Meet Ali Mills | Singer/Songwriter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ali Mills and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ali, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I didn’t. It pursued me…

The long story: I was raised in a home that encouraged creativity but valued good grades and conventional careers. I was always conflicted as a teenager, I wanted to write, sing, dance, and learn instruments but general High School coursework didn’t allow for it all. I went to college to pursue vocal music, but decided a music degree would only yield me a teaching position so I jumped ship. I decided to become a school psychologist and work with kids… but by the time I graduated college, I was burnt out and over it.

I joined a local LA based band and just taught myself enough guitar to write songs. I sang everyday, I hammered drum beats on whatever drums I had until I found a groove I liked. We toured a little bit, and I eventually fronted my own project (Percy & The Gunslingers). I met my (future) husband through that band and decided it was time to lay that dream to rest and raise a family. After two (later would be three) kids and no more songwriting, I was miserable. I didn’t know who I was and I didn’t recognize myself anymore. Becoming a mother had consumed me day and night and I couldn’t get out of that cycle. My kids were my new identity and all of the creative energy and passion that used to pour through me had dried up and left me feeling broken and empty.

“Fuck That!” I finally said to myself! In 2020, the pandemic hit and I toggled between homeschooling my preschooler and writing again. Somehow stepping into the role of “supermom” in that time of chaos and uncertainty gave me some confidence and new perspective. Words were coming to mind with melodies while I was in the shower. I’d be driving the kids somewhere and frantically trying to voice memo a catchy hook for a song. Things started falling together and by the end of 2020 I had 5 songs and some semblance of a band rehearsing in my garage. That was a pivotal year for me, realizing that I wasn’t choosing to be an “artist” or “creative” person… I just was allowing myself to feel again, and to remain open to whatever the universe is trying to tell me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an LA based singer songwriter and mom of three. My musical journey began at sixteen, on the floor of my bedroom. An urge to pen a song, soon turned into journals filled with lyrics. Nurtured by the rich recordings of folk and blues, and equally inspired by the undeniable allure of pop music, I unwittingly developed a sound that speaks to a wide variety of audiences. In my early twenties, my brother (and successful guitarist, producer, and songwriter) Blake Mills, lent me a Gibson SG so I could work on developing my songs. This became the vessel for my melodic ideas; the rhythm driven hooks followed. I still use that guitar to this day.

I love using music to communicate a feeling or a story. I use sound to convey emotion and my lyrics are like my paintbrush. From the first note, my voice is often what turns people’s heads, and I think that is what sets me apart- that, and when people find out I am a mom and still crazy enough to be pursuing this career! I want my music to possess an authenticity we crave in the modern world, reflecting the complexities of life, love, and the human condition.

Getting to this point was not easy. I had my fair share of obstacles- but the biggest one was always fear. Fear of failure, fear of letting other people down, fear of forgetting my words, fear of not being as good as some of my peers or musically gifted family members. The list got so big that I eventually did give up. I quit, I decided to just be a mom, and then I realized what true misery was like! For me, being a mother and nothing else was soul sucking, while music was always soul filling. I learned that I needed both in my life. In some ways, I feel like I needed to give up on that dream in order to figure out how much it sucked living life without it. Once I knew in my heart that I needed to be doing it, a lot of those old fears started to melt away.

My hope is that through my music I can inspire more women, especially mothers, to get back in touch with their true selves and rediscover their lost passions. The world is more colorful when we let our multitudes shine.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Eat- The Pantry, Applepan, The Old Place
Drinks- Seven Grand, Desert 5 Spot
Dancing- Cowboy Palace Saloon (Chatsworth)
Tunes- Sugar Mill, Cornell Winery, Hotel Cafe
Sights- The best places are the hidden gems that locals don’t want put on blast, but if you’re my best friend I might take you to one on a whim 🙂

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My Shoutout is for all of the musicians, bandmates past and present, and friends I have met along the way who have pushed me to keep writing, learning, singing, and creating even when I didn’t want to. Having those voices surrounding me helped to drown out any doubts that I may have had. My husband, Bryan, who always has stood by my side carrying an amp, guitar, or a mic stand for me. My producer, Steve McCormick who believed that if I could write 5 songs in a year, that I could write 5 more and have a full album by year’s end, and he was right! And of course my kids, who bring so much light and inspiration to me every day.

Website: https://millsandco.bandzoogle.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alimillsmusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/millsandcomusic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AliMillsmusic

Image Credits
Neil Cabana