Hiya Terry Milla, thanks for joining us in the virtual RGM lounge today. Grab a brew and take a seat. What was life like for you before you got into music?
I’ve been doing music since I was 12 years old, so my life before music was just being a kid growing up. We used to have parties with friends and we would rap and beatbox. Even my Mom would jump in the cypher lol.
What’s the live music scene like in Atlanta right now? Anyone we should be looking out for (bar you, of course)?
There are a lot of venues showcasing live music and festivals come to ATL regularly. I perform live at select venues. Look out for my potna Mic Chambers for some quality conscious hip-hop.
It seems like being a social media curator has become added to the many jobs of a musician, how do you feel about this?
Yeah, the social media hat has definitely been added to the long list of jobs for artists. I have mixed emotions about it. It can be so time consuming that it can be counter productive. On the other hand, it’s a platform that can get your music direct to listeners.
The problem is, we don’t own the customer data (emails, phone numbers, etc.) and they change their algorithms often, so many of your followers aren’t even seeing your posts. I’m now converting followers from social media into my own database via my list.
How do you manage engagement on your socials?
I try to post at least 3 times a week, but I put a time limit on the amount of time that I stay online. The richest people in the world have hired the smartest people in the world to figure out clever ways to keep us on their platforms.
What’s your view on the Music industry today?
While there are a lot of talented artists out there, the industry itself is so money hungry and corrupt. It’s not about the music anymore. It’s about status, followers, fame, perceived wealth, etc. I’ve had personal experiences with global companies, like Spotify, where they were stealing music = money from artists. I was in a class action lawsuit against them a few years ago. The good thing is, that we can now go direct to listeners with releases. The challenge is getting people off of the platforms and into your store.
Where do you feel you currently sit within the music industry?
I’m in my own lane. I do my own thing. I think real music is authentic and unique, and I bring that to each song.
What’s the biggest thing you have learned recently as you progress with your music?
I now know that it won’t be my friends and family who will help me be successful in music. Some will support, but many won’t, for whatever reason. I started marketing my music internationally to reach new audiences.
Tell us something about you that you think people would be surprised about.
I was in a severe accident 18 years ago. I had to learn how to walk again. I lost over 100lbs. I rebuilt my whole body with exercise, plant-based nutrition, herbs, and alternative healing modalities.
I hear you have new music. What can you tell us about it?
This new song, #WEAREWARRIORS, is a breath of fresh air, to me. It’s the third single on my upcoming album, “Off Tha Leash”. The song is a fusion of Hip-Hop, African Dancehall, AfroBeats, & Amapiano. I wanted to do something new and dope with an international vibe, that still had that hard core hip hop energy. This is it.
What was the recording process like?
I did multiple versions of the beat and verses, and chose this one as the final version. I hired a singer to do the chorus and the last verse. It all came together beautifully.
Would you change anything now it’s finished?
Not at all.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
A lot of my previous releases are now only offered directly to fans, at 100trill.com. I recently took my music down from AWAL/ Orchard distro.
They said I had 12 streams on my previous single, “Goodbye Baebe”, but the video had 42,000 views and the song was on the illustratemagazine.com Spotify playlist. That’s not including the other press, blogs, YouTube playlists, etc. Either there was a major error in reporting or somebody is lying.
Be on the lookout for more Terry Milla music, merch, videos, martial arts content, books, and motivational projects. Coming soon!
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