Pre BIGSOUND we caught up with a few artists for a quick Q and A to get to know them a little better and find out what we should expect from their sets at the festival. First up is Milly Strange.
For anyone hoping to catch you at BIGSOUND that maybe doesn’t know too much about you can you tell us the story of Milly Strange in a few sentences?
Music has always been something I’ve connected with really deeply. I never thought I’d be able to make the kind of music I wanted to make, or that it would necessarily translate. I don’t think I’d met many people who really understood what I was trying to do. I then met Jai, my guitarist and partner, and he was a huge part of me finding my way back to writing. He really championed me and my abilities, and encouraged me to pursue something I think I’d always known I was supposed to do.
And can you share a few of your musical influences?
Artists that have really influenced me, I would say… PJ Harvey, Angel Olsen, Cat Power, Courney Love, Sharon van Etten, Martha Wainwright, Adalita and Adrianne Lenker!
You had a huge year last year with the release of your debut album just over a year ago! How does it feel now looking back at the past year?
It feels like both the longest and shortest year of my life. It has all felt really humbling, in a good way. I really had no clue what would come from the debut album – I was probably a bit naive looking back, but I kind of think that was the best part. It’s really easy for the goalposts to just keep moving and moving, and for the thing you’re working towards to keep getting bigger and bigger, without stopping and appreciating, y’know playing The Forum! I’ve been really mindful of that this year, just trying to stop and take it in a bit, and feel grateful for where I am in all of this.
You have a few upcoming live shows over the next few months, does this mean we can expect some new music soon?
Definitely. New music is coming very soon. I feel like I’ve grown so much as a musician (and person) since the first record, and this new music feels like a much clearer picture of where the band and I are at now.
For people who are hoping to check you out at BIGSOUND but maybe don’t know you that well, what one song would you recommend people listen to to get a taste of Milly Strange, and why that song?
The Last Time – It was the last song I wrote that made its way onto the album, and it became a real catalyst for change in my writing and what I wanted from music. I went somewhere deeper with it, and for the first time I felt like a real musician. Seeing how people have embraced it has made that feeling even more special.
And can you share your favourite lyric you’ve ever written?
I’ve got so many I can’t share just yet… and I feel like I change my answer every time I’m asked this, which is probably an indicator of where my head is at. Right now, it’s ‘I crossed you for the last time.’ When I wrote and sang that line, I was thinking about a very specific moment. Live, I sometimes almost wail it, it’s a really important song to me, and that lyric has become this kind of call of pain.
And moving onto your upcoming BIGSOUND performance, what should people expect from a Milly Strange live show?
You can expect a lot of dynamics. My bandmates Jai, Keely and Jimmy are all supremely talented and understand me and the music so deeply. I love having those really quiet, intimate moments that can build into something huge and loud. Light and dark, that’s how I am. It’s quite emotionally driven and also energetic. I really love playing live and letting the band have those moments where we can just go for it. It’s different every time we play.
Who else are you excited to catch at BIGSOUND (if you have the time)?
I’m really looking forward to seeing Dumbhead, Divers, Public Figures, Queenie and Toy Shaw.
And finally, I end every interview with this question, can you recommend a few artists you’re listening to at the moment who you think deserve a bit more love?
I have been listening to a lot of Charlie Ivan Band, Hannah McKittrick, Ricky Albeck, Kisses, Ella Ion!
You can catch Milly playing the following sets at BIGSOUND:
Milly Strange
Tue 1st Sep
9:15PM – 9:45PM
Blute’s
UPSTARTERS Showcase Party
Wed 2nd Sep
4:00PM – 7:00PM
The Beaumont
Milly Strange
Wed 2nd Sep
8:30PM – 9:00PM
Black Bear Lodge
You can follow along with Milly Strange here.
And find out more about BIGSOUND here.