Mili (6)

On the day that Mili began recording her album in Los Angeles, her unparalleled crew of musicians entered the studio. Drummer Vinnie Colaiuta was coming in from touring with Sting and guitarist Michael Landau had just got off the road with James Taylor. Also in the studio were pianist George Whitty (who has recorded for the likes of Brecker Brothers and Celine Dion) and bassist James Genus (a common face as part of the Saturday Night Live band and bass player to tunes by everyone from Herbie Hancock to Chick Corea). She says, "That it all came together was like a dream playing out in real life. To be in a studio in LA; surrounded by the best musicians in the world, arranging and playing my songs! It was the universe flowing through that studio. Those moments felt so right, like it was always meant to be. And I remember thinking, 'With love like this, it has to show in the music.' And I think it does." Singer-songwriter Mili wrote and composed Written in the Stars and released it on December 15th, 2017, not just marking the realisation of a dream, but also the first step towards being heard by a global audience. When she was in Los Angeles, she also shot a studio performance video for the airy ‘Dream Like a Skylark’, the centrepiece of her album. Being in the same room as musicians who’ve worked with the likes of Sting, Frank Zappa and more, Mili says she definitely felt the reality of her dream. “This was the first time I was putting myself out there as a songwriter and It is truly satisfying when you are living and performing in the moment, watching all that you’ve worked so hard towards materialising right in front of your eyes with the best musicians.” If you’ve ever heard Mili speak, then you already know that the music she makes is all about joy. The 10-track Written in the Stars showcases pop, jazz, and funk in different hues but with an unmatched level of exuberance. Every song bears a unique sound that unmistakably belongs to Mili. “The very intention was for people to listen to the album like an event, like a movie or a book,” she says. And her influences that let her hone her voice and songwriting? They range from legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Bobby McFerrin, Sting, Steely Dan and Aretha Franklin. She says, “I’ve been open to all kinds of music – pop, rock, R&B... but listening to jazz just opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me as a singer and songwriter.” The diverse draw of music for Mili came from being around music from India and the West from early on in her life. she notes, “The sound of the west fascinated me, hearing what each musician contributed, the harmonies, the hook lines, the solos, groove, everything. I never knew that I was listening to music with this perspective until I started writing songs.” Even with Written in the Stars, Mili has seen her own music reach out far and wide to people from different parts of the world. Messages received from a listener goes a long way, especially when it’s from all around the globe. She says, “I get ideas and inspiration actually anytime, anywhere. People, stories, moments, situations... Writing songs is such a personal experience. It’s about following my instinct, and when it all finally aligns, it only validates the very purpose of what is meant to be. That is the greatest freedom and life experience I’ve had with songwriting.”