MILK TEETH

Talking about staying positive, being kind with yourself and moving forward. Milk Teeth have grown through to be an outspoken and resilient trio.

For Milk Teeth penning hard hitting alt rock bangers is now almost second nature. Their self-titled release brushes aside a turbulent past and sees them ranking in the top twenty of Apple Music's rock charts, turning their narrative into a brave new sound. "It was definitely a peaks and troughs process. There were times where it was the last thing I wanted to put myself through but then there were times where the people around me really encouraged me. I managed to find a weird therapy in getting the songs out there." lead singer and bassist Becky Bloomfield affirms to me. "I've been demoing some of the tracks since 2017 and it's been refreshing to get fresh input on them." making this release all the more cathartic. After meeting Watford punk rockers Nervus on tour, singer and guitarist Em Foster and drummer Jack Kenny join Bloomfield following Oli Holbrook's decision to pursue an alternative career giving a fresh, uplifting sound to the band. "Our sound has always been hard to box. I think it falls somewhere between alt rock and noisy pop. This line-up change plays to our advantage. Although Em and Kenny are very different players they are also very versatile so we can bring that in while still being consistent to the Milk Teeth sound." Milk Teeth run self-care sessions before gigs, allowing fans to unwind and open up about mental health issues in safe spaces while getting creative alongside the band. It is clear that they embrace a strong sense of collectivism which we both agreed is important for supporting each other and their fans through such difficult times at the moment. "I've been trying to message people online as well as live streaming me making breakfast for catch ups and checking in with our fans. It is a lonely and difficult time. I think it changes for each individual each day and even people who don't have a predisposition to mental health issues are feeling the struggle as they aren't normally faced these feelings. It's important to stick together and support each other as a community but also take time for ourselves because if we're not okay as individuals how can we be good for other people." I felt this was reflected as a two-way conversation flowed naturally with Becky asking as well as answering questions as we discussed food, coffee, music and pets getting us through the downtime. "I've been listening to Jose Gonzalez's debut album and a lot of the records that remind me of being fifteen which I think is a comfort thing. Biscuits too, I've been eating a lot of biscuits. We recently got a Pomeranian puppy called Frank and looked after a tortoise for a weekend so we've been playing with them too." Milk Teeth have also been an active voice on other important issues besides mental health such as politics and gender. All band members use their podium, as well as extending support to smaller grass roots movements, to back their views of equality and diversity in an industry that, by and large, still has a long way to go.

"IT'S IMPORTANT TO STICK TOGETHER AND SUPPORT EACH OTHER AS A COMMUNITY BUT ALSO TAKE TIME FOR OURSELVES"

"With the generation that we live in, now more than ever, it's important to use the voice that you have. That's something we always try to do even if it's not in the songs, when we speak on stage and just have a microphone or a platform. If there's something we want to bring attention to then we will. It's important to not just talk about the fun stuff all the time but also to challenge peoples' beliefs. I know there are unwritten rules about bringing politics into the music industry as it can sometimes break relationships and not necessarily work in your favour but for us, morally, it's more important to say what we think than it is to have a big money making connection or be afraid of pissing someone off." The single 'Transparent' released from the album is a piece of art that truly reflects their values as a band. "The 'Transparent' video was really special. It was really cool to get so many creative people in the room from all different backgrounds, gender identities, races and sexual identities. This has always been really important to us, as we want our shows and our fan base to be as broad as possible and welcoming to all. I think it broke some boundaries within the sector of the industry that we're in because there hasn't really been a video that included that many people before." This album also marks a rebrand in the visuality as well as the sound of Milk Teeth with a more developed and refined feel. There was clearly a concept with the record as it is broken down into four parts in the EP releases. "All merch designs have been done by Em since she joined and it's nice to have them connected in a timeline. The album artwork is done by Jens Wortmann who we were going to approach but who, weirdly enough, sent us some posters for the German shows and we connected that way. It was a dream collaboration really. I then worked from there with Billy Price from Puppy on the video for Destroyer. I think we have a strong visual identity flowing through the record." These times force the best of us to be adaptable in careers. Becky tells me "I've started part time work which has picked up to around 50hr a week now. I think we're all very fortunate to be in work while others aren't but that is quite stressful. Em has started doing delivery driving for Iceland and Jack has been doing loads of drum lessons online including some with Zock from Petrol Girls all the way from Austria. We're all trying to crack on with our personal shit but also not disconnect and be there for people too." In an environment like the music industry where turmoil often can be the demise of bands, it is hugely encouraging to see a band come through such a difficult time and flourish while continuing to stay true to their values and genuinely care about their fans. Milk Teeth are regarded incredibly highly of in many different circles which speaks volumes to their honesty and kindness.

The album 'Milk Teeth' is out now on Music For Nations, with a rescheduled tour to come. "MORE THAN EVER, IT'S IMPORTANT TO USE THE VOICE THAT YOU HAVE. THAT'S SOMETHING WE ALWAYS TRY TO DO EVEN IF IT'S NOT IN THE SONGS"