Have I been harping on a lot about Misty Miller? I think so. I first blogged Ukulele wonder-kind Misty back in September last year and grabbed the chance for an interview in October. Now, Misty has gone from strength to strength. She's been gigging all over London, been featured in Vogue, graced our airwaves on both XFM & BBC Radio 1 and I hear she'll be appearing in a rather prominent womens glossy magazine in the coming weeks. And all this at 16 and whilst still at school, it kind of makes my 16 year old days (daze?) feel a little insignificant. Misty Miller's debut album drops on Valentines Day on AWAL and the advance recently popped through my letterbox. Let us have a listen then.
The self-titled album was written and performed by Misty last year and is a follow up to the gorgeous 'Remember' EP. There are several songs on the album that are familiar to me, having seen Misty perform on the London scene quite a few times. 'Little Thing Called Love' starts the album off with a punchy pop-folk sound that invokes playground infatuation; 'I can't eat/I can't sleep/I'm so in love with you/Those were the words in the playground after school' but yet is a story that I believe many out there, regardless of age will find easy to relate to. For this reason, it is probably my second favourite tune on the album. 'Dancing With The Devil' sees some of Misty's classic influences come through, a song referencing Ginger Rogers, the American Smooth and such like. This is where you can hear a bit more of Misty than you do when you see her live, with the accordion providing a sleepy sound that accompanies the ukulele perfectly.
Misty told me she wrote 'Remember' at just 12 years old and it is the third song on the album and the one that I always play to those who are new to Misty's sound. It's absolutely perfect, a charming folk-pop song, sweet as a nut.
Misty Miller - Bones by the ruckus
Having seen Misty perform 'Bones' several times, though it wasn't on the 'Remember' EP, it was the song I went to first when I popped the CD into my laptop. Misty's vocals are developed in 'Bones' more, allowing her to showcase her extreme talent as not only a writer & ukulele player but an extremely polished singer. I adore this song, the studio have shaped it up into a gorgeous little number, it is my favourite on the album. Similarly in 'Hope', Misty's tender vocals alongside her ukulele and piano allow you to feel soothed by a touching love song. 'Eve' is an adorable dedication to one of Misty's pals, declaring 'I love you the most/I'm in love with your ghost', with the strings in this song and the warm lyrics, it's easy enough to get lost. Similarly 'Home' is a song that is easy enough to get lost in, telling, what is a little sorrowful story, but yet making me feel somewhat uplifted. Perhaps, it's the beautiful music or the story that's easy to relate to, either way it is enough to soothe me on a wet Sunday evening.
Essentially, it's an album written by a 16 year old about love, hurt and friendship. The ukulele is perfect, the lyrics reflect innocence but the sound a bewitching and dazzling polished pop-folk sound for many different ages. Misty often draws comparison to folkies such as Laura Marling but I genuinely believe she takes her own sound and makes it her own. The album stays extremely true to Misty's solo performances but allows her songs to become that much bigger and it's extremely well produced. I cannot wait to hear the follow up album. Misty's live performances ooze 16 year old confidence alongside perfectly beautiful music so please, do yourself a favour, get yourself along to one of her upcoming shows, stat. Soon, you won't be able to get into a venue. But the album here.
Full Tracklisting:
1. Little Thing Called Love
2. Dancing With The Devil
3. Remember
4. Evergreen Love
5. Bones
6. Hope
7. Wild Thing
8. Eve
9. Ollie
10. Home
11. Vampire
Upcoming dates:
Tuesday 15 Feb: Album Launch Party at Monto Water Rats, London
