Milky Day explores what it's like to catch feelings for a friend in new track 'Closer'
"Sometimes, this kind of love comes suddenly, causing mixed feelings or confusion.”
Welcome to Bunni Pop extras, a segment on this newsletter that will introduce readers to rising artists that should be added to your playlists. This week, I’m very excited to share an interview with singer/songwriter/producer Milky Day!
Every evening, as darkness sets in, most people would usually be spending their downtime to chill out and rest before the next day begins.
But for singer-songwriter Milky Day, the night time is also when he gets most inspired.
In songs like ‘Let Me’, a collaboration with Filipino R&B singer Denise Julia, the pair explore the intimacy of a summer night’s drive. Whereas tracks like ‘Take it Slow’ are more sensual, and explores themes like passion and love-making.
“Everyone knows you kind of get more in your feels in the night time and you have more thoughts,” Milky Day tells me over Zoom.
“Like, when you're like trying to sleep, but you can't because you start reflecting about your life and stuff? I think that's why all of the ideas come during the night because I get more emotional in my head.”
Born Sung-woo Baek, Milky Day is a Korean-New Zealand artist based in Australia. Known for creating songs that meld lo-fi, pop and R&B, his tracks have since garnered more than 19 million streams on Spotify and a growing fanbase—especially as the bedroom pop genre continues to gain popularity.
On April 19, Milky Day released his latest track ‘Closer’, which features singer Thomas Ng and is a collaboration with fellow lo-fi producers frad and Hayne.
According to Milky Day, his connection to frad and Hayne goes beyond music. They met years ago, and identified with each other as fellow Koreans living in New Zealand.
Production on ‘Closer’ began a few years ago in Korea, where Milky Day, frad and Hayne met up in a cafe to brainstorm ideas.
“We played a 'game' where we took turns producing a few layers at a time. Afterwards, I recorded some demo vocals on top,” Milky Day says.
Unfortunately, the project got lost in their inboxes. It was only in the last few months that the trio started revisiting ‘Closer’ again.
‘Closer’ is a mellow R&B love song, about an experience Milky Day had during the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, where he started “catching feelings” for a friend.
“Although it was reciprocated, part of me was quite apprehensive about it, as I thought that it might ruin the friendship we had going on,” Milky Day says.
“So the theme of the song is about the uncertainty one may feel in the early stages of a relationship, when you meet someone and unexpectedly start to grow feelings for them. Sometimes, this kind of love comes suddenly, causing mixed feelings or confusion.”
Many have come to relate to Milky Day’s songs, which often draw from his own memories, personal experiences and relationships. Though it was only two years ago during the COVID-19 pandemic that he decided to pursue music full-time.
Growing up in New Zealand, Milky Day was trained in classical piano, something he describes as a part of his “classic Asian upbringing.”
But it was only while studying at Amherst College in Massachusetts that he started making original music, experimenting and creating beats with the Apple software Logic Pro.
“Basically, I just kept making music for fun as a hobby,” he says.
Over time, Milky Day started uploading his music on Soundcloud, where his track ‘After Midnight’ went viral. Then over time, his songs started being picked up on YouTube playlists.
Those successes allowed Milky Day to start seeing music as a potential career.
What makes Milky Day’s work stick is the attention to detail he puts into the production of his songs. It usually begins with a beat, then a melody. Oftentimes, the lyrics come later into the process.
“I care a lot about the sound selection, trying to pick the right sounds that work together to create atmosphere and textures,” he says.
In fact, Milky Day adds that production is the most “underrated” part of crafting music.
He also credits his collaborations with artists like Denise Julia, Jimmy Brown and Grammy winning engineer Serge Tsai as people who have helped shaped his own music and process.
“A lot of emphasis is on the singer or the artist and their branding. I feel like sometimes people don't really appreciate the production work that went behind it,” Milky Day says.
“I think a lot of the times, it’s really the production and what the music sounds like that really carries the emotion. Not really necessarily the lyrics, in my opinion.”
While Milky Day’s songs can be described as mellow, dreamy and contemplative, something he does want to explore a bit more is house and electronic music.
And having built a following on songs that often focus on love and relationships, he also hopes to explore other themes down the line, including loneliness and the hardships of life.
“Life can get really rough. Sometimes it can feel like you’re alone and the world’s against you.”
“I want to make more songs to show people you’re not the only one who feels that way.”
Milky Day tells me he sometimes receives messages from fans, who have turned to his music to help them get through tough times.
And whatever the future holds, he says he hopes he can continue being a source of relatability to those who have supported him along the way.
“That’s why I make music. Because I can help people out with my music emotionally.”
Follow Milky Day on Instagram and Spotify.
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