By Charlie Hislop.
Milly Thimaras appeared on the local music scene from London a while back, and next month she launches her new album ‘Bullets’ with a special charity gig at Papillon on April 25th in conjunction with the charity War Child.
‘Bullets’ has been in the making for two years, although she took a break following the death of her mother, a period marked by grief and reflection. Meeting up to chat about the album and the gig, we discussed music and her personal journey.
I had seen her at The Brook, Southampton, last year, where her set was rocky, lively and full of energy. She described her earlier songs at that time as quite ‘angry’ and called herself ‘a bit of a belter’, Today, she brought the energy to the coffee shop, but explained that songs on the album were an evolution in her work.
“It’s quite a fragile album. It’s about the wars of life – yes, the wars we see on TV, but also our own personal wars, the things we all go through. So when we come across other people and react to them, we often don’t know what they are going through, and you’d be amazed if you knew the sort of things that they are battling with in their lives.”
The songs talk of “breakups, divorce, grief, those sort of things, the damage they cause, and the trauma that people carry as a result.” The album starts with the last voicemail Milly received from her mum, “People might think its weird if they don’t know what happened, but I think that if you want it to relate to other people, you have to put some of you into it. People who listen want to hear a story.”
The title track ‘Bullets’ is “about the wounds that people carry from the things that happen to them,” she says, while ‘Happy for You’ talks to people who think they are in a better place, who can “rest their head better than I can”.
Resting her head wasn’t easy after her mum passed. The album was half finished, and the newer songs reflect a much more vulnerable side. “some people would be angry, but I just had this sadness, and of course it has come through in my songwriting.”
One stand out track on the album is ‘Let the Children Play’….. “let them dream, not within the devil’s grasp, nor gunfire scream” reflecting the album theme of the impact of actions on others: ”Warzones where children run not for fun, under clouds and under sun, under rain and gunfire.”
We talk about the gig and War Child.
Milly says “I chose it because they not only rescue children in warfare, but they also try to give whole families a new life,” and we reflect on the current war zones where children are caught on the front line – Gaza, Somalia and Ukraine, there is no shortage.
War Child uses art and culture to raise awareness and funding, working with artists such as Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, and working with the creative industries to fill its online shop with compilations, artworks and other merch. It also runs the famous annual ‘Secret Seven’ art show of anonymously donated original 7” artworks for sale, involving famous artists and cutting-edge visual designers.
At the gig there will be posters and links where people can donate online, and donation buckets. It’s not the first time Milly has teamed up with a charity. Her last headline gig at Heartbreakers raised £700 for a mental health foundation. Her philosophy is that “being a musician in itself is quite an ego-driven thing, so I think you should use that to help others wherever you can. And War child is an amazing charity, and I’m lucky, I don’t know what its like to be in the middle of a war.”
Milly has been a full-time musician for twenty years. She also makes her own music videos. She landed in Southampton from London almost by chance – came here to a jam night, made friends and liked the local music scene. It followed a relationship breakup, a period of couch surfing with the inevitable bad back. She had trouble finding somewhere to live in the city and spent time in the Salvation Army hostel before finding her feet, a flat, and a new partner.
What she has also found is that, despite gigging regularly – including Ronnie Scott’s – in London, it is easier to find work and make a living in Southampton, having moved with her mum and her cat. Which brings out the bigger fish in a small pond analogy. Everyone is attracted to London, but being a small fish, the costs are high and the living often ain’t as easy to make. Listening to the album, Milly’s move to the smaller pond has been a big success.
The album launch party gig promises a lot, with proceeds to a great cause. Milly is a great live performer, full of energy and passion and her band, including partner Laurence on guitar, know how to put on a show. Support acts are Tash Hills and Annie Hayes. Should be a good night.
To buy tickets for the gig at Papillon click here.
Bullets will be available on CD, and also streaming devices, where you can also find Millie’s earlier work.
War Child website and shop: www.warchild.org.uk/
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