Q&A: Milky Day is Unpacking Life’s Challenges on EP ‘Impulses’
OVERCOMING HIS DEMONS AND FINDING SOLACE — reclaiming control over the chaos of life became the groundwork for the Australian-based singer-songwriter Milky Day’s latest EP, Impulses.
With the hurdles of the pandemic and the world feeling a little bleak, the artist began penning the track “Losing My Grip.” The R&B cadence finished in booming, ominous bass; soft keys enhance the expression as he sings, “I’m losing my grip on reality.” Milky Day’s lyrical candidness shines a light on those darker emotions that we all experience.
“I wanted to show my listeners that I struggle through tough times just like everyone else and showcase a wider range of emotions through my art,” he shares about the track.
And these sentiments are apparent within Impulses. Milky Day takes listeners through each stage a person might experience when overcoming mental obstacles. From questioning personal growth and the fleeting sensation of self-control to finally discovering inner peace, the EP is a reflection of self-healing.
With the release, Milky Day tells us more about the project, elaborating on his single “Losing My Grip” and developing this unique sound. Read the interview below.
LUNA: Your first release from Impulses was “Losing My Grip,” which describes losing sight of reality but finding your peace of mind again. What made you choose this story to open up the next chapter of your music?
MILKY DAY: I went through a pretty low period of my life last year —I was laid off from my day job, experienced a breakup, and moved to a new country. I also felt that the world had been going through a lot in the past few years, things like the pandemic, wars, political conflicts, natural disasters, etc. A combination of the above instilled a sense of hopelessness in me, so I channeled this energy into a song, which became “Losing My Grip.” Most of my previous releases had been pretty chill and warmer in sound quality, but I realized that some of the darker emotions I experience are just as important to express. I wanted to show my listeners that I struggle through tough times just like everyone else, and showcase a wider range of emotions through my art.
LUNA: Reclaiming control over your life is expressed in this new EP. How is this project helping you convey that story to listeners?
MILKY DAY: In a nutshell, the EP progresses through the various stages one may experience when attempting to overcome their inner demons. For me, that includes:
1. The recognition of our demons
2. The ways we try to escape those demons
3. Losing grip of reality as the demons take over
4. A metaphorical death
5. Reconciliation; coming to terms with the demons
“Losing My Grip” is a representation of that third stage. I think this will all make a lot more sense once you listen to the entire EP from beginning to end.
LUNA: How do you hope “Losing My Grip” and the overall EP will comfort listeners while they go through their journey?
MILKY DAY: I’m hoping that “Losing My Grip” and the rest of the EP will comfort listeners by letting them know that they’re not alone when experiencing more cynical or bleak feelings throughout life. I think that the EP’s narrative and listening experience will be one that’s quite visceral. I was quite experimental with the arrangement … The sounds constantly evolve and the song transitions seamlessly, almost as if the EP is one long song [or] story. Instead of sticking to traditional arrangements or focusing on writing 16-bar verses, many sections were written with the intent of crafting a specific mood or atmosphere. I added a lot more depth [to] my lyricism and sound selection to help convey the overall concept.
Fans will likely find the most comfort in the final song, which ties the entire EP together with a resolution and reassurance that even the most difficult times will subside with time and self-reflection.
LUNA: You’re diving into your sound a little more, a sound that’s highlighting these raw stories. What inspired this new sonic era?
MILKY DAY: I’ve been listening to and drawing inspiration from a wider variety of artists and producers. I found that the artists I’m most inspired by are usually the ones who think outside the box and create unique sounds that I’ve never heard or felt before. I, likewise, wanted to push my boundaries and show everyone what I’m capable of as an artist.
Some things that I kept in mind as I worked on the EP are things like attention to detail, atmospheric or textural elements, rhythm/groove, beat switches, and intricate sound selection. Instead of using templates and processes that I was familiar with, I pushed myself to be a lot more experimental with the creative process, treating my EP more as a piece of art rather than a commercial product.
LUNA: On that note, you have a mathematical background as well. How does that analytical side aid your creative journey?
MILKY DAY: My mathematics background has some indirect influence on my music. There are surprisingly a lot of numbers involved in music — things like chords and intervals can be summarized in numbers, and the mixing process involves balancing different signals and analyzing frequency graphs, etc. And so I would often “test and reiterate” ideas: nudge a chord, note, or drum sample by a beat or two to see how it impacts the groove, cut/boost more or less of a frequency to see how it changes the timbre, or dial up or down a certain effect on a layer to see how it affects the mood.
Ultimately, though, my final decisions are based on what sounds or feels good, regardless of what “makes the most sense” from an analytical standpoint.
LUNA: What can listeners expect next?
MILKY DAY: I’m currently working on a couple of singles for after the EP, which won’t be as dark as my EP. I really enjoyed delving into this darker side of my sound, but I still want to release mellow/dreamy songs like my older styles, while continuing to explore new genres or styles.
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