Amy Millan spoke affectionately of her new apartment in rainy, cold Montreal. The singer deserves a home considering her years on the road with the beloved indie-bands Stars and Broken Social Scene. But no matter how much bread and cheese the city can offer her, the songwriter keeps wandering.
Now on her solo tour, Millan has roamed from her Canadian homestead to play the warm sounds of an original style fusing bluegrass, country and pop. Her latest tour has forced her to put other projects on hold.
“There’re a lot of sacrifices you have to make; I could only do half of the Broken Social Scene tour,” she said, “but the fear of not having anything to do is far more terrifying.”
The label Arts and Crafts, home to popular artists Feist and Broken Social Scene, released Millan’s album “Honey from the Tombs” in May. The creation of her solo album lays down on a disc melodies and words she’s saved up over years.
“These were songs that I’d had before I joined stars. I’ve always written songs alone in times I need to articulate something that I need to get off my chest,” she said. “There’s not one song on that record that was written after the year 2000.” Millan accredits her previous apprehension toward making a solo album to “being busy and being in fear and being lazy and not really having the courage to polish my old songs.”
Though fear may have delayed her from producing an album, the musician never stopped writing her own music. Even as a child, Millan played with words. “When I was a kid I thought each letter in the alphabet had its own personality,” she said. Now when she writes, Millan spends time alone on a couch with a guitar. She explains writing as a quiet, almost Zen-like experience.
“The most important part for me with writing is listening.
I feel like if I’m quiet the words just kind of drop into my psyche,” she said. Whatever her technique, Millan has created songs with apparent lyrical and musical honesty.
The singer’s Johnny Cash, Rick Ruben-
inspired album leaves behind the indie-pop
motifs reminiscent of Stars and opts for bluegrass and other traditional country sounds. “I was really drawn to the way (bluegrass) expressed total heartbreak and embraced community and harmony and joy,” she said. “It’s easy to sort of make it a farce, but I don’t think that’s respectful to the genre so I try to keep it as clear and honest as possible.”
The singer’s exposure to country music
began early and continued through her college years when she would jam in basements and strum along with other musicians. “I grew up playing country music with friends,” she said.
Millan proves playing music with friends is more than a quiet hobby. Collaboration occupies most of her career. Friends run the Arts and Crafts label organizing shows, getting together to jam or forming successful bands.
“It’s got its ups and its challenges. It’s sort of a dream,” she said. “Before we all admired the Thrill Jockey label in Chicago. We kind of had that template – the fact that it was friends playing in each others bands.”
Having talented musicians as best friends causes anxiety and encourages creativity. Millan has the blessing and the burden of surrounding herself with uber-creative comrades.
“I have a lot of friends who write songs so there’s that pressure when they’re like ‘hey what’ve you written?’”
Millan has seen the world while touring with Broken Social Scene and Stars. One thing never changes, she said.
“In every country it seems like there’s kids with hearts on their sleeves with their hands in the air just wanting to listen. All around the world the kids want to rock,” she said. Only now Millan will tour with a band she’s not particularly close with, at least not yet.
“There’s this newness about it that’s quite refreshing. They haven’t heard all my stories,” she said.
Millan captures freshness in her new album by moving away from the complexities of songs created by several to songs with simple, moving melodies, expressive of one woman.
“But I keep in mind Willy Nelson has put out 400 records and Dolly Parton has written like 3,000 songs, so I’m just trying to do something,” she said.
She started touring the West Coast recently and will fly to Japan to showcase her solo act after the New Year. Though she may not have 400 records yet, Amy Millan is quite literally on the road to doing more than “something.”
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