INTERVIEW: Millie Turner on the release of her new EP 'Hide + Seek'
By anyone’s standards, 2019 has been a pretty good year for the UK’s Millie Turner. She has released two critically acclaimed singles, designed a fashion line for international retailer H&M and in November released her second EP Hide + Seek. A beguiling collection of contemporary, utterly unique pop with inspirations from synthpop, dreampop, indie and folk, opening track ‘January’ sets the tone with a chilled out, funky bassline rolling into electro beats in the chorus with lyrics full of longing (‘you know the only one I want is you’) delivered with a crisp, addictive rhythm. Title track ‘Hide + Seek’ moves into electro-ballad territory whilst first single ‘Swimming Pool’ is as wonderfully bombastic as ever. Standout track ‘Landline’ rollicks along with its simply constructed but impossible-to-get-out-of-your-head beats, with second single ‘Ride This Train’ rounding off the EP in a blaze of 1980s inspired electro. A smart, beautifully produced and delivered pop collection that should be one of your highlights of the year.
We recently spoke to Millie to find out more about the creation of Hide + Seek.
Hi Millie! Thanks for chatting to us again. Congratulations on the release of your new EP Hide + Seek, it is amazing! How does it feel to have it out in the world?
It honestly feels unreal. I keep forgetting people can now hear songs I’ve kept to myself since 2018! So incredible.
When we spoke to you a few months ago on the Women In Pop podcast, you had been recording in Adelaide – are these the sessions that ended up on the EP?
No, they are yet to come! But I did work on some of the production for the EP when I was in Adelaide
Can you briefly talk us through the creative and production process for the EP?
These songs have all been written at different points in the last year and a bit. So they have evolved a bit with my sound, as well as grown up with me these two crazy years. Each song came from places, either poetry or notes on my phone, to a few chords.
We love the track ‘Landline’ and in particular the empowering message in the lyrics. What was the inspiration behind this song?
This is a song I wrote after having an incredible special time with a few people I’d never met before. They opened up to me in a wayIi really don’t to many people, and I found it incredibly moving! I don’t think I’ve ever opened up emotionally to a stranger the way they did. I wrote a song about how empowering it feels to connect to people.
Was there a particular message or theme you wanted to get across with this EP?
This collection of songs all are about the process of change, and growth, how it has highs and lows, it’s never a straight forward process.
Do you have a favourite track on the EP?
’Hide and Seek'
In March next year you will be supporting Tove Lo on her UK and European tour, how are you feeling about this?
Excited! Also nervous, I feel I need to emotionally prepare myself, but mainly excited.
You have also designed a capsule collection for H&M which sounds amazing – what was that experience like?
It was chaotic trying to design them myself but that’s how I work best! It was incredible coming up with designs that I’ve made myself. So cool, I used drawings that related to the EP.
What else is on the cards for Millie Turner next year?
Lots of exciting things!
Hide + Seek is out now. You can download and stream it on all platforms.
To keep up with all things Millie Turner, you can follow her on Instagram and Facebook
