Digital Cover Story 56: AUSTIN MILLZ
Over the past few years, Harlem-raised, now LA-based producer Austin Millz has undeniably established himself as one of the key figures within America’s modern Black dance community. Already this year has been highly eventful for him as he embarked on his inaugural North America Breathwork tour in 21 major cities, as well as co-headlined Atlanta’s Boiler Room alongside Amapiano sensation Uncle Waffles, shut down the Heineken House at Coachella, and delivered an unforgettable show at Miami’s F1 Grand Prix. To name but a few. But Millz is only just getting started - after teasing his fans with a variety of infectious singles over the past few weeks already, he has finally released his long-awaited EP ‘Breathwork’. “I’m so excited for this body of work, so proud of it. I’m eager and just very ecstatic about people finally listening to it. I’ve worked so hard for it and the collaborations, the features, everyone that’s been a part of the project, everything has been such a beautiful journey. I’ve already teased fans of single releases over the past few months and it’s been amazing to see the reception it’s been getting so far,” Millz reflects.
Stacked with six instant earworms, the project arrives just perfectly in time for PRIDE and Black Music Month celebrations. It kicks off with ‘Inhale/Exhale’ ft. Sabrina Claudio, a captivatingly alluring single that effortlessly blends elements of R&B and dance, creating a seductive opening to any night out. ‘Freeway’ ft. Estelle, which he dropped a few weeks ago, is included too, and it’s an up-beat feel-good track that we can’t help but dance along to immediately. “It all started during COVID. I reached out to her via Instagram. I DM’d her just like, hey Estelle I would love to work, big fan, and a couple months went by and I did get a response back but nothing came out of it. And then in 2022, she came back around and she’s like, let’s do it. Let’s make it happen. And it was a perfect time for both of us because the ‘Breathwork‘ EP was in the process of making,” Millz explains how the latter collaboration came about. ”She came to the studio already knowing what to do, I played her about three or four beats and the one that she got on was the one that I wanted her on. When the vocals came out I was like, this is magic.”
Other features on ‘Breathwork’ include Alina Baraz, Justine Skye, DESTIN CONRAD and Duckwrth, and by partnering with exceptionally talented women, LGBTQ+ creatives and fellow pioneering Black artists, Millz actively promotes an environment of inclusivity within the music scene which is a breath of fresh air. “When I’m working on a new single or when I craft the beats I usually do have somebody in mind, it’s just somebody I envision already. I go in making the beat but once it’s done, that’s when I have the picture of who I can see on it. I try to get the best out of them and just bring another side out of them. It’s been amazing so far”, he unveils about how he chooses his collaborators.
‘Breathwork’ is the follow-up to his critically acclaimed pandemic project, ‘Midas’, a project that cemented Millz further into the spotlight. “‘Midas’ was a project I made during the pandemic in which I was working on these tracks. And then I realized that, oh, I do have a body of work I can do. And that’s how ‘Midas’ came about. From the beginning of ‘Breathwork’ to the end it was more so like the vision was laid out in the beginning and then the creative process, and then kind of with the tracks all tying into each other talking about the breathing. When you hear ‘Breathwork’, you might just think of yoga and something that has to do in terms of the inner body, but with ‘Breathwork’, in my head, I want it to come from a different place”, the producer reminisces about the making of, and partly credits his New York origins as his inspiration. “Coming from New York, and just having that rich legacy with music, just growing up, soulfulness was around me especially in Spanish Harlem. You had those guys on the street just banging on the bongos and the congas. New York is a place where you can identify and be unique to yourself. And for me, it’s something that defines me. It’s becoming my signature - for me, just the uniqueness, the soul and the flavour of New York is what makes me,” Millz contemplates.
“‘Breathwork’ can put you in a state of euphoria and serenity”
- AUSTIN MILLZ
If you are based in the US, you may have had, or will have, the pleasure of seeing Austin Millz on tour soon as he is currently on his ‘Breathwork’ tour. But UK fans - don’t despair, he is coming across the pond soon to perform at the legendary Reading and Leeds festival, and it looks like we’re in for a great time: “The one word to best describe a show of mine starts with an E. It’s called energy. I’ll give you that energy. The energy is something that seeps through me throughout my show. It’s something that I feed off of and it’s something that I love. The crowd energy, you know, translates to my energy. I want people to experience ‘Breathwork’ live and offline”.
So even if you won’t have the chance to see him live, just listening to the EP will give you immediate summer vibes - the feel-good anthems are a faultless soundtrack for summer nights out, whether that might be for energetic pre-drinks, dancing in-between or hazy after parties when the sun begins to rise again: There is a track for everything and everyone, however you may be feeling. “It exudes strength and has lyrical quality to it. And for me, it represents the connection between breath, rhythm, the inner self and music. And I love the idea that ‘Breathwork’ can put you in a state of euphoria and serenity”, he concludes.
Stream ‘Breathwork‘ here.
Watch his most recent visuals for ‘On&On‘ ft. Justine Skye here
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