Great to have you on Xttrawave. Please, introduce yourself.
I’m James, a 21 year old producer from Ireland and I go under the alias ‘mild’
What got you into music and made you realize that it was your chosen path?
I started making music when I was 17 and it was simply because I was curious how it was made. Music production specifically always intrigued me because I always wondered how classic producers like Quincy Jones or J Dilla came up with the sounds in the songs they worked on. I’ve been obsessed with music from a young age and it’s always had a much bigger impact on me compared to other artforms. Nothing is more satisfying than playing a song you’ve created and seeing people enjoy it.
Tell us about your new music? And what’s the story behind it?
My new song ‘blue snow’ just dropped on February 9th. It’s a lofi-house groove with bouncy drums, warping synths and a soul sample I found at the perfect time. I started the song during a tricky period in my life and I was also isolating as a result of COVID so the original file on FL Studio is called ‘lookingUp’ because things started getting better after I created it and I feel the song has a sort of hopeful undertone to it.
What makes your music unique? How would you describe it?
Officially speaking I’d say my new stuff falls into a more general lofi/mellow house genre but unoffically I like to call it ‘synth groovy goop’ haha. The main thing I try to be sure of anytime I start a new song is it’s something fresh you haven’t heard before and it makes you nod your head and want to dance.
Who are your biggest music influences? And any particular artist/band you would like to collaborate with in the future
At the minute I’ve been listening to lots of Flume and Kaytranada. Kaytranada is my dream collaboration because he has such a distinct style, and he never fails to amaze me with anything new he puts out. His song ‘DO IT’ was my most listened to song on Spotify last year. Kessler is another artist I’ve been bumping lots of recently because he’s local to me and makes this unique industrial techno music, it’s super sick. I’ve also been listening to lots of Aries and Verzache whenever I’m looking something more pop-y.
Which is the best moment in your musical career that you’re most proud of?
So far I would say getting my song ‘phase’ played on BBC Radio Ulster is my biggest achievement. It’s a surreal feeling having a radio act introduce your song in the typical radio way.
How do you balance your music with other obligations–family, friends or work?
As a full time student, sometimes it does get tricky finding the time to create but I always make sure no matter what to make something music related every day/every other day. I feel it’s important to always keep the creative energy flowing because from my experience if you don’t it’s very easy to fall into writer’s block which is hands down the most frustrating feeling ever.
What’s next for you? Any upcoming projects?
Currently I’ve got a stockpile of my usual electronic singles in the pipeline that I’m still trying to figure out how I want to release. I’ve also got some singer/songwriter/bedroom pop-y in the vault that my or may not see the light of day, maybe on an EP or something who knows
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