We had the good fortune of connecting with Emcee Millz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Millz, let’s talk legacy – what do you want yours to be?
I think about my legacy often. At the end of the day, I want people to recognize the effort I put in and the love for what I do. I don’t create music just because it sounds good. I tell stories about my life, my aspirations, my goals, my triumphs, and my struggles. I want people to see that and relate to my life, I want them to appreciate my authenticity and know that they are not alone in what they are feeling.

I know that life is short, but my words live forever. I keep that in mind every time I make a single, do a feature, or create a body of work. I want the words that I choose to outlive me, to be positive. I want my legacy to be one of integrity, showing that I was honest in every creation. I feel like my purpose with the music I create is to resonate with others, and that’s what I want them to remember about me. When I’ve reached my time, I want them to say “Emcee Millz made music for the soul.”

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
My music is so unique because I draw inspiration from so many different areas. I am influenced by gospel, soul, classical elements, boom baps, and old school hip hop tracks. I read, I travel, I talk with others from different cultures. and in doing so, I have this melting pot of things to tap into when I’m creating. I also draw a heavy amount of inspiration from my personal life. Every experience I go through, it usually makes its way into the music. I try my best to be authentic about my experience and really open up about myself and what I go through. I’d say I’m proudest of releasing my EP, Growing Pains in 2021. It took a tremendous amount of courage to really take this music seriously and display my life for others on such a grand scale. Growing Pains was just the start, my next body of work will be my debut album, and I’m making strides to ensure that it comes out ten times better than the last. I want every new work to be my proudest, and I devote a lot of time and effort into accomplishing that.

I got to where I am currently by continuously putting my faith in God and working hard towards my goals. Some of it is due to my diligence and persistence with my craft, constantly working to get better at what I do and sharing my process. However, there are a lot of opportunities that miraculously find their way to me, and I have God to thank for that. He allows me to interact and meet with people who love and support me, and through them, I find new ways to expand my brand and my art.

Being an independent artist is not easy in the slightest. Sometimes people dress it up and romanticize it in a way that you think, “It just takes a little effort, but it’s not that hard.” That is not true! There will be days where you doubt yourself and your purpose. You will have insecurities about releasing and wonder whether this is a good enough example of what you devote your time to. Aside from the imposter syndrome and limiting beliefs about yourself, it takes a lot to be an independent artist because you are all you got. There is no label, so you have to be the PR person, the social media ambassador, the marketing team, the artist, and the engineer. There are a lot of positions you have to fill in for and it can get frustrating trying to do it all at once. One of the biggest lessons I learned in managing it all, is to not stretch yourself too thin. Yes, there are a lot of things to do and 24 hours doesn’t seem like enough time to do it. However, nothing gets done if you’re not okay. You have to prioritize yourself and your health. This is a marathon, not a sprint. So pace yourself and don’t burnout too quickly.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Houston is such a diverse city, there is ALWAYS something to do around here! I like taking my friends downtown to just explore and make our own memories. We rent the scooters and ride around the city at night. I also like taking them to pop up concerts at the parks around the area. Another thing that my friends and I are adamant about is food!! Luckily, in Houston there are a plethora of places for good eats and good vibes. There’s never a dull moment in the city, and if you look, you’ll definitely find something you enjoy.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Honestly, my whole tribe deserves a shoutout! Everyone who has come into contact with me has purposefully or inadvertently had a role to play in my life, and thus, my success. Firstly, a huge shoutout to God for continuing to refine me and assure me that this is the path I am supposed to be on. I want to thank my parents and my immediate family for surrounding me with music from a young age and believing in my abilities from the start. I want to say thank you to creatives that I’ve met on different platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and at open mics, because they helped me network and gain a better understanding of what it means to be an artist in this day and age. I want to shoutout influential teachers of mine like Mr. Alex Fyffe and Professor Vanessa Johnson who supported me and saw that I was more than just my academic record. A big shoutout goes to my mentor, my pastors, my close friends, my day ones, and especially my fans. I love anyone who has ever purchased my music, shared it with a friend, or even commented under a video saying “This is fire! Keep it up!” It means so much to me to have such a large support system filled with love and acceptance of what I do. I could go on for days about the many people in my life who I attribute my success to. I hope everyone realizes that every bit of love that has been poured into me has been monumental for my journey!

Website: https://emceemillz.bandcamp.com/releases

Instagram: www.instagram.com/mc_millz_

Twitter: www.twitter.com/mc_millz_

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRsXxDpL8DwH3jPtCWAaRjw

Other: You can find me on all streaming platforms at Emcee Millz. Check out my music, and let me know what you think!

Image Credits
Amelia Norbert, Rufus Morton

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