From creative sparks to home inspirations, we chatted to Han from Hot Milk to talk all things the new album, their tour and much more.
The new album feels like a real statement… what kicked off the creative spark for it?
I’m glad you think so. Honestly, it was just a reactive piece from start to finish. We were very concerned, angry, and, above all, scared for the world and ourselves during the 3 weeks we had to write the record. I have always felt the world on my shoulders for absolutely no bloody reason at all, and I think it all just got to me. I have studied Politics and philosophy my whole life, went to uni and got my degree in it so for me it’s intrinsically part of who I am to care about the ebbing and flowing of humanity. I feel like I am a little soft, honestly, and naturally a little pessimistic. I did want to inject a little satire into the situation; we must have a little bit of silly lens to view all this through. I think first and foremost I just wanted to speak about what was bothering me, and I needed to get it out, that’s what this is really, a rant.
You’ve said it’s your most honest record yet. What kind of honesty were you chasing this time around?
Honesty with myself. It needed to be out of my head and out of my skull. I mean, I think chasing honesty is a weird phrase… if you know me, you’ll know I am incredibly honest even to a fault; it’s not something I feel as though I need to chase, it is part and parcel of spending time with me. I feel no need to hold back. I also feel as though it is prudent to be able to change your own truths, though. I do believe that I can be wrong and although this record speaks on my strong points of view, I do believe that in reality I am more a mediator… I can see both sides to everything but the honest truth is I like to zoom out and spiritually see things. How are we able to not repeat the mistakes of a brutal past and learn the lessons from our forefathers and go beyond the beast that lies within? Aren’t we more intelligent than division and acting on emotion? We must be more stoic and act out of the intention for peace.
How did you want this record to sound compared to your earlier stuff?
As raw and as live as possible… this whole record was tracked analogue and the first or second take was used. We did not spend time perfecting; we wanted it to feel like the albums we fell in love with from the late 80’s and 90s. A lot of people say we're a lot heavier live than on record, and I tend to agree… we are all heavy music lovers in private, and I feel like that's the friction for me with Hot Milk sometimes, as I don’t feel as though it always reflects who we are and ours tastes entirely. I think the future of Hot Milk will lie somewhere brand new because of that.
Was there a track that completely surprised you once it came to life in the studio?
Warehouse Salvation was one I just could not get my head around when we were writing it… I almost scrapped it right until the end, and sometimes I wish we did… some days I love it and others it’s not for me, but that’s fine, we can’t like all our children. Hahaha.
There’s a lot of fire and frustration in these songs. What helps you keep that energy focused instead of just chaotic?
Not a clue, I’m not focused at all, mate I’m f*ing everywhere. I think Jim is probably the focus one, and I’m just the one who keeps throwing stupid shit at the wall and at him to catch. I am by nature a scatty, emotional person; he’s more the perfectionist who balances me out and shouts at me. Haha.
You’re from Manchester…how does the city still shape what you create?
In every single thing I do I keep this city with me, it gave me Hot Milk, my friends, my partner, and my home. I owe this city more than I could ever possibly repay… we wanted a dirty little salford back alley to feature on this record as the cover art to reflect where we live and the reality of our lives… it was partly written in Jims terraced house in Salford looking out across the corner shop… success feels very far away from there and especially far away when your card is getting declined at the pie shop next door… It’s a funny little life… the dichotomy of getting taken for a fancy meal in LA only to find ourselves back here. How the other half live, hey.
When people hit play from start to finish, what do you hope they feel by the end?
Understood and that they're not alone in being confused and frustrated at the rise in right-wing rhetoric and fall in love for our common man. I’m not saying I have the answers, I’m just purely frustrated that I can’t do anything to change it… We need a swift change in the redirection of funds in our society. We’re very top-heavy right now.
Is there a lyric or moment on the album that hits you hardest when you perform it live?
I think playing 90 seconds to midnight is my fave part of this new album… I love playing that riff, and hearing them sing it back makes me personally feel like I’ve not gone fucking crazy and they understand what I’m truing to say. To be understood is a blessing always.
You’ve been touring pretty relentlessly… did the road life sneak into the songwriting in any way?
Of course.. it meant the whole thing was fuckin rushed, honestly… we had 3 weeks between tours.. I’m not doing it that way again, and honestly should have put my foot down; that’s what I regret most about this record is not being able to live with these songs long enough before they went out to the world…. I do think that complements the subject matter well, though.. a reactive instant kickback that was a true and real brain vomit.
And finally, what’s next on the horizon for Hot Milk?
We’re about to play the biggest rooms headlining of our lives… this is where all the hard work leads… they are always so so special… like I don’t know what the magic is that happens in that room, but I wish I could bottle it… I come away feeling like I’m not a piece of shit that is a terrible musician… I feel held and lifted… and I need that. They have no idea what they do for me. I am unfortunately a sufferer of crushing self-doubt, but them moments where I become this person on stage that my childhood self only ever dreamt of being is where I feel like I’m meant to still be here.
Hot Milk are currently on tour if you'd like to catch them in action! Shop our Hot Milk range below.
SHOP NOW
I’m glad you think so. Honestly, it was just a reactive piece from start to finish. We were very concerned, angry, and, above all, scared for the world and ourselves during the 3 weeks we had to write the record. I have always felt the world on my shoulders for absolutely no bloody reason at all, and I think it all just got to me. I have studied Politics and philosophy my whole life, went to uni and got my degree in it so for me it’s intrinsically part of who I am to care about the ebbing and flowing of humanity. I feel like I am a little soft, honestly, and naturally a little pessimistic. I did want to inject a little satire into the situation; we must have a little bit of silly lens to view all this through. I think first and foremost I just wanted to speak about what was bothering me, and I needed to get it out, that’s what this is really, a rant.
You’ve said it’s your most honest record yet. What kind of honesty were you chasing this time around?
Honesty with myself. It needed to be out of my head and out of my skull. I mean, I think chasing honesty is a weird phrase… if you know me, you’ll know I am incredibly honest even to a fault; it’s not something I feel as though I need to chase, it is part and parcel of spending time with me. I feel no need to hold back. I also feel as though it is prudent to be able to change your own truths, though. I do believe that I can be wrong and although this record speaks on my strong points of view, I do believe that in reality I am more a mediator… I can see both sides to everything but the honest truth is I like to zoom out and spiritually see things. How are we able to not repeat the mistakes of a brutal past and learn the lessons from our forefathers and go beyond the beast that lies within? Aren’t we more intelligent than division and acting on emotion? We must be more stoic and act out of the intention for peace.
How did you want this record to sound compared to your earlier stuff?
As raw and as live as possible… this whole record was tracked analogue and the first or second take was used. We did not spend time perfecting; we wanted it to feel like the albums we fell in love with from the late 80’s and 90s. A lot of people say we're a lot heavier live than on record, and I tend to agree… we are all heavy music lovers in private, and I feel like that's the friction for me with Hot Milk sometimes, as I don’t feel as though it always reflects who we are and ours tastes entirely. I think the future of Hot Milk will lie somewhere brand new because of that.
Was there a track that completely surprised you once it came to life in the studio?
Warehouse Salvation was one I just could not get my head around when we were writing it… I almost scrapped it right until the end, and sometimes I wish we did… some days I love it and others it’s not for me, but that’s fine, we can’t like all our children. Hahaha.
There’s a lot of fire and frustration in these songs. What helps you keep that energy focused instead of just chaotic?
Not a clue, I’m not focused at all, mate I’m f*ing everywhere. I think Jim is probably the focus one, and I’m just the one who keeps throwing stupid shit at the wall and at him to catch. I am by nature a scatty, emotional person; he’s more the perfectionist who balances me out and shouts at me. Haha.
You’re from Manchester…how does the city still shape what you create?
In every single thing I do I keep this city with me, it gave me Hot Milk, my friends, my partner, and my home. I owe this city more than I could ever possibly repay… we wanted a dirty little salford back alley to feature on this record as the cover art to reflect where we live and the reality of our lives… it was partly written in Jims terraced house in Salford looking out across the corner shop… success feels very far away from there and especially far away when your card is getting declined at the pie shop next door… It’s a funny little life… the dichotomy of getting taken for a fancy meal in LA only to find ourselves back here. How the other half live, hey.
When people hit play from start to finish, what do you hope they feel by the end?
Understood and that they're not alone in being confused and frustrated at the rise in right-wing rhetoric and fall in love for our common man. I’m not saying I have the answers, I’m just purely frustrated that I can’t do anything to change it… We need a swift change in the redirection of funds in our society. We’re very top-heavy right now.
Is there a lyric or moment on the album that hits you hardest when you perform it live?
I think playing 90 seconds to midnight is my fave part of this new album… I love playing that riff, and hearing them sing it back makes me personally feel like I’ve not gone fucking crazy and they understand what I’m truing to say. To be understood is a blessing always.
You’ve been touring pretty relentlessly… did the road life sneak into the songwriting in any way?
Of course.. it meant the whole thing was fuckin rushed, honestly… we had 3 weeks between tours.. I’m not doing it that way again, and honestly should have put my foot down; that’s what I regret most about this record is not being able to live with these songs long enough before they went out to the world…. I do think that complements the subject matter well, though.. a reactive instant kickback that was a true and real brain vomit.
And finally, what’s next on the horizon for Hot Milk?
We’re about to play the biggest rooms headlining of our lives… this is where all the hard work leads… they are always so so special… like I don’t know what the magic is that happens in that room, but I wish I could bottle it… I come away feeling like I’m not a piece of shit that is a terrible musician… I feel held and lifted… and I need that. They have no idea what they do for me. I am unfortunately a sufferer of crushing self-doubt, but them moments where I become this person on stage that my childhood self only ever dreamt of being is where I feel like I’m meant to still be here.
Hot Milk are currently on tour if you'd like to catch them in action! Shop our Hot Milk range below.
SHOP NOW
