Chris Milam Speaks!

I scribed a little on aspiring young, country/folk artist Chris Millam the other day. His track ‘Coldweather Girls’ is quite remiscent of Simon and Garfunkel’s ‘America’ in the simple structure, occasionally whispering voice and dialogue in the lyrics. He has kindly taken five minutes from promoting his new album Up’ to answer a few questions, though I suppose this would be considered promotion so he hasn’t really. Still it’s the thought that counts…….Thank you Chris.

M – What was the first record you ever bought?

CM – Green Day’s Dookie.

M – Why?

CM – It was the first I wanted a CD that my older brother didn’t want.  Before that, he’d buy something (R.E.M., Pearl Jam, Radiohead, etc.) I liked anyway, and we’d share.  Then, Dookie hit my middle school.  He was a big, bad high schooler and was far too mature to buy an album named after poo.  So, I had to buy it myself.  Of course, he loves Green Day now, and got me 21st Century Breakdown for my birthday.  The lesson: maybe 6th graders know something 10th graders don’t?

M – Would you say the US country / western scene has changed much over the past decade?

CM – Hard to say, because it’s a world of music that hasn’t influenced my own too much.  But, living in Nashville for several years, I did see some changes.  There’s definitely a split between the pop country of music row and the alt-country/Americana artists that are all around town.  I wouldn’t say one’s good or bad–they’re just doing different things.  There are a ton of great, independent artists in Nashville that are doing something different than the country norm, and fully deserve a big audience.

M – If so, which artists have shaped this shift?

CM – Of popular artists, the wave of roots-influenced music from the last decade continues to influence folks: Whiskeytown, Ryan Adams, Wilco, Son Volt, Old Crow Medicine Show, the Avett Brothers, etc.  Again, I’m largely talking out of my butt; an alt-country artist could list 100 names.

M – Which artists would you say have held influence on you and your work?

CM – The new album (Up) was mostly influenced by artists from the 60’s; Simon & Garfunkel, for example.  They packaged lyrically-intensive songs with these gorgeous melodies; that’s what I wanted to do with this record.  Some others: Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon’s solo work (I cover “The Boy In the Bubble”), Tom Petty, Elliot Smith, Josh Ritter.  Motown.  The Beatles.  Raphael Saadiq.  The usual.

M – What is the most nervous / disastrous performance you’ve had?

CM – I came out of the womb a polished performer and savvy showbiz veteran; I have no idea what these words even mean.

Truthfully, it was probably my first performance.  I sat in on a songwriters-in-the-round set, and they let me play one song.  I sang the first line and suddenly forgot everything else.  I couldn’t remember a thing.  Instead of bowing out gracefully, apologizing, and sprinting to my car, I launched into a medley of “Free Ride,” “Slow Ride,” and Nelly’s “Ride Wit Me.”

I’d call its reception “mixed.”

M – At present, to you who are the most interesting artists in world?

CM – I’m a fan of pop music–that’s what I write, and listen to, and am most influenced by.  So I’m interested in anything that can broaden the definition of pop, and artists that incite new trends with every release.  Artists like Radiohead and Outkast alter the landscape every time they release an album.  My Morning Jacket.  I’m always excited to see what Jack White will do next.  I know frat guys that love MGMT, which is a testament to their pop sensibility underneath all that great sonic weirdness.  I’m interested in artists that can make someone like a song they wouldn’t expect to like.

Of singer/songwriters, I’m turned on by anyone who says something I haven’t heard before: Josh Ritter, Cory Branan, Amy LaVere, to name a few.  They’re amazing songwriters who continue to surprise me.

And, finally, Justin Timberlake.

M – Do you have any plans to play the UK in the future?

CM – I do!  Tentatively, this summer.  We’re working out the details, but yes–hopefully sooner rather than later.  I can’t wait to get to the UK.  Great fans of music over there.

M – In a perfect world whom would you like to work with (alive or dead) and why?

CM – Many of the same heroes I listed above, with some consideration for who would be fun to work with.

Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Michael Stipe, Jack White.  Eddie Vedder, because no band has (or probably will) mean more to me than Pearl Jam did in my teenage years.  Chris Bell from Big Star, and Gram Parsons, are two favorites that I wish I could meet.  I wouldn’t want to work with Kurt Cobain, but I’d love to meet him.  I’ll include Bono, because if I’m working with Bono in any capacity, I’m probably about to buy a Bentley or attend a G8 summit.

I’d just like to take this opportunity to once again thank Mr Milam for taking the time to talk to us. Cheers Chris, and all the best!

1. 

   Chris Milam says:

   January 21, 2010 at 4:09 pm

   Thanks to Mewbox! My pleasure…