While influences of The Gaslight Anthem and Chuck Ragan are apparent, it’s his passion for his songs that really come out strong, committing to a full ‘heart on your sleeve’ musical exploration.
Please list your name.
Hello! My name is Steve Millar
For starters, what bands were you a part of prior to your solo project, Arms & Hearts?
Very little of note, I was in a couple of bands in high school/6th form. A band that tried to sound like the Arctic Monkeys, not my bag, I just wanted to play bass like Anti Flag’s Chris #2 to the contempt of everyone else in the band. I also played guitar in a hip hop band.
What’s the origin of that name?
Arms & Hearts comes from The Hold Steady’s arguably greatest album ‘Boys and Girls in America’. I just liked how it sounded. There isn’t loads more to it than that.
What are the main themes or topics for most of your songs and do you think these topics will change over time?
I think I’ve always written in one way or another about my struggle with mental health or lack thereof. I find the themes in my songwriting progress in parallel with my understanding of myself and the reasons I suffer and have suffered. Some of the songs on ‘The Distance Between’ are much more political in terms of how I believe class issues, particularly class warfare from the last 10 years of conservative austerity, plays into mental health issues of the people most impacted by policies of austerity.
Another theme probably worth noting is on ‘Forever The Pessimist’ is a song I wrote around the time that I was thinking about giving up drinking. I’ve been sober well over a year now.
To sum up ‘The Distance Between’ in terms of theme, it's about where I am and where I want to be; the struggle to achieve those self-set goals whilst trying to exist in late-stage capitalism.
What artists are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
I hope you weren't looking for a short answer because I can't give you one.
A big inspiration for a lot of the new album is singer-songwriter Micah Schnabel, he’s also in an excellent band called Two Cow Garage. The way he frames lyrics almost like a direct conversation, the way it's poignant but also somehow casual I found really inspiring.
I can’t talk about my inspirations with mentioning The Menzingers, in terms of consistent albums this is the band, just great songs, great melodies.
Chuck Ragan, in terms of taking inspiration from bands like the Menzingers and applying that to a (mostly) solo project and making it slightly folky, no one does it better than Chuck. I think for me, the way he can strip a song barebones to just an acoustic and his voice still manages to sound huge was definitely what I was going for in the more upbeat, stripped-back songs. It formed a large part of the blueprint for how I originally wrote all of the louder songs before we got our producer hats on.
In contrast to being stripped back and loud, I always found that as a solo artist I was kind of bored with the slower songs, so I opted to not write them. Until I discovered songwriters like Julian Baker, and who knew, you actually just have to write a good song that works for it and it doesn’t need to be crazy loud? Same with Phoebe Bridgers, Stranger in the Alps has made its place in my top 5 albums ever released.
Probably my biggest inspiration in terms of a songwriter is Jared Hart (who you may hear from somewhere on this album) his solo stuff and his work with Mercy Union is nothing short of outstanding. He’s also one of the loveliest guys I’ve ever met, he’s done so much for me I genuinely don’t think I’d have been in a position to release this album if it wasn’t for his kindness to me over the years.
Sam Moloney, another massive inspiration, who plays in a band called Mixtape Saints. I can’t begin to tell you how excited I am for everyone to discover Mixtape Saints because they will be your favourite band by the end of the first half of next year and that's all I’m gonna say on that. Dan Keiner (also from Mixtape Saints) produced The Distance Between and Sam was always about to give my badly phrased lyrics some direction and add harmonies.
A concept I had very little understanding of prior to this process. Sam's contribution really made the record as far as I’m concerned. To me community is important. having friends like Sam, Chloe Hawes, and many others continually pushing, inspiring and encouraging each other to be better has been far more paramount in inspiring me to make the album and be a better musician in general than bands who live thousands of miles away.
Was there a particular band/artist or concert that inspired you to get into music?
Although they aren’t on my heavy rotation anymore, in terms of what I listen to personally, I owe a lot to The Gaslight Anthem. They were not the band that got me into music, but hearing the 59’ sound for the first time is what inspired me to start writing my own songs.
What do you do to prepare for a show? Any flexing, exercises, etc …
Well, it's been a while, but I always try to spend at least 5 -10 minutes doing vocal warm-ups. I’m not exactly at the level where backstages are a common occurrence so it often ends up with me walking around the block next to the venue getting some pretty strange looks!
What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?
Have to say, probably playing Fest in the states. I never thought I’d get to say I’ve played a gig in the States but also to play a festival with some of my favourite bands like Against Me! on the bill is beyond anything I imagined to be realistic.
If you could tour with any musical act, past or present, who would they be and why?
I know this question anticipates an answer like Springsteen or someone with millions of fans in every country but honestly, I think the majority of fans like that would probably hate me so maybe not haha. For me, either Arms Aloft (because I think there's a great pun there somewhere) or Maxwell Stern from Signals Midwest just because his new solo stuff is exceptional. I’ll probably shamelessly bug him about it whenever the world decides to stop ending.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Not to go for the sob story but being a DIY solo act is great in some ways but not so much in others. I don’t have 3 or 4 other people I can split upfront costs with and I cannot afford to have this pressed on my own. So I’m doing this like a Kickstarter with fewer steps. If we don’t get enough pre-orders then cool, you’ll get a refund (you can keep the download tho). But we’re getting close already, I think we can do it. You can grab one at armsandhearts.com