Ashley Mollerup is a bad ass. Or at least she wants me to think she is. We arrive at the Provo Denny's a little after 1am, with Memorial Day far now us. Were seated across from a couple who's very very into each other. Between bites of their "moons over my hammy" sandwich, they kiss and nibble at each others necks.
Ms. Mollerup is a tall girl. Her distinct sense of style and air of confidence could seem intimidating to the average person. Sure she's wearing Slouch Jeans by Levi's, black slip-ons by Vans, and a basic white ball cap she fondly remembers from her first year in Provo, when she purchased it at a Lids at the University mall. But it's her own personal touches, her own "flare" that make her fashions eye catching. She layers a black Volcom jacket, atop a vintage sea green button up, atop an ash grey Hane's tank. Around her neck she ties a black hanker chief she proudly purchased at Walmart, and around her waist she wraps a red leather belt that's clearly holding on to it's last few wears. Her proudest piece tonight is a vintage Phillipe Charrio brown reptile skin bag made in Italy, but purchased at Value Village in Washington one year for 6 dollars. She later tells me she would describe her style as "trashy/dirty chic".
She's into fashion (I find out she went to fashion school for a year, before moving here to attend BYU), music (while attending the Coachella Music Festival this year, she and her friend were recognized by a group of people who thought they were the indie girl rock duo Camera Obscura), and films (she's the only person I've met that actually enjoyed Hannibal Rising, and that isn't a bad thing necessarily).
After a few minutes, and some deliberating over what to order, Ashley opts for a plate of curly fries, which the waitress informs us that they are actually not curly but seasoned fries, yet they taste just like curly fries. Some time passes and the fries arrive.
I find out the 23 year old is originally from Vancouver, Wasington. Although her occupation is "always changing", she's currently a Target Protection Specialist at the Orem Supertarget. I think it's a fancy word for security guard, yet she corrects me.
SUBSTANCE: Have You cuffed anyone yet?
AM: Well, just myself.
SUBSTANCE: Hmmm..curious, if you could be any celebrity, who would you be?
AM: It would probably be a guy. Probably Ryan Adams. Just kidding. I would just do him.
SUBSTANCE: So tell me about this "Kings of Leon" summer. What inspired it?
AM: My friend Gretchen and I went to Coachella this year and saw Kings of Leon perform. They made me really happy. Extremely happy. I loved their whole everything, their whole persona. I regretted missing them this last year when they came through, but i had already bought tickets for both the Jenny Lewis and Two Gallants shows, so i was broke. The other time I missed seeing them, i was back home and decided to see The Honorary Title and Lucero at Dantes in Portland instead because the Kings of Leon show was more expensive. It was the worst mistake ever. I went to Dantes alone that night and while I watched Lucero, Jared from The Honorary Title stood next to me and I hated it because he was shorter than me.
SUBSTANCE: Was he ugly or something?
AM: No he's way hot! He looked like he was on heroin. Anyway after Coachella this year I got home and watched the "On Call" video (Kings of Leon's latest single, from their latest record Because of the Times) on You tube, and we declared it "Kings of Leon" summer. Now we have switchblades and play pool and blast them alot.
The fries have now been gobbled up, and the Goo Goo Doll's "Let Love In" is playing from the speaker above us. When i ask her for a lyric she's loving lately, she recites a line from a Two Gallants song called "My Madonna".
IF LIQUERS A LOVER, YOU KNOW I'M A WHORE.
Subconsciously i wonder if the lyric is a reference to something personal, or she's hinting at something. I disregard the thought, and proceed with finding out her current obsessions, and last loves (or hates).
LASTS
(the stuff she last loved)
SONG- "Slow Night, So Long" by Kings of Leon.
RECORD- "Boxer" by The National.
FILM- Fay Grimm with Parker Posey.
TV- The Daily Ten on E!.
SHOW- Will Sartain's new band @ The Urban Lounge in SLC.
FOOD- "What ever the hell that was!" (Referring to the non curly-curly fries).
CELEBRITY SHE HATED ON- Nicole Ritchie.
NON CELEBRITY SHE HATED ON- The waitress.
CURRENTS
(the stuff she's currently loving)
CURRENT GENERAL OBSESSION- Searching for a cool cross necklace (a few days later she makes it clear she doesn't dig the cross necklaces with jesus on them), Losing weight (when i ask her what for, she responds "for my life"), and Taco Bell.
MUSIC- Two Gallants, Kings of Leon and Okkervil River.
FILMS- Hannibal Rising ann The Lives of Others.
TV- The Girls Next Door (she makes it clear that she's forced to watch) and House (and reminds herself of the season finale that's happening on Tuesday).
EVERYDAY PEOPLE- Tyler from Neon Trees (i blush, ok not really).
CELEBRITY- Patrick Wolf (an indie musician from South London).
FOOD- Lean Cuisine Chicken Garlic Pizza.
THING TO DO ON A SATURDAY NIGHT- Watch a movie alone (although i wonder if that's a true answer, or if she's sounding sullen for sullen's sake).
The early morning is turning earlier as we get closer to the end of the interview. The ice water is now barely cold, the waitress has comeover numerous times. The couple acrossed from us are still nibbling, although their meals had been finshed off a while ago.
SUBSTANCE: So what have you got planned for the next week, month and the rest of summer? Let's start with this next week.
AM: I'm going to get my oil changed, I have to get a new social security card, and I'm going to give plasma. Cavil At Rest is playing at Starry Night on Wednesday (she met the band at Coachella, and was excited to see them playing locally here) and i'll be catching internal theft at target.
SUBSTANCE: Internal? Like an employee? (I instantly picture her cuffing her first criminal).
She responds by telling me she knows the person, but only from working at target and watching surveilance video. I instantly think of my 6 month stint at 7Eleven this year, and said a silent prayer that tehir really weren't all the "hidden cameras" my manager informed of. Not because of fear of being caught stealing, no, actually of being caught dancing.
AM: I'm sleeping over at your house this week too.
She says this because Lola Ray, a fantastic band from originally heralding from Brooklyn, is on tour with Cavil At Rest. She is aware that I am good friends with the guys in Lola Ray, and they have stayed at my house on their tours in the past. She thinks Cavil At Rest will also stay at my house, and so i am not flattered, but more willing to cooperate so she can have her fantasy realized.
AM: I'll be hitting up Dance Dance Vinyl Monster on saturday night as well. Oh and House! I Cannot forget the House finale. The next month i plan to go home to washington for a while.
As for the rest of Ashley Mollerup's summer plans, she's looking forward to bonfires in the canyons, hitting up pool halls, preparing for Austin City Limits and paying off her credit card bills. And of course listening to alot of Kings of Leon.
