Milky Day tells Atwood Journal about altering his life path to music, desirous to be genre-fluid, and the way he turned his private struggles into his upcoming EP.

Stream: “Dropping My Grip” – Milky Day

Okayorean-New Zealander Milky Day is a singer, songwriter and producer. Leaving his math main at Amherst School behind, he determined to pursue music proper earlier than the pandemic hit. Now residing in Australia, Milky traveled to New York Metropolis to movie the music video of “Dropping My Grip” in collaboration with the inventive collective Soulace. He’s one to observe within the R&B scene, however talks about his need to pursue totally different sounds and to by no means field himself in.  This observe is a brand new triumph for Milky, straying barely away from the sound his followers are sometimes used to.

Oh, I can’t go to sleep at night time
Oh, I’m wrestling with my sins and lies
Oh, I can’t go to sleep at night time
Oh, I’ll attempt to set my fears apart

“Dropping My Grip” tells the intricate story of dropping grasp of your self and permitting the worst components of you to take over.

Highlighting the brave act of bringing your self out of a darkish place. Milky wrote this track based mostly on his personal private expertise, which brings out the uncooked emotion within the observe. The track includes a haunting bassline overlaid together with his delicate vocals. With over 47 million streams on Spotify alone, previous to this launch, Milky is making waves within the music scene whereas simply beginning his profession.

This track is the primary style of his upcoming, five-track EP. “Dropping My Grip” is out there on all streaming platforms and the music video is out now. Milky Day walks us via the method of the EP’s creation and talks about his begin to music.

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:: stream/buy Dropping My Grip right here ::

Stream: “Dropping My Grip” – Milky Day

A CONVERSATION WITH MILKY DAY

Atwood Journal: Before everything, can you perform a little intro for our readers which may be new to you?

Milky Day: I’m Milky Day, I’m a producer and songwriter based mostly in Sydney. I used to be really born and raised in New Zealand, earlier than transferring to the U.S. for faculty. I began pursuing music full time round final 12 months underneath Unbound Leisure as my administration crew. And I’m actually blissful to be right here and answering your questions!

What are you able to inform me in regards to the creation of your newest launch “Dropping My Grip” and what the inventive course of was like?

Milky Day: For somewhat little bit of context, that is a part of a 5 track EP and “Dropping My Grip” is definitely the center track. My EP touches on ideas of psychological well being points, fighting discovering course in your life, and the battle to beat your internal demons. “Dropping My Grip” being the center track, it’s sort of like amidst all of that and it represents the purpose by which you attempt to overcome your fears and demons, however you’re unable to so that you attain some extent the place really feel such as you’re dropping grasp of actuality and also you’re not likely certain of your self. I actually wished to painting that uncooked emotion to the listener.

When it comes to the inventive course of, one thing attention-grabbing I wished to say is that I attempted one thing new this time. To be able to make the songs move seamlessly, one after the opposite, I took the previous couple of bars of the primary track after which used that as inspiration to put in writing the second track. Then I used the previous couple of measures of that track to put in writing the following one and so forth. So, that was a really attention-grabbing course of that ended up working rather well for me. That’s how I created the move of this story and narrative.

Why did you select this track as the primary style of your upcoming EP?

Milky Day: The rationale I wished to point out this track specifically was as a result of I had the chance to work with the inventive collective based mostly in New York known as Soulace, to work on a music video undertaking. This was the track the director resonated with probably the most and likewise is one in every of my private favorites. It’s additionally in all probability probably the most emotional track as effectively [on the EP]. So, that’s why I wished to showcase this observe. We really launched the music video [on July 25th] and I actually wished to emphasise the emotion. Principally, my love for multimedia tasks pushed me to launch this one first.

How vital is it to you on your sound to be accompanied by visuals in the case of making a undertaking?

Milky Day: It’s extraordinarily vital for me. One thing that I noticed is whereas I spent the previous couple of years attempting to work on my craft and replace my sound, I reached some extent the place I acquired a reasonably good grasp by myself manufacturing and songwriting expertise, and the following step is including visuals to it. The rationale why I discover it so vital is as a result of generally there are songs that different artists launch and I hearken to it by itself, I believe “hmm that is an okay track” or “hmm this can be a actually good track however I wish to know what it’s actually about.” Then I watch the music video for it and I find yourself falling in love with the track trigger I see it and really feel like I see the artist’s imaginative and prescient. From that, I actually understood how impactful it’s to have visuals pair the audio.

You have been initially finding out math and determined in school that you simply wished to pursue music, what was the driving issue for that change?

Milky Day: I really was finding out each math and music as a double main. So, I assume music was all the time at the back of my thoughts and one thing I used to be all in favour of. Going into school, I really feel just like the individuals round me, like my mother and father, anticipated to go down a extra conventional path. That you just go to varsity and research one thing “vital” after which if you graduate you get a job. Most likely even enter one of many fields like regulation or drugs or engineering or one thing like that. However as a result of Covid occurred, I had a time of self-reflection to consider my values and what I need in life. I simply realized that working a day job isn’t the very best match for me. And that point allowed me to consider how a lot I really like music. That point interval was after I took the leap of religion trigger I assumed there’s restricted time and I’m nonetheless younger. So, it’s the very best time to take dangers and from there I made a decision to pursue music.

Your profession began proper across the time Covid hit, which should’ve been an enormous problem in itself. How did you push via that kind of adversity and what stored you going?

Milky Day: I began music a bit earlier than Covid and to be actually sincere with you, I didn’t get via Covid that effectively. I did find yourself taking somewhat little bit of a break from music. In the beginning of Covid, I used to be like this is a chance for me to essentially work on my music and I used to be releasing a number of songs. However I believe I acquired burned out and since I wasn’t in a position to exit and meet individuals or journey, I wasn’t feeling very impressed. I began dropping a number of my inspiration, so I really took a 12 months break from music to remember myself and reevaluate my targets. It wasn’t till Covid began dying down, after I began catching up with my family and friends, that I acquired again into music. I believe what I went via, highlights the significance of staying motivated and gave me new issues to put in writing about. However I’m actually glad that I’m again on observe!

Since you might be pretty new in music, how would you self-describe your sound to a brand new listener?

Milky Day: I believe individuals usually say my music sounds actually chill. It’s in all probability associated to my character as effectively. I wish to suppose I’m fairly laid again. I’m from New Zealand and I believe we have now a extremely laid again tradition. I additionally hear lots of people saying that my songs sound dreamy, mellow or nostalgic. However with that being stated, these subsequent few tasks are somewhat bit totally different in shade. It’s somewhat bit darker and touches on extra susceptible subjects. I’m eager to increase my sound and share what I’m able to.

One of many issues that me most in your story is that you’re Korean however grew up in New Zealand and now you reside in Sydney. How do you suppose the 2 cultures merge inside your artistry?

Milky Day: When it comes to my sound, I really feel like I hearken to a number of Western and Korean music. I’m ethnically Korean, however I grew up in New Zealand. So I sort of draw inspiration from each Japanese and Western sounds. There was some extent the place I used to be actually into KR&B and so you might hear a few of that in my earlier sounds. Extra not too long ago I’ve been actually into western R&B music, so I’ve been pulling extra from that for inspiration. One thing that I did discover is that, due to my background of being Asian however rising up abroad, I join with a number of artists with the same background as me. You’ll discover that a number of my collaborations are Asian artists that grew up overseas. I really feel like if you meet different Asians that develop up overseas, you might have a mutual understanding of how we grew up so it makes it very easy to collaborate.

Talking of a mess of issues build up your music, from my deep dive into your music, your sound will be fairly genre-fluid; taking in elements of lofi beats, indie pop and R&B. How vital is it so that you can not field your self in? And particularly with you speaking about your shift in sound, do you might have a style that you simply gravitate in direction of probably the most?

Milky Day: I really discover it actually vital to not field myself right into a sure style or sound. It’s actually humorous that you simply point out that, trigger I do really feel the stress to attempt to hone into a particular sound at occasions. I believe partially as a result of a few of my followers have an expectation, considering like “oh I like this chill, mellow Milky Day sound.”

I’ve sort of actively been attempting to breakaway from that, as a result of I actually wish to discover totally different sounds. I don’t wish to restrict myself stylistically and I, myself, have a reasonably extensive style in music as effectively. Though my music is fairly chill and is perhaps categorized as lofi R&B, not too long ago I’ve been exploring EDM and home music. My upcoming EP as effectively you’ll hear some home drops as effectively. I simply suppose it’s vital for me to maintain pushing myself and check out issues I don’t often strive.

What are just a few songs or artists which can be on heavy rotation in your playlist presently?

Milky Day: Oh that’s laborious. There’s a number of songs. I really would like to share with you my [On Repeat] Spotify Playlist. However I’ve not too long ago found this artist named Karri. It’s like American R&B. Fiji Blue has some actually chill home music. I’m all the time a fan of Bryson Tiller, Alina Baraz, and Frank Ocean. However I believe the playlist will present what I hearken to the very best, and you’ll share it with [Atwood readers].

Out of all of your musical inspirations, when you might present any one in every of them your music and ask for his or her constructive ideas and recommendation, who would you select?

Milky Day: That’s a fair tougher query. I’m considering possibly, there’s this producer known as Lophiile. I actually like his type of manufacturing and I draw a number of inspiration from him. He usually streams on Twitch and places up tutorial movies on Youtube. I discover it actually useful. He’s really a producer for Alina Baraz, who I discussed earlier. So I might like to work with him as a result of I’m not only a singer and songwriter, I additionally produce my very own music. So I believe it helps after I work with different producers. I really feel like we’re on the identical wavelength extra, so I believe somebody like Lophiile could be superior to work with.

Lastly, the rest you may tease about your upcoming EP?

Milky Day: I really feel like I did tease just a few issues right here and there throughout our interview at present. To sort of summarize the story the EP tells, it begins off with the popularity of destructive ideas and struggles. Then it strikes on with cures on the way you attempt to escape these demons. And within the third track, which is “Dropping My Grip,” it’s you totally falling into these temptations and people demons. They sort of overtake you and your thoughts. After which comes a metaphorical loss of life, trigger these demons have totally hijacked my physique and I misplaced all management. There’s form of a loss of life inside me that occurs. The ultimate track is the decision, the place after fully dealing with these demons, I come to phrases with them and begin to see every part in a unique mild. It total has a constructive message and may present a supply of reassurance and luxury for individuals.

One different factor I’ll point out in regards to the EP is that there’s a function. Which I assume I can identify drop him! His identify is Sway Bleu. He’s a very good good friend of mine, a really gifted artist and is a member of Soulace. I’m tremendous hyped about this observe. We’ve labored collectively previously, however that is the primary time in just a few years, so I’m stoked to point out individuals.

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Milky Day is an up-and-coming artist you’ll want to add to your on a regular basis playlist.

Underneath his new administration, Unbound Leisure, he takes his music to the stage. Milky Day shall be performing in Thailand on the Easy Okay Pageant on August twenty sixth and on October eighth at 1MX Sydney. Tickets can be found for buy now.

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:: stream/buy Dropping My Grip right here ::

Stream: “Dropping My Grip” – Milky Day

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