SXSW Pop: What inspired you to pursue a career in music, and how did you initially discover your passion for creating music?
Millennium Resorts: Not really pursuing a career. Just trying to find an audience regardless of the size. The passion probably started from the desire to play drums for me and the guitar with Jonathan.
SXSW Pop: Can you describe your artistic process, from conceptualization to completion? How do you maintain consistency in your work?
Millennium Resorts: So I (Scott) started composing the basics of all the music on an upright acoustic piano. I wrote the "skeleton" of what the album would be, but I was conscious of the order and the flow of the different pieces from the beginning to end. I have written some screenplays and I kind of approached it like you do when you outline a script. Putting together the melodies, chord progressions, the motifs, etc and having kind of 3 ACTS if you will. This took about a year. Then I got together with Jonathan and we started translating it into Ableton. From there it was a collaboration and with so much help from Jonathan, we elevated and developed my outline into the final album. Consistency will remain because we will hold each other accountable.
SXSW Pop: Your style seems to be a unique blend of various influences. How have these influences shaped your artistic identity and how do you continue to grow and evolve as an artist?
Millennium Resorts: We are not naive to think we have created something completely original, but I hope with our blend of influences as you say and our unusual approach to composition that we have created something unique and less predictable but still “good.” Music that has structure but at the same time knows how to “draw outside the lines.”
SXSW Pop: As an up-and-coming artist, how do you balance your creative vision with the need to appeal to a wider audience or potential patrons?
Millennium Resorts: We don’t really have to worry about the balance because we are just making creative decisions based on the kind of music we want to make and believe an audience will happen because of the quality. I did though let go of the idea of the importance of a full album in terms of art and music and have been chopping up my compositions into bite sized tunes people can digest on a playlist while on an elliptical.
SXSW Pop: Social media plays a significant role in promoting artists today. How do you use these platforms to showcase your work and connect with your audience?
SXSW Pop: Social media plays a significant role in promoting artists today. How do you use these platforms to showcase your work and connect with your audience?
Haven’t figured that out yet. Just concentrating in Spotify really. Have a decent following on IG. Hope to start creating consistent content/videos outside of just music.
SXSW Pop: Collaborations are becoming increasingly common in the music world. What has been your experience with collaborating with other artists and how do you believe it has impacted your growth as an artist?
SXSW Pop: Collaborations are becoming increasingly common in the music world. What has been your experience with collaborating with other artists and how do you believe it has impacted your growth as an artist?
Millennium Resorts: Millennium Resorts is a collaboration between myself, Scott, and Jonathan. Wouldn’t exist otherwise.
SXSW Pop: Financial stability can be a challenge for many artists. How do you manage your finances while pursuing your artistic career and what strategies have you implemented to ensure long-term sustainability?
SXSW Pop: Financial stability can be a challenge for many artists. How do you manage your finances while pursuing your artistic career and what strategies have you implemented to ensure long-term sustainability?
Millennium Resorts: That’s easy. We have jobs and work for a living for now.
SXSW Pop: How do you handle criticism or negative feedback on your work? Can you share a time when you faced such a situation and how you responded?
SXSW Pop: How do you handle criticism or negative feedback on your work? Can you share a time when you faced such a situation and how you responded?
Millennium Resorts: The feedback for the album has been pretty positive. If somebody doesn’t like it though that doesn’t bother us. I’m just waiting for the first scathing review that annihilates me as a lyricist. lol most musi critics write reviews like they are English majors and focus on words vs. music. but yea, some people don’t appreciate 12 minute tracks.
SXSW Pop: Music can be a powerful tool for social change and addressing important issues. How do you incorporate these themes into your work and what messages do you hope to convey through your music?
SXSW Pop: Music can be a powerful tool for social change and addressing important issues. How do you incorporate these themes into your work and what messages do you hope to convey through your music?
Millennium Resorts: I’ve already had people kind of “get” the concept a little deeper than most, but it’s a mystery to unlock for the listener if they want to in terms of the themes and “musical narrative.” Our philosophy of art is that it should not be “on the nose.” That’s one of our pet peeves. One of the worst things is when an artist writes some political message tune and they have no idea what they are talking about because they are informed by HuffPost, Fox News, or Buzzfeed (RIP). Then the music doesn’t stand on its own. It’s tied to some surface level understanding of a particular issue. It’s obnoxious and a terrible idea imo.
SXSW Pop: Lastly, what advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting their journey in the world of music?
Millennium Resorts: I have no advice. When I’m playing for a crowd of a 100 fans in multiple venues, you can ask me that question again.
SXSW Pop: Lastly, what advice would you give to aspiring artists who are just starting their journey in the world of music?
Millennium Resorts: I have no advice. When I’m playing for a crowd of a 100 fans in multiple venues, you can ask me that question again.
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