These days, it is increasingly difficult for emerging bands and artists to pen a sound of their own, often being compared to other groups and sounds already in existence.
It is hard to do that with Essex four-piece The Milk. After a few years of trying, they are finally receiving the recognition they deserve. Having signed their first record deal with music giant Sony, they are gearing up to play the big summer festivals as well as securing a big headline date at the Shepherds Bush Empire later this year.
Their sound is the definition of eclectic; elements of Rock, R&B, Motown and Jazz come together in their songs as the band feel it is a collective experience which produces their sound: “Our record collections vary from Hip Hop to Soul, dance to reggae, and the classic Rock ‘n’ Roll. We listened to Trojan, Chess, Staz, Def Jam, Public Enemy, The Roots, Brad Baloo, Chemical Brothers… the list is endless. If it’s a banging tune, we like it! The Milk is what happens when we get together and write. We all contribute and it wouldn’t sound the same without all four of us involved!”
The four band members have had enough time to hone and refine the way they work together – they grew up together in the heart of Essex and for a long time did not have any idea they would be making music as a day job. “It was a hobby up until we all realised that we hated our jobs and couldn’t think of anything else that we could do any better! Once we quit our jobs it got serious, we worked hard, and did what we set out to do. Getting signed was the first step, now comes the hard work.”
Their Essex roots are certainly prevalent in their music – their forthcoming album, due to be released later this year, is entitled Tales from the Thames Delta and their recent music video for ‘B-Roads’ was shot in Southend. They explain that “all the songs on the album are about our lives growing up in and around Essex, so it’s important in the sense that we know no different. Although because of the so-called glamour around Essex at the moment it feels like that it is more important to everyone else than it is to us.”
“Most themes in our lyrics are about trying to break out of a small town and discover something bigger and newer. We write in many different ways; The Milk don’t have one way to skin the cat as it were, so lyrics can come from one member or all, depending on the song.”
It is a question they are commonly asked, but their name has got people speculating. Indignantly, they tell Vision that “never has a band’s name had less thought put into it. We were called Charlie Bash and the Uptown Smash for a day, Nigel Winterburn and the Flat Back Four for a gig and then Kenny Cornflake and The Milk came up. We fucked off Kenny and were left with The Milk. We always thought we’d think of something better and by the time we did it was too late to change!”
I wondered how The Milk find the balance between the good times on the road and the constant trial and error process and graft that is the hallmark of the studio: “Both things are very different and have their own rewards, but the kick you get out of both of them is equal. When you play live you get an instant reaction to your tunes and your performance. There’s nothing like walking out to a packed venue where everyone is up for a rave! Being in the studio is more of a slow burner but the feeling of bringing an idea to life and creating a tune everyone is happy with is amazing.”
“Our last gig and probably most favourite to date was at the Scala in London. In terms of festivals this summer, we are really looking forward to Ibiza Rocks, loads of mates are coming out to join us for the party, we’ll smash the gig along with Ed Sheeran then party hard!”
Finally, it would have been remiss of Vision not to mention The Milk’s recent trip to York. They played at Stereo before following students to Stone Roses and, with the help of a little back-hander to Conrad, Willow. “Willow was most probably the weirdest place we’ve ever been! Underage barmen, loads of lovely girls, and free prawn crackers! What more can we say other than we had an amazing time in York and can’t wait to get back there!”