Mica Millar interview: “Discovering how people connected with your music - that's very special”

Award-winning vocalist Mica Millar has had a whirlwind of a year – following her sold out headline shows across the UK this summer and packed out festival appearances everywhere from Love Supreme to Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Having just announced dates for her upcoming UK/European Tour, including a landmark show in the UK’s capital at the iconic, Union Chapel as part of this year’s EFG London Jazz Festival’s opening, Mica explained how it all began for her as a singer:

How did you discover jazz and soul?

“I fell in love with Stevie Wonder as a kid and it was as a result of the introduction from my parents that I started to listen to other artists from their record collection like The Jackson 5, Smokey Robinson and Ray Charles. My dad was also a big fan of The Beatles and The Beach Boys. I know a lot of Paul McCartney's bass lines were inspired by the Motown bassist James Jamerson and I feel like I was always drawn to music with Gospel and Soul at its core even if it was interpreted differently. Later in my teenage years I discovered artists like Lauryn Hill, D'Angelo and the Gospel group Mary Mary and I listened to a lot of American Hip Hop which of course used samples of Soul songs. It was not until a bit later that I discovered Aretha Franklin, Etta James, Diana Ross and all the girl groups of that era. I always loved the vocal arrangements.”

It’s been an amazing year for you since the release of your debut album what have been your highlights?

“I think winning 'Soul Act of the Year' last year at the Jazz FM awards was the beginning of a lot of highlights since the album was released. I did my first proper UK tour this summer which was 30+ shows with my band and we had the most amazing time. Meeting the people who come to the shows is always a highlight and you hear stories about how they discovered you or how they have connected with your music - that's very special. But definitely some highlights of the tour have been opening for Gregory Porter at The Royal Albert Hall (pictured below), performing a really packed out show at Love Supreme Festival with everyone singing the words to my songs, opening for Lionel Richie at Blenheim Palace... Cheltenham Jazz Festival was also a great opportunity to meet and hang out some really amazing musicians and people in the industry too!”

You’re heading out on some European dates – how have you found playing to international audiences?

“Playing to international audiences is quite surreal. In the UK you kind of have some idea and context relating to people that listen to your music and come to your shows but when you get on a plane and do a show somewhere else and it's the same buzz, it's really amazing. I'm playing at Blue Note, Milan on 1st Nov as well as some shows in Germany including Dortmund Concert Hall which is an amazing (and pretty big) venue. It's really exciting.”

Have you started writing new material for your next album?

“Yes. It's been so busy since the album came out that it's been really challenging to get back into writing but I'm starting to explore new ideas and I'm excited so see where they go. It's a little bit daunting but also very freeing starting an entirely new album. What has been incredibly helpful is that I received some funding from the PPL Momentum Fund for my second album which has reduced some of the financial pressure associated with recording once I'm ready to do that. The first album was a huge learning curve and I'm sure this one won't be any different but I'm really looking forward to going into this album with a whole new set of skills that were honed last time.”

You’re playing Union Chapel as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival – can you tell us about what songs you’ll be performing there?

“For Union Chapel, I'll be performing songs from Heaven Knows as well as a new song that will be on my next album. I'm hoping that early next year, I'll be in a position to start trying out some of my new material at shows which I think is a great way to keep things fresh for the audience and develop the songs and arrangements in a live context. I'm really looking forward to that.”

Mica Millar plays the following dates in November and December:

1st Nov - Blue Note Jazz Club - Milan, Italy

5th Nov - Leverkusener Jazzstage - Leverkusen, Germany

11th Nov - Union Chapel - London, UK

14th Nov - Belgrave Music Hall - Leeds, UK

24th Nov - Konzerhause Dortmund - Dortmund, Germany

19th Dec - Sage - Gateshead, UK

For more info visit www.micamillar.co.uk