Inspired #157 - Amy Milner
Suffolk based songwriter Amy Milner has just released her new EP ‘Big Bad Thoughts’ - which a collection of songs that shows this artist’s true power to command your attention inside her own creative atmosphere. She took a moment to talk to us about the inspirations behind the release.
Who are your top three musical inspirations?
My first real gig experience was seeing The Killers play the O2 in London. I was 12 or 13. It's one of my favourite memories, feeling the euphoria and energy those songs were creating. I simultaneously fell in deep love with Brandon Flowers and decided that I, too, would be doing that one day. I still love the lyrics and hymnal quality of many of their songs.
My beloved keyboard is called Chrissie, after Chrissie Hynde. I grew up with my Mum listening and dancing around to the Pretenders, so, naturally, I joined in. I remember finding it very interesting how Chrissie's voice was so instantly recognisable. I love the effortless, who-cares-if-it's-slightly-imperfect rock vibe. My ambition to be as badass as her one day remains.
I discovered Tom Waits through a friend later on in life, and quickly became smitten. His first couple of records lay the ground, stick to the book and say yup, so I can do this run-of-the-mill, beautiful ballad thing. Then in the albums that follow, he goes: now, let's play. He has a go at EVERYTHING. It's such an inspiringly imaginative journey of exploration and experimentation. Rain Dogs has been one of my absolute favourite records ever since.
Is there a certain film that inspires you?
I love the organised chaos of Wes Anderson films. I wish everything that fell apart in life could at least do it in such an aesthetically pleasing way. The music is always spot on, and I find the colour palettes and symmetry very addictive. If I had to narrow down to one, I think my Wes A winner would be Moonrise Kingdom.
What city do you find the most inspiring?
Having grown up more in the company of farm animals than people, being in the city is still quite an overwhelming thing for me! But when I arrived in Brighton to work with producer Tim Larcombe for the first time in 2018, I was surprised how much I liked it there. It's not as intense as London, but there's still masses going on. There are quiet, beautiful spots as well as the exciting and hectic parts, and of course the sea. I love walking and running along the seafront early when it's relatively deserted and you can really concentrate on the ever-changing colours and characters of the horizon between waves and sky.
Who is the most inspiring person to you?
My family inspires me to live and breathe, but recently I've also felt incredibly inspired learning about the life of late filmmaker, artist, author and activist Derek Jarman, following a trip to his Prospect Cottage in Dungeness. A man of the kindest, most generous and contagiously optimistic nature, when he was diagnosed as HIV positive at the age of 44 he threw himself into creating one of the most spectacular legacies in the form of a garden, which still thrives in the most unlikely of surroundings. You can read more about his life and my visit to his garden in my most recent blog post ( notquitedailyamy.tumblr.com ).
What were your inspirations when writing the track?
The starting point for "Big Bag Thoughts" was a musical idea that Tim sent to me which I immediately loved. The lyrics talk about how bottled-up anxieties and worries can become overwhelming and paralyzing. Though it can feel like there's no bigger picture, the song encourages you to trust that there is, and that that bigger picture is worth fighting for.
How would you like to inspire people?
All I know is that what I am doing right now is 100% me, and I hope I will have the courage to continue being sincere to myself. I've been offered shortcuts that compromise my originality and I'm not ok with that. My originality is the only thing that separates me from everyone else and gives me the chance to make something entirely new and exciting. I'm not scared to say "no" when something doesn't feel right anymore, and I've never felt so energised and confident.