Those of you who caught the September edition of Philthy Radio (my monthly show for Y-Not Radio, now streaming) heard “Murmurations,” off of I Went To Find You, the first solo LP from Amy Millan in 16 years, which dropped this May via Last Gang Records. The album had the Stars co-lead vocalist, keyboardist, and guitarist (and sometimes Broken Social Scene vocalist) collaborating with award-winning musician/composer Jay McCarrol (Nirvana the Band the Show the Movie), who co-wrote and produced; the two first connected in 2023 at annual fundraiser Dream Serenade and immediately gave Amy a sense of musical communion that she hadn’t felt since singing with her father as a child (a connection that came to a tragic end when he passed in a car accident just prior to her fifth birthday). Later this week Millan is taking the songs of I Went To Find You on the road for her first full-scale solo tour since 2009, the year sophomore solo album Masters of the Burial dropped. And she’ll be returning to the City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection solo for the first time since then when she headlines MilkBoy next Sunday, October 5th. I recently got a chance to chat with Amy Millan about her most vivid memories of Philly, Spooky SZN, and what can be expected of her upcoming live show.
Izzy Cihak: First of all, I just wanna say that, although I see Stars pretty regularly, when you showed up to Union Transfer for You Forgot It In People’s 20th anniversary, it was definitely one of my concert highlights of the year, so thanks for that! And you’ve played Philadelphia so many times over the years, including at least one previous solo show. Do you have any thoughts on the city or favorite memories?
Amy Millan: So many –
I remember the first time coming to Philly and thinking, “Woah… this town is cooler than New York!!!”
South Street back in 2004, my mind was blown. The men’s shoe stores, the bling, the best dressed people strutting down the street. Then Evan [Cranley, Stars bassist and Amy’s husband] introduced me to the cheesesteak. In love.
Fabrika took very good care of me one night, iykyk.
Stars played this one show where the promoter didn’t have anything backstage for us, no rider, not even water! In the same venue in the bigger room there was a wedding happening, so I threw my friend some of my sequins and we crashed the wedding and the open bar before our show. One of my favourite tour memories of all time.
Izzy: You recently put out I Went To Find You, your first solo LP in more than 15 years, which I understand was a collaboration with Jay McCarrol (who’s also so cool!) How do you think it compares to the last one, Masters of the Burial, or do you feel like you were just a completely different person who was doing something totally different then?
Amy: I do feel completely different! So much has happened since my last solo album came out. I’ve had two kids! I’ve lived an entire life and am now entering the young old person years. It’s a trip. Jay really helped me get out of a rut. So grateful for our chance encounter.
Izzy: I love the album, but I especially love “Murmurations,” which I played on the most recent episode of Philthy Radio, my monthly show for Y-Not Radio. How did that particular track come about?
Amy: That’s the first song of Jay’s music that I wrote on. I remember hearing this sparkly keyboard line at the end that I thought sounded just like swerving birds and I texted him, “Jay, you soundtracked the sky”.
I had a bunch of old journals I dusted off and found the line, “all that glitters gets sold,” and knew that line had to land in this song. It was a gentle beginning to our hopefully long collaboration.
Izzy: You’re gearing up for your first full-on solo tour in quite some time. What can fans expect of the experience?
Amy: I think leaning into what I’ve always been is key. I’m looking forward to the feeling with the audience and not just playing the music but getting to share stories of this long history of a life lived. I will definitely be sprinkling in some of my work with Stars and playing tracks from my first two albums. It’s like I’m inviting you into my boudoir for a dame’s night of tears and laughter. Gathering to feel all the beautiful and sad things is of the utmost wild and important.
Izzy: You’re going to be on tour with Diana DeMuth, who’s also totally great, so the whole evening should be really cool. What are your thoughts on her and her music?
Amy: I was presented with a lot of different artists and her music just resonated with me immediately. I felt like we would be a great match. I really look forward to her warming the room right up. I need my nervous system intact before I play and she’s going to really help with that.
Izzy: It’s been quite some time (I’m pretty sure…) since you’ve played anywhere as intimate as MilkBoy here in Philadelphia. How do you like playing cozy, sweaty barrooms in particular? They’re definitely my favorite places to see shows…
Amy: As I said, come on into my boudoir. I love intimate shows where I can feel everyone’s heartbeat in the room. Let’s get close and acquainted and leave better than how we walked in.
Izzy: Not to detract from your solo work, but I realized that The Five Ghosts turned 15 this year, which is kind of a big deal. How do you feel about that album these days, a decade and a half on? I know Stars still play several songs from the album live.
Amy: Time is so relentless! I love that record. It was a challenging time for the band but what we made from it has lasted and that’s what matters.
Izzy: Do you have any particularly vivid memories of either making or promoting/touring that record?
Amy: Torq’s dad died in the middle of making that record. We all loved him dearly (He’s the voice before “Your Ex-Lover is Dead.”) I was having a really hard time getting pregnant, so I was in my own mild depression. It was a really weird time. Me and Patty (drummer) almost got puppies that were born right behind the studio while we were recording. It was a sad, confusing whirlwind, but in retrospect so lucky we stuck together.
Izzy: Considering that Halloween’s coming up and you’ll be touring throughout Spooky SZN, I’m curious if you have any thoughts on or favorite memories of the holiday? Also, any favorite horror movies or spooky songs, whether songs you’ve played on or otherwise?
Amy: My daughter is obsessed with Halloween. She really has brought the spirit back. The year my son was born, we had the best family costume. She was Dorothy, I was the Scarecrow, we dressed my son as the Tin Man, and Evan was the Lion. I hate horror movies and we love the song “Ghostbusters” (only the week following up to Halloween).
Izzy: Finally, what’s next for you, after these dates wrap?
Amy: More songs! More shows! More Stars! More Millan! More Social Scene! Lots more living!!!
*Get your tickets here.
**Listen for “Murmurations” on the latest edition of Philthy Radio, now streaming via Y-Not Radio.
