The Artist Explains: Amy Milner - 'Closer'
Suffolk-based songwriter Amy Milner draws us into her soul with the deep piano lead track ‘Closer’ - a song that deals with that inner conflict of trying to make a connection with someone. She took a moment to talk to us about the track in more depth.
Hey Amy, how are you?
I'm great thanks! Release times are always super exciting for me, and I'm currently enjoying a moment of unreliable British sun. I've also just harvested my first edamame from the veg patch - one of many things we grew from seed during lockdown. It's like watching children grow up (I think).
So your track ‘Closer’ is out now - can you tell us what the track is about?
Ultimately, whatever you want it to be! I'm certainly guilty of pouring my own significance onto other people's songs, hoping my illusions won't be shattered by the truth. But I'll say the crux of "Closer" is a desire to feel real connection, a yearning to find and feel close to somebody who understands your struggles and forgives your weaknesses. It feels like my mind gets sucked into a black hole sometimes, I sink to a place where I can't just climb out and it all gets so overwhelming. I end up saying things I don't mean and behaving out of character. It is invaluable to have somebody there who gets that and sees you through. I'd be so pleased if anybody who has experienced or is experiencing something similar, in whatever varying degree, can relate and take comfort in this.
It was written with producer Tim Larcombe, who has worked with the likes of Lana Del Rey and Halsey. How did that partnership come about and how was the experience of working with him?
Ha, well, bit of a story there! Crossing paths with Tim was the one awesome thing to come out of a very unawesome experience working with a label that turned out to be totally fraudulent. We came out the other side and continued what we had started, setting up a label of our own to release the new music. I always wanted to find a partner in crime to work consistently on my music with. We hit it off from our first afternoon in the studio, double quoting references and bouncing off each other's ideas. Tim understands how I work best, how I value my own space to write, and he actually lets me do that! A very rare thing, I have found...
It is a taster of your EP - ‘Big Bad Thoughts’, how is that coming along? When can we get to hear it?
Indeed! 'Big Bad Thoughts' is all set and coming for you 2nd September. Designed to counterpart my previous EP 'Plans' in image, theme and sound - I can't wait to share it.
You have been composing music since you were ten - what is your earliest musical memory?
My earliest clear memory would be crashing around on a piano in the dining room of my parent's house. My Mum signed me up for lessons age five - thanks Mum!