Featured Writing
“I’ve built a world of sound that I love and now I can experiment freely.”
Speaking to Power about her music is akin to speaking to a humble expert. She doesn’t take herself too seriously, yet she is aware of exactly what she needs to do in order to succeed. There’s a beautiful confidence to the way she describes her career and the creative decisions that led her to this moment. After taking critical time early in her career to refine her sound, and more importantly to define what she needs in order to thrive creatively, Power feels comfortable breaking out of her comfort zone.
“There’s joy in being with someone, in this moment all coming together and the stars aligning.”
Superstitious is set against a cloudy sky, yet James is dressed in a bright yellow suit, dancing. The melody is playful and bouncy, but upon closer listening, James tells a story of doubt and fear in losing a love. “When you have a really fun, upbeat song, you have to have those little moments that pull it back down to reality.” James toes the line between the inherent happiness in pop music and the reality of her lyrics expertly. Superstitious has one experiencing these doubts right alongside James.
“Soft storytelling voices always inspired me; to reflect that intimate energy going on.”
Jayanna Roberts is the mooring that holds the group together. There’s a gorgeous, hypnotizing quality about her vocal delivery. Slightly monotone, with a brighter, airy quality, her inflection lacks tension. It’s meditative. Listening to her sing is like swimming in a secluded lake. She pulls you in, almost to the point where you can forget to float, if only just for a moment. Then, the musical and production talents of Truax and Tong give you space to breathe, providing a delightful, melodic buoyancy.
“It’s important to try to ignore that competition and stay in touch with the internal elements that led you to make music in the first place.”
“More has come for us the more enthusiastic and independent we’ve become,” Charlie says. Independence is something that Weird Milk, like many artists, are constantly working on; it has made them take more ownership over their art and feel greater responsibility for the image they put forward. Hand-in-hand with independence, the dismissal of comparison culture in the music industry is another practice they continue to work on, both professionally and personally.
“A massive part of feeling connected to our music is living it through other people.”
There’s a fine-tuned synchronicity to the way Somerville and Markwick interact on stage, weaving energy out of thin air and taking strength from the other’s presence. Their songs contain mesmerizing harmonies that provide a guiding heartbeat throughout their catalog. Here are two individuals, immensely talented in their own right, coming together to form the cohesive listening experience that is IDER.