Milahroy (promo photo)Out singer/songwriter Milahroy recently dropped his latest single, “Counterfeit Replies,” exploring the frustrations we carry while trying to foster relationships that aren’t serving us well.
“Some people will smile in your face while shaking your hand, while they stab you in the back with the other one,” says Milahroy. “This song is about not letting those relationships destroy you, it also serves as a warning – don’t come for me.”
“My puppy-dog eyes & furry-ness does not give people the right to try & take advantage of me!!,” he continued.
The artist adds that, while prepping for the release of the new single, he had a conversation with his sister wherein they both agreed they’d entered their ‘bitch era.’
“I will always lead with love, but I’ve had rage within me my whole life, and I feel that can be powerful when guided correctly.”
Grungy guitar lines and hard driving drums provide the perfect frame for Milahroy’s earthy, infectious pop/rock vocals as he delivers ferocious take-no-shit lyrics.
Regular readers know I make a point to share great music from talented out artists here on The Randy Report. But producing and releasing new music is just one part of being an indie artist.
You also have to get out and connect with fans LIVE and play out in person. And a lot of the time, the venues for indie artists tend to be smaller, intimate locations where music aficionados look for new talent.
But recently, Milahroy performed to a packed house at Los Angeles’ Wiltern Theater, which seats nearly 2,000 in the audience.
Milahroy backstage at the Wiltern (all concert photos by JBshotthis)Opening for Darren Hayes, former frontman for the pop duo Savage Garden, Milahroy describes the experience as “unworldly” and “something I felt throughout my being.”
He shared with me some of the highs he felt performing for such a large audience at the legendary Los Angeles venue, and with his permission, I thought I’d post some of his thoughts from behind-the-scenes.
Heading to the stageFrom Milahroy:
I yelled “MY OH MY LOS ANGELES! HOW WE FEELIN?!” Hearing the sold out crowd of 2,000 people react was something I felt throughout my being. As I continued – “MY NAME IS MILAHROY & QUITE HONESTLY, I AM FREAKING OUT!” – they cheered as if they felt my anticipation.
My song “D.F.O. (Don’t Freak Out)” began, just as I started to feel an out-of-body experience. It truly felt like a dream come true as the band & I went through the setlist, constantly checking in with one another, taking a solid deep breath before & after each song, using eye contact to communicate & it felt very in sync.
I was very proud of the 30-minute setlist. I performed “Only the Best” and even called up Luke Edgemon (“The Voice” Season 4) who recorded the song with me and just so happen to be joining Darren Hayes on his U.S & Canada tour as a background singer.
I had this idea of performing a brand new acoustic song I wrote about a boy, and my band joined me sitting with me on stage. It felt very intimate.
Before I began the song, I asked the crowd to give my folks a round of applause because they traveled from across the country to come see their diva play this show. Both the crowd and my folks loved that – haha.
We played the new song “Counterfeit Replies” as well as a rock-ballad cover of Pat Benatar’s “We Belong.” That one really bonded us with the crowd.
Before I began the song I told the crowd, “This one is dedicated to anybody whose ever felt like they don’t belong, because the truth is you belong in every room you step foot into.” Hearing the crowd’s reaction totally captivated me in a sense where I thought I was forming a community with them.
Closing out with “The Rush,” I took out one of my in-ear monitors and told the audience, “I remember writing this song in my childhood bedroom, closing my eyes and envisioning one day I would be playing it to a sold out crowd on a big stage. And tonight I feel as if I manifested that, but part of this wouldn’t have been possible without Darren Hayes’s support.”
Usually, openers for main acts don’t feel as supported as we did, but I credit the amazing fan base of Darren Hayes and Savage Garden. I feel so grateful to call Darren a ‘fur-iend’ and I can’t thank his team enough for allowing us to feel like the rockstars we believe we are.
To play such an historic venue in this city was the authentic validation I needed to keep believing that I’m on the right path. Or, as Darren once said to me, “chasing a healthy nirvana.”
L-R Jack Hughes (bassist), Milahroy, Luke Caro (drummer)You can follow Milahroy on Instagram here, and you can find more of his music on The Randy Report here.