Millie Lovelock (Astro Children, Repulsive Woman) Photo: Roger Graumeijer
Millie Lovelock remembers tinkering around on her Dad’s 12-string acoustic guitar as a child, but when she started to learn properly she went straight to the electric.
Classically trained on violin and clarinet, Millie describes the guitar as a ‘blind spot’ that she doesn’t view in terms of notes and ‘proper chords’ but rather, “What sounds can I make? Where can I put my hands in a way that will sound good?”
"I started my first band when I was 14. The first gig we played … a boy wrote on our Bebo page, “I heard you were really crap at guitar” and I’ve never forgotten it … I think there were a lot of moments that threw me off balance and have made me quite insecure about my guitar playing.
“But also ... if you start off with people insulting you and assuming you’ll be bad, I think you can kind of do what you want. It’s like ‘oh well you’re going to hate me anyway so I’ll just play whatever I want to play.’
"Something I get a lot after shows is guys coming up to me and being like, ‘You can really play!’ And I just have to say to them, ‘What did you think was going to happen?’ They don’t seem to realise that it’s not actually a compliment when someone is surprised when you’re good at your job.
"I think it’s just really important for women who are in bands to talk about how… everyone’s terrible at writing songs and everyone’s terrible at playing guitar [when they start], so that there can be more space for younger girls to think, ‘Ok well I’m allowed to start a band and I’m allowed to be terrible when I start.’”
Music details:
Artist: Astro Children
Song: When You Lose
Composer: Astro Children
Album: When You Lose,
Label: Self released
Artist: Astro Children
Song: While I Appreciate Your Concern, Play It As It Lays
Composer: Astro Children
Album: Plain and Fancy Killings
Label: Self released
Artist: Astro Children
Song: Nora Barnacle
Composer: Astro Children
Album: Proteus
Label: Self released
