The solo project of Melbourne-based artist, producer and Gamilaroi man Tyler Millott, The Terrifying Lows recently released his debut, self-titled album.
"Today is a big day. Today, I finally release my debut album to the world," Tyler says."A couple of years in the making and a long time coming, but it's finally here and I'm f...ing proud of it. Listen to it and I'll be eternally grateful."
The nine-track release kicks off with The Terrifying Lows most recent single 'Waiting For The Sun' – think Interpol meets BRMC with Franz Ferdinand flavours throughout.
"'Waiting For The Sun' is about a strange and dark time in my life when, for a long while, I was having very vivid and graphically violent nightmares and I was doing just about anything to stay up and not go to sleep.
"I can't remember how long this went on for. Any length of time I pull out of my memory of this period seems too absurd to be real."
Here, Tyler shares five songs that had a lasting impression and shaped his own musical path.
1: Fugazi - 'Cashout'
The opening track from my favourite Fugazi album. I discovered this album in school, at a time when I was very much into heavy guitar music.However, hearing this album for the first time was a revelation and changed my perspective on music of this ilk forever. For Fugazi are, all things considered, a hardcore punk band.
However, this album is not so in-your-face as its genre's name would suggest. It's intricate in its nuance and its distinguished musicality is subtle in its delivery. It made me realise that 'rock' music could be powerful and carry a meaningful message, but also be modest and classy.
2: Autolux - 'Turnstile Blues'
I remember hearing this song and immediately being drawn in. The crunchy drum grooves and demure vocals so beautifully contrast power and vulnerability in such a way that I had never noticed before.As I got deeper into the song I became further transfixed on its hypnotic rhythms, as well as the distinctive bass playing and colourful, textured electric guitar.
I feel like this song above any other by Autolux has been a huge influence on the Lows' sound. The interplay between the male and female vocal sitting atop a drum and bass heavy pillar that supports the ineluctable presence of the electric guitar.
3: Arctic Monkeys - 'Why'd You Only Call Me When You're High?'
Have you ever sat down and REALLY listened to this tune?! The production, the mixing, the lyrics, the tones, the instrumentation; someone get me a god damn dictionary because I need to find a word that describes how exceptional it is.Fantastic? Outstanding? Sensational? They all sound kind of weak in comparison to this song and the rest of the album. Well maybe sensational is doing it for me, but you get the point.
I once heard that when making this album the band were trying to sound like the Spiders From Mars doing Mary J Blige. It really left a lasting impression on me as it made me realise how important it is to have a sonic scope for a body of work like an album.
4: Lykke Li - 'Get Some'
You may have noticed by now that if it's dark, groovy and rockin' in some way, shape or form I'm pretty into it. Lykke Li is no exception.I saw her in 2014 in San Fransisco and it was like attending some kind of matriarchal black mass. I was born again and I am now a believer. Well at least in whatever this sad Swedish princess is preaching.
She had me hanging off her every word as she spun around the stage wrapped head to toe in the darkest shade of vinyl leather. It made me a firm follower of the school of thought behind the live show being something special to watch.
5: The Black Keys - 'When The Lights Go Out'
This is the opening track from the album 'Rubber Factory', which I discovered in my formative years when I saw the film clip to '10 A.M. Automatic' when watching 'Rage'.Since then I've always been a big fan of The Black Keys and of all of Dan Auerbach's production work. Also, check out his other band The Arcs if you haven’t already.
This song in particular was a big one for me as it highlighted the fact that you don't need much to make a really impactful song. Just an infectious groove, which you can sit on for the majority of the time and deviate form only when necessary.
