In My Record Collection, we dig down to the bottom of musicians' souls to find out what the most treasured parts of their record collection are. This week, it's the turn of beat maestro, Alex Mills, let's see what she opts for...
In My Record Collection, we dig down to the bottom of musicians' souls to find out what the most treasured parts of their record collection are. This week, it's the turn of beat maestro, Alex Mills, let's see what she opts for...
The first record I ever bought with my own money was...
"It was Madona's Secret. I saw the video and was mesmerised by the song and the visuals. The vocal has a really bewitching eastern feel to it with a trance like groove. I remember being so enchanted by it and had to buy it as soon as I could."
The first record that ever made me want to be in a band was...
"It's the record that made me want to be a vocalist and it was probably Whitney Houston’s 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody'. It was this record that was mostly responsible for me dancing in front of the mirror singing into my hairbrush in mum’s lipstick and high heels."
The record I have played more than any other is...
"It's definitely All Woman by Kathy Diamond, the instrumental version. It was produced by Maurice Faulton and I have been obsessed with it since I found it. I have never been a big album fanatic but when I find a song I love I play it over and over again and I’ve dissected this track to the max. I love how every 16 to 32 bars another groove-filled layer is revealed. I defy anyone to listen to this record and not at least tap their foot. It’s too funky and infectious."
The record that always makes me feel good is...
"It's 'Everywhere' by Fleetwood Mac. It’s just bricked into my wall as a happy place and my whole body reacts whenever I hear it. Clearly, I’m not alone in this because so many people seem to react in the same way. There seems to be magic in the combination of chords, rhythm and vocals. It’s the most beautiful marriage of elements."
The record I turn to when I’m feeling down is...
"It's This Must Be The Place by Talking Heads. My ex-partner showed me it and it became our song. I have some of the best memories of drinking red wine and dancing to this song with pure joy that it always transports me to a happy place when I hear it."
The record I think is the most underrated of all time is…
"Again, it's Kathy Diamond's 'All Woman', Maurice Faulton (Instrumental Version). I don’t know anyone who had heard of the record before I showed them it and it has hardly any views. Not to say that views are what make a record rated, it just seems like it never had the exposure it deserved in its time. Hopefully, someone will re-release it someday."
The record with my favourite cover art is…
"FKA Twigs' M3LL155X. It’s both creepy and beautiful and has a real hood feel with the fingerwave and gold. I love how she is not afraid to be twisted and uncomfortable. It’s really provocative and absolutely intrigues you into wanting to delve into the EP. Her visual art along with her music really create a feel and identity and inspires me to be brave and true to what moves me from a creative standpoint."
The record with my favourite title is…
"Some People Have Real Problems by Sia. I literally say this phrase all the time and it helps me to keep things in perspective. The fact she named her album this speaks volumes to her character and shows how powerful one sentence can be."
The last record I bought was...
"It literally arrived today and it is Ctrl by SZA on vinyl. I can’t wait to jump into it."
The record I can't understand why everybody loves is...
"I rarely despise records and can often see some merit in most or a reason why people might like it in many… so I had to dig into the recesses of my brain to find this. Only one sprung to mind and that is 'Poker Face' by Lady Gaga. It literally makes my hair stand on end and not in a good way."
"Because it’s so repetitive it's an easy earworm but it just felt like incredibly sloppy writing to me and intentionally bad. I found that depressing because it says something about the people the record was intended for."
The record I’m most excited about hearing in 2022 is...
"It's a collaboration I have got coming with a huge artist. I can’t disclose who it is just yet but the first time I hear it on the radio is honestly what I’m most excited about. It should be coming in the first quarter so keep your ears peeled..."
The greatest record of all time is...
"It's Kym Sims - Too Blind To See It. It definitely won’t be for everyone but it has brought me the most joy over the years. It has definitely impacted on my sound and I’m hard pushed to find more pleasure than when I’m singing along to the adlibs at the end. It’s had a huge influence on me so, in my world, I’m my dimension, in my record collection, it is the greatest."
