BC’s Emily Millard has dropped her stunning new single “When You Unfold Your Love” from her upcoming album, Hazy Blue
Emily Millard, known for her evocative soundscapes and in-depth lyricism, has announced the release of her latest single, “When You Unfold Your Love.” This captivating track offers a glimpse into her forthcoming album, Hazy Blue scheduled for release on October 4, 2024.
Recorded in 2023 at Vancouver’s Afterlife Studios with co-producer John Raham, “When You Unfold Your Love” is a beautifully crafted song with waves of instrumentation that take the listener on a sonic journey.
“It’s about the luck of finding love, and learning to trust,” says Millard – “A hopeful yet cautious beginning of a love story, the beauty in witnessing another’s joy.”
Backed with a stellar lineup of Vancouver’s finest musicians, Millard and Raham’s partnership brought forth fresh spontaneous creativity, resulting in a narrative that defies traditional genre boundaries.
After a seven-year hiatus (formerly known as Miss Emily Brown) Millard’s journey back to songwriting follows extensive touring across North America and Europe, marked by personal challenges that inspired introspection and growth. Settling in Vancouver, she found solace in pursuing a composition degree and fostering her artistic community, which became the fertile ground for this new batch of songs – and stands as a testament to Millard’s resilience and artistic evolution, offering listeners a contemplative exploration of love in its myriad forms amidst the complexities of modern life.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Sure! I’m a singer-songwriter based in Nelson BC.
“When You Unfold Your Love” is a beautifully crafted song with rich instrumentation. Can you share more about the inspiration behind this track and the story it tells?
This is my attempt at writing a happy song! I started with the drum beat and the synth – I remember dancing around to it while I was writing the lyrics. This song is inspired by the very beginning of the love story but from the perspective of a person who has been hurt in the past. It tries to capture that awestruck lucky feeling along with a simultaneous trepidation around being hurt again. I think one of the most beautiful things about love is how good it feels to witness someone else’s joy and share in that.
Your upcoming album “Hazy Blue” is set for release on October 4th. What themes or concepts did you explore on this record, and how does “When You Unfold Your Love” fit into the larger narrative?
Hazy Blue is a collection of love songs that are sort of like vignettes at different stages of the cycle of love. When You Unfold Your Love represents the first phase of blissful hopefulness. The final song of the record is called The Mouth of Mount Joan and it’s about an elderly couple at the end of their lives and love story. The songs in between bounce around between various conflicts encountered when we try to align.
You co-produced the album with John Raham at Afterlife Studios. How did this collaboration influence the sound and direction of the album?
Nothing makes me happier than working in the studio with John Raham. It is truly a privilege. The way that John is one with his gear and knows just what sounds to dial in for each instrument for each song, and the way that he can augment each sound by cranking out additional textures, it’s just astounding to witness. He is also such a good listener that he is often one step ahead, knowing exactly what I am about to say. John is a total magician!
You’ve worked with some of Vancouver’s finest musicians on this album. How did these collaborations influence the direction of the music?
My philosophy when it comes to recording is to go in with the knowledge that the result will be the synergy of the people involved and the spirit of that particular moment in time. So, I bring in musicians whose musical instincts I admire, and I put my trust in them. The process was a total delight. The core band was recorded together. We would listen to the demo, discuss what we were imagining, and then go play it. It was really collaborative. Then for the strings and winds I had created arrangements that the players brought to life so wonderfully.
What was the most rewarding part of the creative process for “Hazy Blue,” and what do you hope listeners take away from the album?
I think the most rewarding part of the process was the songwriting. I grew so much as a songwriter throughout the writing of this album. With the help of some key mentors, I learned how to edit songs like I had never done before, taking a fine-toothed comb to the lyrics to make sure I was saying what I needed to say in the most sensory-engaging way possible while being intentionally more direct with my storytelling. Using metaphors to deepen the communication, not to shroud the song in mystery.
You took a seven-year hiatus before returning to songwriting. What prompted your return, and how has your approach to music changed since your days as Miss Emily Brown?
I took a long break to try some new things and develop some skills I had been craving. I also needed to take a break from traveling and stay in one place for a while. I took some time in Vancouver to do some composition outside of traditional songwriting, and to learn arranging, Ableton, Sibelius, got into synthesizers, vocoders, working with MIDI in weird ways. It was really satisfying. Those new abilities had a definite impact on my approach to music because I can be much more definite about my production ideas, and because now I can create demos that are the right vibe and groove for the song, which helps me be more intentional about the style of song I want to write.
As you prepare for the release of “Hazy Blue,” what are your hopes for this album? Do you have any upcoming plans for touring or other projects?
I’d love to do some touring next spring and summer. Let’s see what I’m able to line up! In terms of what I’d like to do next, I think I’d like to explore more co-writing.
What’s the most unusual or unexpected place you’ve found inspiration for a song?
I’ve found song inspiration in lots of unexpected places. The thrift store is a great place to find discarded photographs and postcards. Sometimes newspaper obituaries and “I saw you” ads are incredibly fertile ground for songs. Lately, I’ve been into picking up paint swatches from the hardware store – they always have the best names.
Last but not least, if you could collaborate with any fellow Canadian artist, who would you choose?
That is so hard! There are so many incredible artists in this country. I had some magical improvisations at the Geopoetics Symposium a few years ago with cellist Anne Bourne and dancer Hanna Sybille Müller. I’d love to see that collaboration through sometime!