackee and saltfish, then patties for a little pick me up and fried plantain for a sugary hit. Golborne Road has good food stalls.”
Batty riders at the ready. Or else something practical…
“The best outfit for Carnival is something that you don’t mind getting a bit dirty, and something that shows off your wiggly bum. Never wear a jumpsuit because then you can’t do a wee. I’ve done that before and I changed quite quickly…”
Keep the crew small…
“I’d say no more more than five people is a good gang. If you know where you’re going and you know where to find people you can go bigger. Smaller is better!”
It’s all about the soca…
“A good Carnival buddy is someone that wants to dance to soca! And dancehall. And isn’t always desperate to find their other friends. That’s quite important!”
Don’t let rain ruin it…
“Last year on Monday it rained so much and it was one of my best Carnivals. It felt like all the annoying people left and we just danced all day. It was empty so we just got to run around the whole place without ever feeling squashed, so it was very fun.”
If you’re getting amorous, someone can probably see you…
“Last year we saw people having sex in the street on children’s day at about 6pm! They were just in the bush and their friend was in front of them saying ‘nothing to see here’, but they were 100% having sex in the broad daylight. On Westbourne Grove! That posh road. Opposite Grainger and Co.!”
When the sound systems shut down and the lights go off, rest your legs. But only for a little bit…
“When the sun goes down I lie down for a little bit. Normally on the floor. Any floor. Just to rest my weary legs. You don’t want to get too comfy because then you fall asleep. The twilight time when it ends and everyone is working out where to go and that’s not so fun. Sit it out for an hour. If you don’t have anything to do take people home and have your own party!”