ear it now: It Comes From the Moon and Enters Into Your Bloodstream

Sunday, October 17, 2010

It Comes From the Moon and Enters Into Your Bloodstream - Amy Millan (Stars, Broken Social Scene)

1:02 PM |

Posted by Krista |

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As I sit in my office interviewing Amy Millan of Stars, I manage to catch a glimpse into the modern-day rock star fantasy life from my dimly-lit cubicle. The Montreal-based indie-pop band is known for their poetic verses of misery and heartbreak, yet through their images of loss and darkness they manage to match tearful lyrics with catchy, electronic beats. Stars has just finished their summer and European tours to promote their latest album, The Five Ghosts, and just announced more dates for their Fall Tour. I can hear Amy shuffling on the tour bus, breathless from a radio show that went a little bit longer than expected, but she is all the more upbeat and ready to unleash her passion for her music and the incredible spontaneity of her day to day life.
"On tour, you wake up on the bus a little confused as to where you are... the first thing I need in the morning is my coffee," says Millan, the singer/guitarist for the band. She describes the band's songwriting process as a "true collaboration," which is an absolute depiction of Stars' sound, a sound they have been loyal to for the past decade.
"The music comes first [before the lyrics]. It helps decide what the song is about. There's a magic in it that you might lose if you try to overanalyze it... it's something unexplainable." As for what drives the inspiration from the group, Millan's ways of finding inspiration is inspiring all on its own. "It's secretive and mysterious, something that's not able to be explained. It just comes from the moon and enters into your bloodstream." She also seeks inspiration from every-day situations. "I can see a couple fighting on the street, or the man in the toll booth on the highway and think to myself, 'what does he do every day?'"

The conversation took a surprising turn when she elaborated on her favorite places to play when on tour. Expecting to hear her talk about playing sold-out venues in her hometown, she proclaimed her deep connection to Ireland. "When I sing there, I realize my deep Irish roots... the Irish don't have a 'cool factor' in their country, they wear their hearts on their sleeves. It's like my second home."
As for the future plans for Stars, Millan just recently announced the she is expecting a child with bandmate Evan Cranley, who plays bass and guitar for the band. As for the first song she wants her baby to hear when it comes into the world? "Cranley's Gonna Make It" by Broken Social Scene, with which Millan and Cranley have also collaborated.

Of course, Stars will not leave us empty-handed for long. Millan shares that the band will be going back into the studio in January and are currently performing shows on their Fall tour.