Quench were lucky enough to be invited along to Girls Pushing Buttons, a celebration of South Wales-based electronic pop artists – Honey B McKenna, Millie Blooms and Femmebug. As well as a night of fantastic music, we also got the chance to sit down and chat with Honey and Millie about community, their musical journeys, and what they liked about South Wales’ rich and diverse music scene.
Honey B McKenna
Talk to us about Girls Pushing Buttons; what were your ideas behind this, your intentions?
Well, I initially thought I need to do more gigs. I will make music and then I will put it up online, but I havenÔÇÖt really done a lot of performing. I started to this year, and then I was like ÔÇ£I wanna do some gigs”, particularly in Cardiff because I feel that that is the music scene I feel most closely connected to, ÔÇÿcos IÔÇÖm Hereford based, but a lot of the things that I go to in Hereford arenÔÇÖt electronic music focused. ThereÔÇÖs one electronic open mic there, which has just started, and thatÔÇÖs amazing, but other than that its very acoustic open mic focused. Which is great, it’s just not my kind of music, thatÔÇÖs not the music I make, so I feel very much like I stick out in the wrong way when I go to those things. So I was like, let me put something on; I had gotten to know Millie [Millie Blooms] and Kate [Femmebug] online, and I just contacted them, like ÔÇ£do you wanna do a gig?ÔÇØ, contacted Porters, and they were like, ÔÇ£yeah, do you want this day?ÔÇØ. It was about a month ago, and it just kind of came really nicely.
It’s just about showcasing the kind of music that we make, which is electronic pop, not necessarily instrumentalists but singer-producers, because I think thereÔÇÖs a bit of a misconception; if you turn up with a backing track, people might not realise the hours of work that go into making and producing your own music! I just wanted to showcase some original electropop music, and as well to focus it on women, and IÔÇÖd like to open it up to other gender minorities, queer people, make it as diverse as possible. If you go to gigs, if you go to open mics, and you constantly feel like youÔÇÖre the only person in the room whoÔÇÖs a woman, whoÔÇÖs a person of colour, whoÔÇÖs queer you might just stop going, because youÔÇÖre just not gonna feel like ÔÇô not even that youÔÇÖre being made to feel unwelcome, itÔÇÖs just that youÔÇÖre gonna start thinking , ÔÇ£IÔÇÖm not like everyone else here, maybe I donÔÇÖt belongÔÇØ. And itÔÇÖs a shame, because everyone makes music, everyone is capable of making great music. IÔÇÖm hoping to do this gig again at some point soon, with different people, get some other Welsh names involved, I think that would be really nice.
So youÔÇÖre quite community-oriented? Is collaboration with other artists quite an important thing for you?
Yeah, I think so. ThatÔÇÖs the thing, all my music stuff is basically on my own, but in doing so, in shutting myself in my room over lockdown and stuff and being kind of self-taught, it was like, once you start putting it out into the world, youÔÇÖre actually nothing unless youÔÇÖve got people who get you, and having friends who are involved in the music scene, like IÔÇÖve got lots of friends in, like, Bristol and Bath area, who do music stuff, Katie, Femmebug, is Manchester-based at the minute, and so its like ÔÇô there is a Welsh scene, but thereÔÇÖs also a nice thing with Welshness, I think, where you take it with you as an identity, and anywhere else you go, if you know that someone else on a line-upÔÇÖs Welsh, you might be like ÔÇ£oh, where are you from, have you played at such-and-such?ÔÇØ!
We were saying, the three of us, after we sound-checked, that I actually feel excited, and I donÔÇÖt actually feel like IÔÇÖm putting as much pressure on myself, because it feels like, you know, this is the first time the three of us have met, but ÔÇÿcos weÔÇÖve gotten to know each other online, it’s kind of like catching up with friends. It doesnÔÇÖt feel like ÔÇô thereÔÇÖs this misconception, I think, that women are catty, that if you put women in a group its gonna turn into a cat-fight ÔÇô I havenÔÇÖt felt that at all, IÔÇÖm just really excited to hear FemmebugÔÇÖs new stuff, and MillieÔÇÖs stuff live, because I havenÔÇÖt heard any of it live. It’s really nice, you know, it feels like itÔÇÖs a friendlier atmosphere than some of the other things IÔÇÖve been to. Not necessarily locally, but just, I donÔÇÖt know. YouÔÇÖve gotta have your people , you know, youÔÇÖve gotta find people, your allies, and the people who you can go to at an event, and I think it’s often the people who are nicest who do, you know, support each other like this.
ThereÔÇÖs a DJ local to me, Max Galactic, who I look up to not just in terms of how skilled he is, but how forthcoming heÔÇÖs been when it comes to putting in a good word, to offering warm up slots, to being supportive in that behind-your-back way as well as in person. HeÔÇÖs successful and heÔÇÖs generous in his successes, he wants the people around him to succeed too. ThatÔÇÖs what I want to model and recreate.
I quite like that about this event, as well, youÔÇÖve all come and it feels very much like youÔÇÖre supporting each other, musically.
I think thatÔÇÖs the community thing. I was kind of starting to isolate myself a bit, and I thought thatÔÇÖs not gonna serve me in any way, I need to put myself out there, I need to be vulnerable enough to put my music in front of people, and then also support other artists. I try very hard to fight against ÔÇô if you listen to the voices, the demons, and they start telling you that youÔÇÖre not good enough, then that kind of festers and turns into actually you start dragging other people down., putting other people down and comparing yourself. When you compare yourself to other people, and IÔÇÖm really guilty of it, but you either put yourself above them, be like, indignantly ÔÇ£IÔÇÖm just as good,ÔÇØ or ÔÇ£IÔÇÖm better thanÔǪ,ÔÇØ or you just think, ÔÇ£oh, thereÔÇÖs no point in me trying, ÔÇÿcos theyÔÇÖre so much better than me,ÔÇØ ÔÇô I really try hard to fight against that, because it’s just not healthy, for anyone. You just become bitter.
How did you start making music? What was your musical journey?
IÔÇÖve kind of always done instruments and stuff in school, and sung, you know, in school choir and that kind of thing. My mumÔÇÖs a musician, she was in a band, my whole family is musical. And then I was doing musical theatre stuff for a while, thatÔÇÖs what I thought I was gonna go into, try and get into drama school, and I didnÔÇÖt. I ended up going to Cardiff Uni, to do English, and got involved with the dance society there, and at that time IÔÇÖd kind of stopped ÔÇô I was making little songs on Audacity, and sending them to BBC Introducing and stuff, just some weird little pop songs that I was writing on a guitar, and then I kind of lost my confidence. Went to Uni, joined a dance society, Slash Hip Hop Dance, shout out to them! And I really found my confidence again through being involved with them. ThatÔÇÖs my favourite thing I took from uni, is being involved with Slash. I love them, and theyÔÇÖre still going as well!
Did you enjoy your time at Cardiff Uni?
I did, yeah. A lot of it was down to, I think the nightlife here is really good, or it was good when I was in uni, it felt very vibrant, and I saw so many artists play at the Great Hall, and stuff. It was amazing. Youd get tickets for twenty quid, I dont know if thats the case now, but I saw Ellie Goulding there, it was a really nice time, and I felt veryI started doing the DJing stuff when I was at uni, started putting the mixes for Slash when we went to competitions and stuff, so I was starting to mix songs, and almost DJ there. And then, graduated, was doing photography stuff, and then started DJing professionally. Then the lockdown happened, and I had nothing to do! So I was like, well, Ill try  I bought Ableton a couple of years before that, and was like, now Ive got a good time to sit down and play around, get to grips with it. Started producing stuff and put an EP out in 2021, I think. That was a little self-produced EP, and just sort of kept doing it, kept at it.
What happened with musical theatre, then, for you?
It’s such a weird ÔÇô IÔÇÖd been feeling it for a while, but I was pretty much like, the idea of like a) constantly being rejected, which even if youÔÇÖre amazing you are rejected, but if youÔÇÖre not in that top percent, it’s just a lifetime of being rejected, and I was like, I donÔÇÖt know if IÔÇÖm strong enough for this. It really felt very up and down for me. I enjoyed the jobs that I did do, I did little tours and stuff, and found a lot of meaning and a lot of worth in what I was doing there. I was doing like the nursing home pantomimes, and stuff, those little tours, and enjoyed it, but then, like, lockdown happened, and once I realised that I could control what I was doing, my music was something was something I could control, and I could sing what I wanted to say, IÔÇÖm not necessarily interpreting something by somebody else, it’s quite a nice feeling. I still love musical theatre stuff, I like going to open mics, and doing shows and stuff, but it feels ÔÇô it’s weird in a way, as well, because if you grow up doing am-dram you get to do shows every year, every couple of months, but when I went professional, I just auditioned for stuff. I never actually performed. You go to the open mics and stuff, but otherwise youÔÇÖre just doing sixteen bars in a rehearsal room.
I guess youÔÇÖve got a lot more control now that youÔÇÖre doing your own stuff.
Yeah. Yeah, it feels kind ofÔǪnice, to do that. And your image, as well, and not fitting a type, not being typecast. I mean, everyone has a type, but it’s not so much how IÔÇÖm perceived, or think IÔÇÖm gonna be perceived, by a casting panel, you know? I can be a bit more authentic.
So, what have you got planned for the future?
I want to put another EP out by the end of the year. I keep saying, ÔÇ£it’s gonna be in springÔÇØ, ÔÇ£it’s gonna be in summerÔÇØ, and now IÔÇÖm like, by the end of the year, I can probably manage that. There will be something that comes out. IÔÇÖd love to do an album at some point, maybe next year. Just wanna do more live shows, Cardiff, Newport, Aber, Hereford, anywhere I can get really. And the DJing stuff I do is nice, but itÔÇÖs almost like my ÔÇ£day jobÔÇØ. ItÔÇÖs nice to have separation between that, which is actually quite relaxing, whereas doing this feels a bit more vulnerable. It’s nice, though, and I think it’s worthwhile. So yeah, hopefully, maybe, an album next year. WeÔÇÖll see. Hopefully some festivals next year, too, IÔÇÖd really like to do.
Which festivals would you like to do if you could?
Oh, Green Man is my favourite. Id like to do Green Man Rising, it might be a pipe dream but it would be the ideal one; Ive got connections to Crickhowell, and Im from Abergavenny, so Im like oh my god, please! I dont know what else. Theres like, El Dorado; Nozstock is in Hereford, Id quite like to do that; In It would be quite cool as well, I think thats quite a pop-y one, isnt it, so that would be amazing; Im trying to think of the other Welsh festivals
I know thereÔÇÖs S┼Án Fest, in Cardiff.
Oh god, yeah, S┼Án! I think IÔÇÖm a bit late to apply for that this year. More Pride ones, as well, yeah, Cardiff Pride would be amazing, S┼Án would be amazing. I did Hubfest last year, that was really cool, I like The Moon. TheyÔÇÖre a great venue. And more stuff here, hopefully. IÔÇÖd like to do Girls Pushing Buttons again, and bring some other people in. Might not even do it myself, just give it a name, organise it and Svengali whoever I want to see live! ItÔÇÖd be like, ÔÇ£I like you, I wanna see you do something!ÔÇØ. You know, thereÔÇÖs a couple of people who IÔÇÖve put feelers out to, IÔÇÖve earmarked some people, sort of said ÔÇ£you would go well with this person,ÔÇØ and would kind of mix it up and see what happens.
So the South Wales music scene ÔÇô do you feel like itÔÇÖs got a lot to offer?
I think so, yeah. I feel like thereÔÇÖs kinship there, itÔÇÖs nice to do things with your fellow countrymen, especially because IÔÇÖm very proud to be Welsh. It felt weird, growing up on the border, and I went to school in England, one of a few Welsh kids, but then IÔÇÖd go out on the weekend with my friends in Newport and stuff. It feels like there is an excitement in the Welsh scene, and I hope that we wonÔÇÖt lose so many venues as to lose that completely. But, like Millie was saying to me earlier, it’s not that thereÔÇÖs a lack of talent, not even a lack of venues, but itÔÇÖs a shame when venues are scared to take a chance on somebody unknown. They might be amazing.
You produce as well; who would be your dream person to produce for, or collaborate with?
I am obsessed with the group Audiobooks. I love them so much. I think theyÔÇÖre playing here next month, at Tramshed. IÔÇÖm desperate to go and see them, because the kind of music I really look up to is pop which is weird and quirky and different; I think thatÔÇÖs amazing. IÔÇÖd love to do anything with them, remix or be remixed by them, theyÔÇÖre just one of my favourite groups ever. I really likeÔǪRosal├¡aÔÇÖs a big influence at the minute, just the way she takes her traditional music and puts it through the filter of electronic stuff, I think thatÔÇÖs amazing. And mashing up genres ÔÇô I love her. Nile Rodgers would be a dream collab, the founder and guitarist of Chic, because I like disco stuff. I could see myself doing a Kylie disco album. I love disco and I love Chic, theyÔÇÖre like, one of my favourite bands. Jessie Ware, her last two albums have been perfection, I think. I donÔÇÖt really like ballads very much, but I think pop is so amazing, and, like Caitie was saying, we were talking about Taylor Swift and Beyonce, pop is so important. ThatÔÇÖs her quote, not mine. That video of Lady Gaga, where sheÔÇÖs performing in a club, the scenes thereÔǪSheÔÇÖs got like her homemade disco stick, and itÔÇÖs like ÔÇô she was doing this, gigs in smaller local venues, she was working!
You donÔÇÖt really get that so much, with TikTok singers and that, itÔÇÖs like, they sort of come from nowhere. That said, IÔÇÖd love to see Addison Rae.
Yes! Her new EP, and you can put me on record for this, Addison RaeÔÇÖs latest EP is incredible! I donÔÇÖt know who produced it, I think Charli XCX did a bit of it, but itÔÇÖs just such a good record! WasnÔÇÖt she a dancer, Addison?
Yeah.
Yeah, I respect that. I like Tate McRae too as a performer, she was also a dancer who went pop, you can tell she cares deeply about the music and her artistry. That song of hers sheÔÇÖs all I wanna be is amazing, the video too.
Oh my God, um, Self Esteem. She was at Green Man, and I missed it, and I was so gutted. I was DJing that night, and I was like, I canÔÇÖt even think about it or IÔÇÖll start crying.
I saw her when she supported Blur, she was incredible. Such a good performer. It was a weird combination, Self Esteem, Jockstrap and Sleaford Mods, but cool.
ThatÔÇÖs really cool. I wonder if sheÔÇÖs gonna collaborate with Damon, in Gorillaz. I love Gorillaz. ThatÔÇÖs another thing, where itÔÇÖs like ÔÇô I love the curiosity that comes with it. That open collaboration thing, of getting this person, this person, its really cool.
Other people IÔÇÖd love to collaborate with: Stromae. You know Stromae? I love that he retired, and then came back, I was like, pop music is saved! StromaeÔÇÖs making music. Yeah, we need you, it was like BatmanÔÇÖs returned, you know? That album, racine carr├®e, is amazing. His first oneÔÇÖs pretty good, but that second one ÔÇô there are no skips. It is perfect from start to finish. And that thing of, like, he makes all of that himself, you know? HeÔÇÖs a one-man band. I really respect that.
What venues in Cardiff do you like going to? Where would you enjoy performing?
IÔÇÖd like to do something at the Moon, I really like them, nice team there. IÔÇÖd love to do more stuff here, at PorterÔÇÖs. IÔÇÖd like to get involved with the Student Union, too, at some point. ThatÔÇÖs like my home, you know? I lived across the road from the SU, spent most of my time there ÔÇô I think I spent more time in the SU on the fourth floor, doing rehearsals, than I probably did in a lot of my lectures, to be honest. I saw Chvrches there, in 2014, that was awesome. They were really good. Saw Marina and the Diamonds there, in the Froot era. That was so good. ItÔÇÖd be such a nice full circle moment to come back and get involved with stuff at the SU. IÔÇÖd literally be in tears.
Places have changed, now, though, I donÔÇÖt know where else there is. Oh, Tramshed, IÔÇÖd love to do something like that, but thatÔÇÖs likeÔǪIÔÇÖve been to a couple of things there, I think I went to see a drag thing there a few years ago, that was pretty cool. And the Globe; thereÔÇÖs actually a nice venue called the Globe at Hay, and I do stuff there sometimes, theyÔÇÖre really nice. IÔÇÖd like to do something at Le Pub, as well. I know it’s in Newport, but IÔÇÖd love to go there, do something there. IÔÇÖve had nights out in Newport, but the scene is very rock-heavy. So many bands come out of Newport. Oh, the castle! The Castle would be amazing to do, IÔÇÖd love to do some open-air stuff. Alexandra Head, down the bay, they do quite big events there as well, but itÔÇÖs a nice atmosphere, I really like that. ThereÔÇÖs a few places in Cardiff Bay, but it’s been a couple of years since IÔÇÖve actually lived in Cardiff, and itÔÇÖs kind of difficult to get here and get back sometimes. Where are the good places now, for like, new music?
Clwb Ifor Bach is like an institution. TheyÔÇÖve started doing Cinc raves, with local DJs, and theyÔÇÖve gone from a few people to selling out in minutes.
Oh, yeah, of course. Ifor have been amazing, havenÔÇÖt they? It’s such a landmark venue, I think, in Cardiff. ItÔÇÖs a shame PorterÔÇÖs are moving, I donÔÇÖt know where to, but IÔÇÖm glad theyÔÇÖre surviving, because itÔÇÖs such an important venue. ItÔÇÖs been here since IÔÇÖve been at uni. I guess thereÔÇÖs live music, and then thereÔÇÖs live original music, so I donÔÇÖt know ÔÇô IÔÇÖm trying to go through in my head whereÔÇÖs goodÔǪDistrict, thereÔÇÖs dance stuff going on there. IÔÇÖve heard itÔÇÖs quite good. The Vulcan still exists, right?
Yeah, very much so.
I lived opposite the Woody, I was literally Woodville Road, and then Cogan Terrace ÔÇô I was proper Cathays. I wasnÔÇÖt a BNOC, but my friends were, and there were a couple of guys in the dance society, weÔÇÖd go on a night out and theyÔÇÖd be like ÔÇ£hi!ÔÇØ, ÔÇ£hi!ÔÇØ, ÔÇ£hi!ÔÇØ, theyÔÇÖd literally know everyone!
Cardiff is a bit like that ÔÇô you canÔÇÖt go anywhere without seeing someone you know!
But I think thatÔÇÖs nice! People come to Cardiff, and like, IÔÇÖm Welsh anyway, Cardiff was always where I came for day trips, with my friends, came to concerts and stuff here, so that was the nearest big city, and the most important city when I was growing up. But coming to uni here, you meet so many people who have moved here for uni and stayed. And I think that the music scene is quite a welcoming community here, you can become honourary Welsh if you live in Cardiff for a year! I miss it, especially the student life. Not to be, like, cue tiny violin, but it was so fun.
YouÔÇÖve got exciting stuff coming up, though.
Yeah, and it’s from coming back to Cardiff! Being based on the border as a Welsh person feels odd sometimes but I like my Welshness and our relationship to music as a country. I want to keep my connections here strong, I want to be part of the scene here and help to actually create opportunities and nights.
Millie Blooms
Talk to us about Girls Pushing Buttons: how did you get involved with this?
Honey B McKenna and I got put in touch through a mutual contact and we instantly connected through Instagram. She wanted to start a club night called Girls Pushing Buttons, to create a space where female Pop artists/producers could showcase their electronic based music and perform live; in essence to provide a platform for those of us that perform without a live band. Like Honey, IÔÇÖm also an artist and producer that sits within the electronic music genre and although my project is primarily rap/hip-hop based, my sound leans heavily into pop, so she asked if I wanted to jump on the line-up and it’s an exciting thing to be a part of!
Is the community aspect of this quite important to you?
Yeah, definitely, itÔÇÖs really important. ThereÔÇÖs not really a lot of women that work in production, so to have other women that you can lean on and exchange knowledge, ideas, opportunities and network with, is a lovely thing to have. I think when you do what we do and you perform over essentially backing tracks in a live capacity, it can be quite a lonely pursuit. There is a strong, growing hip-hop scene here in Wales, which is supported by DJÔÇÖs spinning backing tracks, but thatÔÇÖs got its own classic hip-hop sound identity, so it’s very cool to discover other women creating their own signature sound like me.
How did you get into making music? WhatÔÇÖs your journey been like?
I actually sang in the school choir and played flute for a couple of orchestraÔÇÖs, but I lost heart in taking that instrument forward because I didnÔÇÖt realise I could do anything cool with it at the time. Now youÔÇÖve got artists like Lizzo, dropping woodwind riffs on Pop tracks and itÔÇÖs got more appeal. From the age of sixteen I got more serious about making music and got a job working in a recording studio in Cardiff. It was called Ocean Records and it used to be on Albany Road, it’s no longer there which is really sad, but I had some fantastic mentors there that introduced me to engineering, songwriting and production. This opened up opportunities for me to session sing for different bands that were coming into the studio, as I would just be sat in the corner singing harmonies and sometimes theyÔÇÖd be like, ÔÇ£do you wanna jump on the record?ÔÇØ – so I did! I went into education from there and started learning different aspects of the business from production, marketing, multi-media design and business; skills and experience I now apply in my career, working on projects for both myself and other artists.
YouÔÇÖve done a lot of production workshops, right? Can you tell us a little bit about that?
Its something Ive been doing for years independently with private clients and organisations. In 2022 I started collaborating with a music development team that run a project called Resonant in Cardiff. Resonant was set up by Yasmine Davies & Beacons Cymru to support women, non-binary and queer artists to develop and apply their skills in a safe space, where a broad spectrum of music industry knowledge can be gained with both 1-2-1 and group support. Its very much a part of my value system, so when I was approached by Resonant and they asked if Id like to collaborate as a long-term project mentor, it was a no brainer for me. Through this programme I get to work as part of a fantastic team of creatives and have met really talented artists, some of which have gone on to become clients and also friends you know, were a little family and together we create a scene!
What have you got lined up?
IÔÇÖve been doing a lot of different projects of late! Ive just finished co-producing an album ÔÇÿThe CarnivalÔÇÖ for Welsh country music artist Eleri, with my long term production partner Dan Fry, which was co-written by an incredible team of global songwriterÔÇÖs and is being released on 14th October 2023. IÔÇÖm also currently working as a co-writer and producer with a very cool emerging Bionic-Pop artist from County Durham called Tilly Lockey; which came about as I got contacted by Eve Horne, whoÔÇÖs a songwriter/producer on the Board of Directors for the ProducerÔÇÖs Guild, who came across my work and asked if IÔÇÖd like to collaborate as part of an artist development team for Tilly, whose releasing her debut single ÔÇÿPorcelainÔÇÖ on 29th September 2023. You need to check her out; she recently performed Porcelain on BBC TV and received radio play on BBC Introducing.
In addition to this, Im also co-writing and producing tracks with Liam J. Edwards, whos a fantastic Welsh queer Pop artist, which will be dropping next year And then Im working on my own artist project as well; Millie Blooms. Ive independently released a few tracks via all major streaming/download platforms, which have received BBC Introducing radio play, been showcased on ITV Backstage and performed live this year at In It Together Festival and now at Girls Pushing Buttons. Its been a really creative year and Im excited to release more of my own music in 2024.
So collaboration is really important in your line of work?
Yeah, definitely! IÔÇÖm collaborating all the time, especially as a songwriter and a producer, working with other artists to help them find their signature sound, which is an incredibly collaborative experience. IÔÇÖve also started featuring on records for other artists too, which allows me to tap into different genreÔÇÖs, concepts and writing styles. IÔÇÖm working with a really cool Conscious Hip-hop
artist at the moment called Multifaceted Monster from California, and weÔÇÖre cooking up some tracks together, where heÔÇÖs featuring on my records and IÔÇÖm featuring on a couple of his, so thatÔÇÖs a pretty sweet little project thatÔÇÖs currently in the mix. I love his 90ÔÇÖs vibe, vocal tone and lyrical concepts.
You mentioned doing production for a country artist; so you do kind of genre-bend and do a little bit of everything, then?
YeahÔǪ you could say IÔÇÖm musically fluid! I love it, it’s nice to explore something different. As an artist I wouldnÔÇÖt sit right on every record, yet I really enjoy writing and producing across an eclectic mix of genres. I get a lot of satisfaction from supporting other artistÔÇÖs and helping them develop and bring their ideas to life. I donÔÇÖt always have to be the talent featured on the record. ItÔÇÖs a buzz to work creatively with otherÔÇÖs and see the joy and pride they feel when they get to hear their record for the first time.
WhatÔÇÖs been your experience of the South Wales music scene? Any good or bad experiences, anything youÔÇÖd like to see improved?
YeahÔǪ thereÔÇÖs been a lot of good experiences, thereÔÇÖs some really fantastic artists, promoters, industry professionals and music lovers here in Wales. There are a couple of factors that feel like a limitation at times; for one, IÔÇÖm Welsh but IÔÇÖm not a Welsh-speaker, and I find that some doors are closed because I donÔÇÖt speak Welsh. IÔÇÖm an advocate for wanting the language to stay alive, it’s part of my culture and heritage and IÔÇÖve even worked on a welsh heritage language project for poet Alex Wharton, but I donÔÇÖt think that talent should be overlooked because we donÔÇÖt speak our native tongue. I know this sentiment has been felt by many artists here in Wales, as it commonly creeps into conversations, especially those around applying for welsh music funding. However, I appreciate thereÔÇÖs a time and a place for everything. It is important that that Welsh language artists are supported, but I also think that there needs to be a bit more openness to Welsh people who donÔÇÖt speak the language; otherwise from what IÔÇÖve seenÔǪ the talent leaves Wales, which is detrimental to both the welsh creative arts and economy.
Also, we absolutely need more women represented in the industry. It needs to be more balanced, less of a boys club! Globally, only something like 3% of producers are women, 12.5% of songwriters are women, and I think it’s something like 25% of signed artists are female, and I dread to think what % of those stats are represented by trans women and women of colour. This is one of the reasons why working with projects like Resonant is so important to me, itÔÇÖs going to take time to create this change in the industry, so itÔÇÖs imperative we support the next generations. When I started out getting work experience in recording studios, I didnÔÇÖt come across other women doing what I wanted to doÔǪ
other than Amy Wadge; who is absolutely smashing her career. SheÔÇÖs very inspiring. However, I am extremely grateful to all the wonderful men in the industry that have supported my journey and development.
That must have been quite challenging.
It was at times, because it was sometimes hard to relate, sometimes difficult to learn and ask questions without feeling silly, sometimes a bit over sexualised. Even in terms of my own attitude and the way I would behave, I would find myself being flirtatious, and IÔÇÖm not naturally that way, but you knew through social conditioning that youÔÇÖd get a better response if you were, you know, giggly and accommodating. And then IÔÇÖd go home and feel a bit icky, a bit silly and embarrassed like ÔÇ£why did I do that to myself? Why did I behave like that?ÔÇØ, but then you realise that thatÔÇÖs the role that you were being coerced into playing in the room. Even just presenting in certain ways, aesthetically, because you know the response will be better. Over the years IÔÇÖve worked on numerous projects under various guises, and IÔÇÖve played around with both my aesthetic and moral values to suit this expectation. Now I present my authentic self, I want to earn respect and credibility for being a good person, musician, songwriter and producer. The fact IÔÇÖm female shouldnÔÇÖt really come into the equation of my professional value. IÔÇÖm striving for equality, not more segregation.
Do you feel like as a woman youÔÇÖre pigeonholed sometimes?
I try really hard to avoid the term ÔÇ£female producerÔÇØ because IÔÇÖm a producer. We donÔÇÖt see Mick Jagger described as ÔÇ£the male music artistÔÇØ. Talking about journalism and narrative, with female artists, thereÔÇÖs always a commentary on what they look like, or what theyÔÇÖre wearing. ÔÇ£Oh, she looked beautiful in that figure hugging black dress.ÔÇØ Well, they didnÔÇÖt say that about Dizzee Rascal or Stormzy or whoever, that would be a bit fucking weird, wouldnÔÇÖt it? ÔÇ£Oh, his cock looked great in those tight fitted jeans.ÔÇØ It’s uncomfortable! YetÔǪ IÔÇÖm still in the minority where thereÔÇÖs a need to be a part of groups, movements and events that solely network, represent and promote females in the industry.
Do you find the scene here quite rich, though? Do you think there are enough opportunities for artists here?
I think it’s getting better. One thing I would say is once youÔÇÖre past twenty-five, the opportunities become less openly offered. I speak to a lot of artists who are twenty-five plus, making music, some of them have been making music for years, some have just got into it later in life, and I think it’s harder the older you get, which is one of the reasons why IÔÇÖm so pro sharing my age. As a woman in the music industry, youÔÇÖre so often told that itÔÇÖs detrimental to be honest about that.
Music is an art form, an expression, its not age limited, and the industry needs to stop conditioning people into thinking your creativity is dead in the water by the age of twenty-five. Theres room and relevance for everyone I mean, theres teenagers going out performing to a stadium full of sixteen, seventeen year olds who are relating to what theyve got to say. Their feelings and experiences are valid. Im now in my 40s, still making music that resonates with people.
In terms of your collaborations, who would be your dream people to work with?
Oh, that is such a tough question! There is so much global talent! I would love to work with Missy Elliot – amazing artist, banging songwriter, wicked producer. Or, like, Timberland; IÔÇÖm into the old-schoolers, I like the 90s classics. You can probably tell by how I dress! But then IÔÇÖd love to be in a studio session with Kano, or Run The Jewels, or even someone more left field like Maynard James Keenan (Tool), or Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails), to create something more quirky and angular. If the music touches my soul, IÔÇÖm here for it!
Awesome. Is there anything you wanted to add at the end there?
Just, thank you for sharing your time and chatting to me about my music. I really appreciate you. I love connecting with people, so if youre vibrating on my frequency, come find me online @iammillieblooms & @milliebloomsmusic. It would be lovely to meet you! Im a bit shit on social media, Im not a regular poster too busy working on projects. I find joy in rooms with people, rather than online however, I do post occasionally, I always reply to messages and I will be releasing more records next year, that I will let you all know about. In the meantime, I would love you to check out my music on Spotify.
Big LOVE,
Millie Blooms Xx
