Millie Miller is an independent queer musician based in West Yorkshire, UK. Having released a string of singles including 'Close My Eyes' and 'Outta This World'; their most recent single 'Troubled Mind' is an acoustic track that displays Milner's talent for producing honest and relatable songs that explore human fragility and vulnerability. In this conversation, I caught up with Millie Milner to discuss the music that has influenced their sound as well as their plans for 2021.
Hi Millie, tell us a bit about yourself!
Hi my name is Millie Milner and I am an independent queer musician based in West Yorkshire, UK.
How did you initially get into music? Have you always had a passion for creating and writing music?
I have always been a singing and grooving machine but I started getting serious about singing at around 11 years old, from there it just progressed into learning how to play instruments and then songwriting.
Who have been your biggest musical influences growing up?
My family are all into Elvis and I am always inspired by him, although not so much musically but rather attitude and fashion wise. I am like that with most musicians, I take much more inspiration from people's personality, stage presence and how they generally hold themselves than their music.
If you could describe your music in three words, what would they be?
Different, every, time ;)
So far, you have released four singles, 'Close My Eyes', 'Outta This World', 'The Passing Song' and your most recent single ‘Troubled Mind’. How would you say your music has evolved between the releases? Would you say that your approach to writing has changed in any way?
I always write in the same manner but I guess my lyrics and the way I see my music has evolved. I wrote ‘Close My Eyes’ almost 4 years ago so it would be crazy to say I haven't changed musically. I have learnt so much more about both myself and music and I think that really shows through my songs. I'm super excited to keep growing and see how much my music develops as I do!
What do you hope your listeners take away from your music?
I guess I hope they take away whatever they need to but a passion of mine is to create music that other queer people, especially queer kids, can see themselves in so that no one ever feels alone and unrepresented ( but straight people can enjoy me too, don't worry!) music is relative to whoever is listening so its all dependant on what people need to hear and what they think the songs are about. They have a specific meaning to me but that doesn't mean everyone has to see them in that way.
How has the pandemic affected your creative process?
At the beginning I really struggled, I couldn't do anything I was used to doing as a musician and couldn't really see how I could actively keep up my career without those parts. In the end it has been pretty beneficial to me as I gained time to really find myself and where I want to take my music and now I'm definitely back on track!
Will ‘Troubled Mind’ feature as part of a larger project? Do you have any plans to release an EP or potentially an album?
‘Troubled Mind’ is a stand alone track and I have just started the very beginnings of the process for my next single which is pretty exciting. I do have a fully written E.P. that is ready for recording but I decided to push that back a little because of Covid. I want to really spend my time on it and push it as far as I can but with lockdown that just isn't possible. You'll have to be kept waiting for that I'm afraid but I'll still have new work out before then!
What do you have planned for 2021? Do you plan to do any live-streamed gigs?
I have done a couple of livestreamed gigs in the past so maybe I will have to do a few again. I do have some other pretty exciting things planned for 2021. We have the ‘Troubled Mind’ music video and my next track that will be the next thing to happen!
Finally, could you recommend some music to our readers? What songs/artists are you loving at the moment?
I adore Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Orla Gartland, King Princess and Persian Rug Sale. I’d for sure suggest checking them out, they're all brilliant!
Check out Millie Milner's single 'Troubled Mind' in the link down below!
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