Blake Mills

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Blake Mills
Background information
Birth name Blake Mills
Born (1986-09-21) September 21, 1986[1]
California, United States
Occupations Songwriter, guitarist, composer
Instruments Guitar
Labels Record Collection
Website www.blakemillsonline.com

Blake Mills is a California based songwriter, guitarist, producer, and composer.[2]

Biography

Blake Mills was born in Santa Monica, California on September 21, 1986[1] and grew up in Malibu, where he attended Malibu High School with Taylor Goldsmith. Mills and Goldsmith began their musical careers in a band they co-founded called Simon Dawes.  Simon Dawes released its debut EP What No One Hears in 2005, and its first LP Carnivore in September 2006 via Record Collection.[3][4] After the band broke up in 2007, Goldsmith and his younger brother, Griffin, formed the band Dawes with Simon Dawes bassist, Wylie Gelber, and Mills went on to serve as a touring guitarist for Jenny Lewis.[5] He went on to tour with Band of Horses,[6] Cass McCombs,[7] Julian Casablancas[8][9] and Lucinda Williams.[10][11] As a session musician, Mills has collaborated with Conor Oberst, Kid Rock,[12] Weezer, The Avett Brothers, Paulo Nutini,[13] Norah Jones, Carlene Carter, Jesca Hoop, Dixie Chicks, Zucchero, Pink, Lana Del Rey, Dangermouse and more. 

In 2010, Mills released his first solo LP, Break Mirrors, via Record Collection.  Break Mirrors was touted as the album of the year by many websites and fellow musicians, despite its limited release.[14][15]  Analog Edition Records released a Blake Mills double A side 7" in 2011, featuring the songs "Hey Lover" and "Wintersong" in 2011. 

In 2012, he co-produced Jesca Hoop's album The House that Jack Built,[16][17] produced Sara Watkins' album Sun Midnight Sun,[18] wrote and produced "Sad Dream" on Sky Ferreira's latest EP Ghost and an additional two tracks on her upcoming LP I'm Not Alright.  For the compilation album Just Tell Me That You Want Me: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, he co-produced and played with Billy Gibbons and Matt Sweeney on the track "Oh Well".[19]  Mills also served as the opening act and guitarist for Fiona Apple during her 2012 tour through North America.[20][21]

In late 2008, he met Danielle Haim, who was also touring with Jenny Lewis, playing percussion with Barbara Gruska (The Belle Brigade). The two became romantically involved and frequently collaborated until 2012. Haim was the inspiration behind Mills' first single, "Hey Lover", on which she sings back-up vocals.[22] After touring with Jenny Lewis, they went on to tour together with Julian Casablancas. In 2011, their cover of The Beatles' "Come Together" was used in a Brazilian Nextel commercial[20] and their cover of the Bob Dylan song 'Heart of Mine' was featured on the Chimes of Freedom Dylan tribute record. They went on to perform the song on The Conan O'Brien Show accompanied by Taylor Goldsmith (Dawes) on the bass. In 2012, Mills and Matt Sweeney co-produced Billy Gibbons' cover of Fleetwood Mac's "Oh Well" for Just Tell Me That You Want Me: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, featuring Danielle on drums. In May 2012, the two supported Sara Watkins for her performance on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson.[23] In July 2012, they performed together during Mills' opening set for Fiona Apple at the Hollywood Palladium.[24] Danielle frequently supported Mills during his sessions at Mollusk Surf Shop and Mills occasionally played with the band she founded with her two sisters, Haim. They have since broken up.

Mollusk Sessions

From time to time Blake hosts invite only musical performances at Mollusk Surf Shop in Venice CA. Previous shows have seen Mills accompanied by musicians such as Jackson Browne, Billy Gibbons, Matt Sweeney, Cass McCombs, Jenny Lewis, Charlie Sexton, Benmont Tench, Dave Rawlings, Val McCallum, Tal Wilkenfeld, Mike Einziger & Xavier Mas.

Discography

Solo

Simon Dawes

Compilation

  • Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International (2012) - Track 4 Disc 2 -"Heart of Mine" - Amnesty International distributed by Fontana

Production Credits

  • Co-Producer - Jesca Hoop - The House That Jack Built (2012) Bella Union
  • Producer - Sara Watkins - Sun Midnight Sun (2012) Nonesuch Records
  • Producer - Sky Ferriera - Ghost EP (2012) Capitol Records
  • Co-produced and plays on the track "Oh Well" - Just Tell Me That You Want Me: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac[19] (2012) Hear Music
  • Producer - Mt Egypt - "III" (2012) Record Collection

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jambase
  2. ↑ IFC
  3. ↑ The Los Angeles Times
  4. ↑ Prefixmag.com
  5. ↑ Paste
  6. ↑ The Owl
  7. ↑ Spin
  8. ↑ Spin
  9. ↑ Rolling Stone
  10. ↑ Voiceproject.org
  11. ↑ Fretboardjournal.com
  12. ↑ Billboard
  13. ↑ The Huffington Post
  14. ↑ Everybodytaste.com
  15. ↑ Willsheff.com
  16. ↑ Thequietus.com
  17. ↑ Audiophilesound.com
  18. ↑ Nonesuch.com
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Rolling Stone
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Laist.com
  21. ↑ Fuse.tv
  22. ↑ Oneradsong.com
  23. ↑ YouTube
  24. ↑ Stereogum.com
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