Making some of the most compelling alt rock and grunge we’ve heard in a long time, Dangerbird Records signees MILLY is a group of early twenties artists from Los Angeles. Since catching the ear of Jim Fairchild (Modest Mouse, Grandaddy), the band have released a handful of singles (and a collection of old tracks) with their new LA label, garnering critical praise and landing an opening slot on Swervedrivers 2019 US tour. Today, they are releasing their new video for the song “Star Thistle Blossom”, an addictive introduction to their upcoming EP “Wish Goes On”, to be released in 2021. The accompanying video follows a young woman who is visited by God, culminating in a hilarious auction of the artifact he leaves behind. There’s plenty of fun footage of the band performing in a front yard too. Check it out above and share with your friends!
The band waste no time in delivering an onslaught of gorgeously layered riffs over which band leader Brendan Dyer’s gently inviting vocal floats. It’s another ace song from a band who haven’t missed a step yet, infusing their 90’s indebted grunge with a singer-songwriter sensibility that puts them a head above their peers.
On the single, Dyer writes: “I wrote it back in 2017 while I was working at Whole Foods. I was stocking honey on the shelf and was intrigued by Star Thistle Blossom honey. There’s a lot of health super powers in honey and I liked the theme of tying in being healthy with feeling strong mentally. The chorus is an acknowledgment to understanding loss but having hope in something and that it always gets better. Even if that’s not true it still feels helpful.”
π΅ππππππ π·π¦ππ πππ π½π’π π‘π’π ππ‘π‘ ππ ππΌπΏπΏπ ππ ππππ£πππ ππ‘πππ ππππ’π‘ π‘βπ π£ππππ πππ “ππ‘ππ πβππ π‘ππ π΅πππ π ππ”
Brendan – “Star Thistle Blossom was an obvious choice for us as a band. The first time I showed Justice the EP, he immediately said that he wanted to make a video for the song”
Justus – “When Brendan first played the Ep for me, I was immediately drawn to Star Thistle Blossom. After a few listens the video ideas started to come together in my head.”
Brendan – “Justice envisioned someone doing laundry the first time he heard the song. The song has a lot of motion to it.”
Justus– “I thought it was a little too mundane of a task to show throughout the whole video, so i thought “what is the worst thing that could happen when you are doing your laundry?” Getting a stain on your shirt seemed like it would suck, but “what if the stain looked like Jesus?”
Brendan – “Flaming Lips and Pavement and Sonic Youth videos inspired the video”
Justus – “The influences for the video came from videos I would watch as a teenager on Fuse network, like My Chemical Romance and Fall out boy videos. haha. I was also digging deep into some Pavement and Flaming Lips videos at the time.”
Brendan – “The extras were all family members of Justice’s. Due to COVID-19 it was hard to even cast anyone because we had to keep our bubbles small. This weighed on the decision to use only family members and close friends.”
Justus– “Like Brendan said, The extras used in the video were extended family members and their close friends. We had to keep the bubble small due to of Covid-19. I think they did a fantastic job, almost all of them had never been in front of a camera. Kelly, the man who won the Jesus Shirt at the auction, was in a Foo Fighters music video once. Shooting during a pandemic was challenging. Like Brendan mentioned we had to make the decision to only use family members and close friends. We were lucky enough to have such talented friends to choose. Maly, who plays the lead role has been a close friend of Brendan and mine for a long time. We were so happy to work with her. She’s very talented.”
Brendan – “It’s also worth noting that the video was shot on a Digital Bolex which they only made 1000 of.”
Justus– “And yes, the camera we shot this video on is called a Digital Bolex. It was a crowdfunded camera, that they only produced 1000 of. Our Dp on this project Diego Meek, owns 2 of them.”
“Star Thistle Blossom” lyrics:
No nonsense we’re growing
Out of context it’s showing
Unrealistic I know it
You love it – to show me
Hope knows that I’ve lost it all alone
I hope that you know that this will not be long
Star blossom, it’s shiny
I’ve lost it
Powers dying
Out of context
I’ll Be
Hope knows that I’ve lost it all alone
I hope that you know that this will not be long
When Autumn’s sun comes crashing down
I’ll be here waiting on
When all hope comes and crashes down
She’ll be there waiting on
Hope knows that I’ve lost it all alone
I hope that you know that this will not be long
