A Chat with MileHi (18.12.2020)
MileHi is exploring the ambiguity of life through his music. Taking on the relationship between toxic masculinity and male fragility, he considers how he navigates this through his 2AM soundscape. His latest release ‘Your Body’ continues his groovy flow and looks at trying to do better. We sat down with MileHi to talk about the single, his soundscape, issues in society and much more!
OSR: Was there a moment that made you think: ‘Yes, music is what I want to do’?
MileHi: Nah, not really. Music has always been it. I’d say there was more of a ‘Yes. Ok, so this is how I want to do this music thing.’ moment.
OSR: What do you feel is the biggest influence on your music?
MileHi: I’ve never really enjoyed the idea of loss. So I guess the fear of losing is probably the biggest driving force for me.
OSR: s there a backstory of theme to your new release ‘Your Body’?
MileHi: Trying to reverse the idea that saying what you want ain’t a good look. I’ve been in situations where I didn’t get what I wanted all because I was too proud to speak my wants/needs into the equation. I’ve seen girls do it. I’ve seen my boys do it too. Collectively, it’s a shit feeling tbh, so ‘Your Body’ is kinda my way of trying to do better.
OSR: Your sound straddles the lines of lust, love and loss. How did you develop this ‘2AM Music’ style?
MileHi: Once I got my first car it was a done deal. There’s nothing better than your own company, an open road and loud music. I refer to it as ‘car therapy’. I feel like late-night drives are where I’ve discovered a lot about myself – good and bad.
OSR: What was your creative process for ‘Your Body’? Did you start with lyrics or a melody?
MileHi: I got on the mic and freestyled some words with a bunch of different melodies and simple rhyming patterns, and figured it out from there.
OSR: You are not only a recording artist and performed on the West End in Thriller Live. Do you feel this experience has impacted your studio music?
MileHi: Yes and no. It made me want to perform my own content more, but I had less time to concentrate on me. Once I came off the show I had this crazy desire to create, but this year has given me more than enough time to make something happen.
OSR: Your music touches on a lot of issues within society. Do you find it difficult to translate what you want to say into music?
MileHi: Not really because if it’s there to be said it will be when it’s the right time to say it. I don’t see myself running out of things to say any time soon.
OSR: If people could feel only one emotion while listening to your music, what would you like that to be and why?
MileHi: Empathy. I want them to feel they can share with me through the music. I want my music to resonate with anyone who’s been through anything similar to what I have been through. I want it to be like ‘Yup, I remember that time I went through that same thing.’ I want my music to be as important to someone else’s life, in the same way those I grew up listening to, were to me.
OSR: With your music, you are stepping out of the traditional box of black British male RnB artists. Why do you feel this is important?
MileHi: I couldn’t really define to you what a traditional black British male RnB artist was, honestly. So it isn’t important, it just is what it is and I am who I am. I do feel like RnB in Britain is slept on, and I feel it’s important for Britain and the world to appreciate the genre a little more, and the individuals within the genre who are killing it regardless of where they were born.
OSR: What can we expect from you in the next 12 months?
MileHi: Bro. If I had to sum it up quickly I would say to just expect stuff. Super vague, but I just want to create. Sounds, visuals, images, clothes, my own line of alcohol, idk. I just want to create. We have the music ready to go for 2021 so that’s definitely coming, but I’m always after more.
Thanks to MileHi for chatting with us! You can find more about him on his Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.
