FEATURE: Spotlight: Pip Millett — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

Pip Millett

___________

I am including…

a remarkable artist in Spotlight; someone I have been following a while now. Pip Millett was recently named one of Vevo’s DSCVR Artists to Watch 2022.

“Jodeci Rampasard, Junior Manager, Music & Talent, said: “I’m very excited to have Pip Millett on our Artists to Watch List. Her soulful and warm vocals captivate you as a listener, while her raw and honest lyrics take you on a journey through her eyes. She’s an incredible talent and I’m very excited to see what 2022 brings.”

Pip added: “To be selected as a Vevo DSCVR artist for 2022 is dreamy! I know there are some great artists that are chosen to be a part of this every year so it’s dead exciting to be included”.

Manchester-born artist Millett has taken the U.K. music world by storm with her beautifully chilled, emotional fusion of R&B and Soul. Her passion for music began during her school days, when she received guitar lessons as a present from her mum, before moving to London to study music. She has been releasing music a while now - but last year was one when many new sites and sources were turning their thoughts and eyes the way of Millett. She is an artist that I think is going to be one of this country’s biggest before too long. I want to bring in a few fairly recent interviews with the wonderfully accomplished and compelling songwriter.

Prior to coming up to date with interviews, it is worth starting with an older one. In 2018, Wonderland. wanted to know more about an exciting artist who, even that early in her career, was presenting a very essential and engaging sound:

“Hi! Where are you from and how has that influenced your music?

I’m from Manchester, but moved from the city to the suburbs when I was 4. I think the mix of the two places allowed for a larger mix of genres to reach me. My mum was a main source for most of my musical influences, but growing up with the kids in my area probably bought me closer to the acoustic sounds, and pushed me towards wanting to learn how to play guitar.

Describe your sound.

My sound is somewhere under the umbrella of neo-soul. The lyrics are the centre of every song. It’s like the music moves around the words. I’ve been lucky enough to work with talented producers and musicians such as Lester Duval and Josh Crocker, whose productions help emphasise the meaning behind the lyrics.

What artists did you grow up listening to?

I grew up listening to various genres. Albums frequently heard in the car were Lauryn Hill’s “Miseducation”, Amy’s [Winehouse’s] “Back to Black” and Joni Mitchell’s “Blue”. I still listen to them all now.

When did you first start making music?

I can’t say I can remember the exact age, but I started playing bass and then guitar when I was 14, so I think that would’ve been the beginning of anything proper.

What has been the highlight of your career so far?

It’s really early days, but I think it would be the release of my first single “Make Me Cry.” I really didn’t know what to expect but it made me feel so nervous, and excited. Also watching people on the journey with me getting excited was overwhelming. The realisation that people were interested in what I was doing was great.

What is the story behind “Love the Things You Do”?

I wrote it after telling a good friend I had feelings for them and getting knocked back. I don’t think I’ve ever been that nervous sending a text, and I’ll never be sending one like it again. The feelings were mutual which made things a lot less awkward, but there was a variety of other stuff that stopped anything going further than that text. The song was basically just to ease any tension, and reassure him that our friendship would stay the same. We’re still pretty close and it’s all calm now”.

There is no doubt that Millett has gained a lot of momentum since the pandemic began. She would have much preferred to have toured more, though last year’s Motion Sick E.P. is the sound of an artist at the top of her game. I know that this year is going to be the biggest and most successful one for Pip Millett. CLASH spoke with her last year about her new E.P. and how its sound differs from her earlier work:

“Hailing from the Northern city of Manchester is rising songwriter Pip Millett, who over the past few years has blown listeners away with her soulful tone, candid lyrics, and rich sound. Captivating the listener with a refreshing sense of vulnerability, Pip’s warming and humble presence paves a lane that not many artists can touch. Since appearing on COLORS back in 2019 with a performance of her break-out track ‘Make Me Cry’, an exploration of her fighting battle with depression at the time, Pip has jumped leaps and bounds professionally and is gearing up for a sold-out UK tour later this year.

Following on from the ‘Lost In June’ EP amidst the chaotic year of 2020, Pip has recently shared her highly anticipated project entitled, ‘Motion Sick’. Taking down a completely different path from ‘Lost In June’, this old-school and empowering EP marks a new chapter in Pip’s career sonically. Uncovering issues surrounding the Black experience in the UK, moving on from friendships, identity, and more, we are taken on a journey through a selection of blissful tracks that infuse jazz, gospel, hip-hop, and soul elements into one seamless body of work.

Spread across five tracks with guest appearances from UK heavy-weight Ghetts, as well as Netherlands-based artist Gaidaa, ‘Motion Sick’ is a transitional project that marks various changes in Pip’s life. Delving into various issues from start to finish, we are swiftly accustomed with a selection of old-school felt backdrops that each compliment Pip’s silk-like tone. Continuing to prove why she is one of the most fresh and exciting acts to arise from the UK, ‘Motion Sick’ is yet another quality project from the songstress.

Are there any artists that have helped shape your sound recently?

I’ve been listening to Nas’ ‘King’s Disease’ album a lot, I love it! I think that’s probably come through somewhere. Other than that, I discover a lot of stuff through Spotify. I listen to a lot of Sabrina Claudio and Snoh Aalegra – I always listen to Snoh Aalegra, I’m obsessed with her to be honest! (laughs) She is an older female but she’s killing it! She makes me feel less pressured because sometimes – I mean, maybe I’ve given this to myself – it’s now or never, but in fact I’m looking at all these artists that are in there 30’s and I’m 23! I can calm down a bit!

You’ve just released your ‘Motion Sick’ EP! Talk me through the title behind the project and why you picked that.

It's actually a line from ‘Hard Life’, one thing about all these songs is that they are all about change and moving forward, with the good and bad that comes with that. I often think with good and bad change there is always discomfort because it’s odd, and I would call that motion sickness. Moving forward in whatever way, even if it’s a good thing and you are starting your new job, there is always a feeling that revolves around moving out of your comfort zone.

Sonically, this EP has a more old-school feel. Was this something you wanted to encapsulate throughout?

It was definitely something I wanted to do! We had ‘Hard Life’ recorded and written for years and that had an older feel to it, and I wanted to keep that throughout the whole project. Most of the songs apart from one do use samples, I wanted to keep that old, warm, and crackly feeling. We finished all the songs and sent them across to Josh Crocker, a producer in Leeds, that put his own little spin on them. It was cool to hear his input!

This project differs a lot in comparison to ‘Lost In June’. Do you think you’ve grown a lot since then?

I’m never sure if its growth or if it’s just a new phase! I still listen back to some of those songs and wish I could re-write some of them. This EP does sound so different to ‘Lost In June’ and I don’t think they could be compared in any way. I know some people say, “Oh, you’ve grown so much, you sound so much better” and I’m thinking, is this meant to be a compliment? (laughs) For me personally, they are two very different projects and its good to be able to go from zone to zone. It’s a new part of my music! The next project will be a new chapter!

You said earlier that you were quite worried about dropping ‘Deeper Dark’ because you did it on our own. Are you more comfortable now with being as vulnerable in your songs?

It's always going to be a little bit scary because you just never know what people are going to say about it! Even when people are being nice to you, they can say some shadey things. I think people think it’s a compliment to say things like “Oh, I like this one but this one is way better” and I’m thinking, I’ve put so much work into both, so shush! (laughs)

I wasn’t as nervous this time to release the project because I was so desperate to have it out and the nerves had gone, but when you release the first single from any project it can be a bit scary! Each time I go to release, my audience has grown a little bit more! When I dropped ‘Make Me Cry’, I didn’t know who was going to listen to that, I didn’t have a following back then!”.

Penultimately, I am going back a bit further to an interview where Glamcult spoke with the Manchester-born sensation. This is a 2020 interview where they focus on her single, Stupid People:

“Stupid People” is so beautiful but oxymoronic in a way; super chill musically, however, the story behind the song feels super heavy! Where does this come from?

I think I’ve always loved that kind of chilled vibe with heavier lyrics. I think maybe it’s because I write my lyrics once I’m past whatever situation it was that I was in, so perhaps naturally I’m drawn to that calmer sound because my head is clear and calm about the situation now?

Being a fellow manchester-gal; how has the scene there influenced your sound?

I’ve loved Children of Zeus for years now but that’s the only real Mancunian music I was listening to until maybe a couple of years ago. The guitar side of me has been influenced by the indie music of Manchester but I’m not sure that was by choice hahaha

And how does the Manchester scene differ to the London scene?

The London scene, until recently, had more people shouting about it than Manchester did, but that seems to be changing. I think it’s easier to differentiate between those who want to be creative and those who want fame in Manchester.

Who have you been listening to recently?

I’ve been listening to Jordan Ward at lot as well as Unknown Mortal Orchestra and Deante’ Hitchcock. They’re all amazing!”.

PHOTO CREDIT: The Lizard Queen

I want to finish off with a simple question-and-answer interview from NOTION. It is interesting learning about Millett’s ‘firsts’ and some of her favourite early memories:

“First CD or record you owned?

I’m too young for that! I remember cd’s being given as gifts but I had an iPod nano in primary school and before that an MP3 player with Paolo Nutini and Kings of Leon on it.

First time you realised you wanted to be an artist?

From a young age, I loved the idea of it but felt like it was out of my reach. I was super shy and everyone told me it was a really difficult career path but I went for it anyway and I guess probably over the past few years it’s gradually become more real.

First gig and first festival you went to? And the first festival you performed at?

First gig was either Rihanna or Paolo Nutini – both a great first gig. First festival I went to was either Camp Bestival or Solfest when I was about 11/12 – both were the same year. The first festival I performed at was Manchester International this year for myself – however, I did perform at Boardmasters a few years ago with Franc Moody.

First time you felt starstruck?

Seeing Beyoncé on stage.

First time you heard your song playing somewhere?

I heard “Love The Things You Do” playing at a bar in Islington once and that’s the only time I’ve heard my music out and about”.

A wonderful and enormously promising artist, Pip Millett is someone who we are going to hear a lot more from this year. Already on the radar of so many sites regarding the artists to look out for in 2022, I am excited to see how far she can go. Having released an incredible and well-received E.P. last year in the form of Motion Sick, I wonder whether we will get a debut album. That must be the next stage? I think that, if that is her plan, there is going to be a lot of fresh attention…