Image credit: PRESS
Being named as the ‘Sound of Modern House Music’ by Amazon for 2021, Alex Mills concluded last year with a bang by releasing her hotly anticipated debut EP Raw To The Floor. Released via Ultra Records, this 5 track house EP calls to mind the influential sounds of early ‘90s house music with R&B embellishments that dominated the club scene. The EP boasts production credits from Camelphat, Solardo, and Eli Brown to name a few. Definitely a fan of re-inventing her sound, the singer hopes to inspire other emerging artists that want to get their names put out in the DJ world. Gracefully climbing the ladder, Alex Mills is an act to watch in 2022. We chatted with the promising talent Alex Mills in this exclusive Q&A.
For anyone that hasn’t heard it yet, how would you describe your sound?
An infusion of deep, tech & ‘90s house. I love to pay homage to the classics sounds I grew up loving and reimagine them in a contemporary and fresh way.
At what point in your life did you have that moment where you said to yourself “This is it. This is the type of music I want to create?”
I have always known that I adored house music and all of its subgenres. There was no single moment, just the opportunity to express that and have my music heard. Having been lucky enough to work with so many great producers it was much easier to blend sounds to create my own and it just happened naturally by leaning into what gave me the most happiness and vibes.
What piece of gear could you never live without?
I couldn’t live without my Shure sm7b mic. It’s a great mic that Micheal Jackson used to record ‘Thriller’. You can adjust the settings on the bottom of it and I’ve found what works well for my voice. I also love that it can be handheld which I feel allows me to give a more personal performance. As soon as you step into a booth, there is an element of magic that is lost so anything that can keep me connected and relaxed while recording is awesome in my books. Also if it’s good enough for Michael it’s good enough for me.
Studio work and music creation or performing and interacting with a live audience, what do you prefer?
Both have their own merit but I actually love the creative process. I love picking away at a song and finding what the music wants me to say or add. With most tracks, there is a song in there somewhere and it’s my mission to find it. That’s my favorite bit and what I find most rewarding.
What’s the weirdest or most amazing reaction you’ve had to your music?
The reaction I get every time I play ‘Worst Enemy’ to my dear friend Zara. She absolutely adores the track and no matter how many times she hears it she reacts with pure joy and sings along to every word. I recently played it for her at her birthday and she was absolutely made up. Her consistency in passion for the track makes me so happy to see as it’s the same joy every time.
Favourite BPM?
127 – It keeps going up too. Ask me this time next year and it will be on 130!
All-time favourite album?
The Slim Shady LP – Aside from Eminem’s outrageous talent as a wordsmith I love Dr Dre’s production. It’s not house music but if all I listened to was house music, how could I bring anything new to the art form? I listen to all kinds of music and it’s probably one of the only albums I can listen to from start to finish without skipping a track.
What have you got in the pipeline for the near future?
I have some super exciting collaborations coming up in the first quarter of 2022, and of course more releases for my artist project. I have just dropped my debut Raw To The Floor which had been an amazing way to end the year. I always aim to impress myself, so I hope to do that that this year and create something even more special. I’m putting my whole sound on steroids.
EP track ‘Want You To Want Me’ features on the Spotify playlist HOUSE_GROUND.fm
Follow Alex Mills:
