Colliers Wood singer-songwriter Millie Manders is hoping to make a splash in 2015 – but not before spending some quality time with her family over the festive season.
The London College of Music student, whose style has been heavily influenced by the likes of No Doubt and Aretha Franklin, has high aspirations for the coming 12 months, both domestically and abroad.
But Millie is well aware where her priorities lie as the Christmas period kicks into full swing, despite a congested schedule of gigs and appearances across the capital.
“Visiting my family is high on my priority list because I simply don’t see them enough,” she said.
“I’ll be recharging the life batteries before leaping back into the music full force come January.”
@BleachBlood joined onstage by @MillieManders for ‘Anything Anything’ @_thestillery Great sets by both artists! pic.twitter.com/BPxBQDh8Rj
— Outhouse Productions (@OuthouseTweeter) December 17, 2014
The young singer recently appeared at the South West London Film Festival in Tooting and revealed she is working on a charity single with event organiser Laurentiu Huianu.
She said: “It’s great to bounce with people in different genres and backgrounds to broaden the sound I have.
“The festival was great – so many amazing, moving, heart-wrenching short films and documentaries. I was surprised at how good some of them were.”
Her electic sounds have already attracted attention from radio stations nationwide and, with her first foreign appearance lined up in Paris in the Spring, aims to establish a US following by this time next year.
Despite this meteoric success in such a short amount of time, she is well aware of the dangers of complacency creeping in.
“I don’t like to count my chickens in music – it is an ever changing beast and anything can happen,” she said.
“I am concentrating on making each year bigger and better than the last.”
While producing her own music, Millie has also covered tracks by artists like Van Morrison and James Brown as she experiments with her musical style.
Her biggest gig to date, and one particularly close to her heart, took place last night as she supported icon Jamie Jazz from The King Blues at The Bleach Blood Christmas Show.
Ahead of the gig, she told SW Londoner: “I am beyond excited! People reference King Blues as something they can hear in my music regularly which I personally take as a huge compliment.
“I was at their first gig at The Finsbury so to be sharing a stage with them is mind blowing.”
Image and video courtesy of Millie Manders, with thanks
