MILCK

Raye Zaragoza and MILCK’s “Joy Revolution” Invites us to Radical Joy

 

In May of 2023, LA-based singer-songwriter Raye Zaragoza released one of the first singles from her upcoming album Hold That Spirit, "Joy Revolution", a collaboration with fellow LA-based activist-artist MILCK and co-written with AG.

With Raye in the midst of a busy Summer tour schedule and MILCK on the road across the globe in Rwanda and Cape Town, they came together from afar to tell Traktivist writer Steph the story of "Joy Revolution" and share what it's like collaborating with friends.

Traktivist: Raye, the story of the song has such a sweet sentiment you’ve been sharing. Can you tell it again for those who may not have heard it yet? 

Raye: Joy Revolution is all about how we all need to experience radical joy and laughter on a day to day basis - because our ancestors fought hard for it! It’s so easy to get caught up in the big stresses of life, but it’s also so important to be present with the small joys - like freshly picked flowers, a warm cup of coffee, or laying on your back in your friend’s backyard and laughing uncontrollably. I’ve always been someone who feels like I need to work enough first to earn rest and play - but the “Joy Revolution” is all about prioritizing joy whenever we can!
(Editor’s note: don’t miss Raye’s moving essay on her mother’s own Joy Revolution: https://bit.ly/MyImmigrantMothersJoyRevolution)

Traktivist: Tell us about this collaboration! Raye, what made MILCK the perfect voice to complement yours on “Joy Revolution”?

Raye: MILCK, AG, and I wrote this song together because we were all feeling the weight of the world - and wanted to write something that had a new way of looking at the heaviness around us. MILCK has been such a great friend and mentor to me over the years and has always given me so much wisdom in regards to work/life balance and the music industry in general. It was so JOYOUS to sing this together because it felt like a celebration of not only all of the hard work we’ve put in as musicians, but also a celebration of the hard work our immigrant relatives and ancestors have put in for us both to be in the privileged positions of making music for a living!

Traktivist: MILCK, when Raye brought you this track, what was it about “Joy Revolution” that spoke to you?

MILCK: Raye, AG and I wrote this together in a room, and there was a palpable feeling of joy- both the giggly and smiley kind, combined with the strong and grounded wisdom that understands change can be difficult, and we need joy to help us persist. 

Traktivist: Both of you, what were some standout moments of joy working together on this track or its video?

Raye: Being in the studio with MILCK is always a blast. We always end up making up funny dances and laughing a lot. I wanted to capture the fun we have in the studio in the video - and I definitely think you can tell how much fun we had when you watch the video. I really wanted to capture the energy of two women in their thirties having a slumber party and being silly. We need more of that as adults! 

MILCK: I definitely agree with Raye!! The filming of the music video in my backyard was a highlight- just me and Raye being silly and getting creative with our cell phones! 

Traktivist: Working with friends can be both enriching and challenging; do you have any advice for others collaborating creatively in this way?

Raye: Working with friends is pretty easy if you’re working with the right friends. It’s all about having respect for the other person as a professional collaborator as well as a friend. At the end of the day, most of my collaborators have become my friends even if they weren’t at first - so working with friends is pretty much the norm for me now! 

MILCK: I couldn’t have said it better. There is so much mutual respect. Keeping things positive and giving each other the benefit of the doubt are always great tactics in helping the process stay smooth!

Traktivist: Both of you, how does the "Asian American" identity play out in your musical universe?

Raye: I’ve been writing more songs about my AAPI identity - and digging more into my Mom’s stories of emigrating from Japan to inform my storytelling. I feel like it would be impossible to share my story if I don’t also share my Mom’s story. I love collaborating with other AAPI artists because we can share common life experiences and write about them.

MILCK: The deep relationship I have with the themes of family, multi-cultural existences, code switching, mental health, sexuality, and voice are all colored by my identity as a daughter of Chinese immigrants.  

Hold That Spirit drops TODAY, August 11. Congratulations to Raye, MILCK, and everyone involved with this incredible album; we'll be listening all day!

Listen to “Joy Revolution”
Keep up with Raye Zaragoza

Keep up with MILCK

TRAKTIVIST RADIO - EP 044 w TEAM TRAKTIVIST

 

 

This Thurs 5pm, get to know TEAM TRAKTIVIST, including our newest volunteers! Within just one year, we’ve gone from four people to almost thirty on our team! We have team members not just from Southern California, but also the SF Bay Area and as far reaching as Thailand and Malaysia! One of the best parts of this work is being able to do it with others who share the vision and passion about the music that is made from our Asian American community. Learn about each of us as we talk about why we joined TRAKTIVIST, what artists & songs inspired our interest into music made by Asian Americans, and why we push for more diversity and representation in music.

PLAYLIST

Callin' Out - Lyrics Born
Like That - The Black Eyed Peas
Mute - Raja Kumari
Suede - Anderson .Paak
Nights Like This - Kehlani
Hard Place - H.E.R.
Rocketeer - Far East Movement
Urs - NIKI
Why Do I Still? - Nieman
Told Him - Lenis prod. bu Zuma
Monte Carlo - Toro Y Moi ft. WET
Fighter - Far East Movement
Bring Me Your Love - Giraffage
That Hero - Inigo Pascual
Lame - Chloe Tang
Stay Focused - V.BO
Applez & Karma - MC Zuko ft. Ehnara
Hot Shit - Towkio
Some - Steve Lacy
A Little Peace - MILCK
Adore - Suggi
Summer Heat - Eileen Sho Ji


LISTEN ON SPOTIFY  or APPLE PODCASTS!


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Fill out this form to be considered for playlists, features, interviews + more!   http://bit.ly/traktivistmusic


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TRAKTIVIST RADIO
"The Sound of Asian America" 

TRAKTIVIST Radio is a weekly show exclusively on Dash Radio (10 million+ subscribers worldwide) through the “Discover” station (2 million+ monthly listeners). Listeners will now be able to stream music for free from Asian American artists. Through this show, TRAKTIVIST Radio aims to bring music from Asian American artists to new and familiar audiences around the world, ultimately striving to increase awareness through artistry, exclusive interviews, & in-studio performances.

Listeners may access the channel through the Dash Radio mobile application or through this web-link address: Dashradio.com/discover

 

#MUSICMONDAYS: 37 NEW SONGS + #MIXESoftheWEEK 09.12.16

 

New-Releases-091216

It’s Music Mondays! Check out these 37 new releases from our music community! Plus our pick for Mixes of the Week!


HIP HOP

Bambu - Prey For The Devil EP

Coolwater Set - Dub's Up ft. Problem & Whitney Phillips

6Fingers - Movement #1: The Diaphragm Diagram

Pryde - Pour

MILYA BRETHREN 2016 CYPHER

Jason Chu - Arrivals EP

Token - Happiness (prod by Kato)

Majik MC - #NoContest

TURNTABLISM

Invisibl Skratch Piklz "The 13th Floor." (LP)

SOUL / R&B

SOSUPERSAM - So feat. P-Lo [Prod. by ESTA.]

Mndsgn - Use Ya Mnd (Twentyfourseven)

Tony Neek$ - Ocean Love

BEATS/INSTRUMENTALS

esta. x rhythm roulette

Low Leaf - As One (Phatty Remix)

ELECTRONIC

Steve Aoki - Blink-182 - Bored To Death (Steve Aoki Remix)

The Chainsmokers Ft. Halsey - Closer (ARMNHMR Remix)

Elephante - 'I Am The Elephante' EP Mix

YULTRON - $PEND feat. JVZEL

Mark Redito - You'll Only Love Me When Im Gone

josh pan - i used to

Sia - Cheap Thrills ft. Sean Paul (Henry Fong x MEGAMAOR Remix)

Yogi - Burial ft. Pusha T (Arius Remix)

Jon Monteverde - Glisten

SWEATER BEATS - Better ft. Nicole Millar & Imad Royal

Michael Woods - Gold (Juyen Sebulba Remix)

ALTERNATIVE

Paul Dateh - Invisible World EP

MILCK - Take Me To Church (As Heard on Empire Season 3 Trailer) - Hozier Cover

Charlie Kim - MY LOVE

St. Lenox - Thurgood Marshall

The Sweet Hurt - LP2 EP

POP

The Black Eyed Peas - #WHERESTHELOVE ft. The World

This Promise - Sam Tsui & Casey Breves (Wedding Music Video)

rebecca jung - Cold Water (Cover) - Justin Bieber

Naeya - Closer - The Chainsmokers (Naeya Live Acoustic Cover)

ROCK

Young Rising Sons - Undefeatable

SOUNDTRACK

Samuel Kim - Future In My Hands

mree - Over the Mountain (sweet & epic)

MIXES OF THE WEEK

BNB SIDES 002 - KING CHAIN

BOONTHESHOP x BAE EXCLUSIVE MIX [ MIKKOH ]

#MUSICMONDAYS: 37 NEW SONGS + MIX of the WEEK 01.11.16

 

New-Releases-011116

First Music Mondays of 2016! Check out these 37 new releases from our Asian American music community. Plus our pick for Mix of the Week!

Don't forget the premiere of mydiveo Live on Myx TV is tonight at 10pm, a weekly 30-minute music magazine show that will feature interviews with the hottest trendsetting artists and industry tastemakers, new buzzworthy music videos, music events coverage and other recording session exclusives. This show will also include at least one Asian American artist selected from TRAKTIVIST every week. Learn more about it here: https://www.traktivist.com/traktivist-x-myx-tv-x-mydiveo-tv-show/

ELECTRONIC

BLKNZ & Satica - Cold Sweats

Kero Uno - Journey Together

!llmind & Timbaland - The Force (TURN UP)

Yultron - If Me And Jauz Had A Mutant Baby

Pat Lok - Your Lips (Feat. DiRTY RADiO) (Crvvcks Remix)

Alizzz (Feat. Max Marshall) - Your Love (Manila Killa Remix)

gunnarolla - Magic

Lemaitre - Closer (starRo Remix)

HP + Star Wars Present: "Speed Of Light" - Bonnie McKee x !llmind x Justin Maller x PacMan

HIP HOP

P-Lo - Make It Last Feat 1-O.A.K.

pH-1 - Sugoi (feat. Rekstizzy) (prod. LCKSMTH)

Azure - Under The Sun ft. Murs

Kristofer Klarke - Life Goes

Busta Rhymes - Tonight ft. Sean Paul (The Return Of The Dragon)

nafla(나플라) - Stanky

Buhay Cali - Punch Drunk

Jay Prince - AfroPhunk (Official Video) ft. SiR & Joyce Wrice

Mike-Dash-E - Hello (REMIX) ft LARRY JUNE & K00L J0HN (Intro)

Nump ft. SB Shmack, HBK CJ - Hyphy Movement: The Sequel

SOUL / R&B

Kehlani - Did I

Chris Brown - Back To Sleep (written by August Rigo)

Adele - Million Years Ago (Jayne Rio Live Cover)

Stay (With Me) - Rihanna/Sam Smith (Paul Kim x Jason Chen Remix)

JR Aquino - Last Call | Prod. by MOOSE

Alyssa Bernal - Lit (Feat. Ru AREYOU)

Ruth Cho & The Library - Songs from a Balcony For My Love - ISA MUSIC

James Cavern - Broken Heart

POP

Stressed Out (Twenty One Pilots) - Sam Tsui & KHS Cover

Hands of Love by Miley Cyrus/Linda Perry - AJ Rafael Cover

The Weeknd - Earned It - Lydia Paek ( Cover )

ALTERNATIVE

MILCK - DEVIL DEVIL

The Silver Lake Chorus - "Overboard" for Facebook 360

"Overboard" by The Silver Lake Chorus for Facebook 360Welcome to our interactive performance of "Overboard" via 360 Videos on Facebook! Drag the video up, down, all around and enjoy!

Posted by The Silver Lake Chorus on Tuesday, December 15, 2015

INDIE

POP ETC - What Am I Becoming?

Dustin Wong - Tuning Fork

SINGER / SONGWRITER

Jessica Louise - Secrets

JAE JIN - WILD CREATURES

COUNTRY

Kevin So - Long Way Around

MIX OF THE WEEK

MOOSE x S'WAN - Come Out & Stay Mix

ARTIST INTERVIEW: MILCK

 

"I find myself learning from the frustrations and joys of my unique experience, and realizing that my frustrations and joys are very much universal, no matter someone’s race or nationality."


MILCK
TRAKTIVIST is essentially a collection of stories & storytellers through art. Through these interviews, our aim is to give each artist the ability to provide a glimpse of their art, dynamic experiences, and life perspectives.


Who are you and what do you do?

My name is Connie Lim, and my latest passion project is my artist project called MILCK. We are launching an official single in 2016, which will also air on E! Network’s show The Royals.  I’m a songwriter, producer, vocalist, pianist, performer, and recording artist. And a lover of popcorn.

In five words, how would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard it?

As a performing/recording artist, I go by the name of MILCK. That music is cinematic soul pop. It’s dramatic, powerful, and yearning for a sense of freedom, healing, and hope.

As a songwriter/producer/vocalist I am a super eclectic musician. For example I just released a deep house single with producer Fontaine Ivory. Previous to that I released a singer/songwriter track that I cowrote with Hayden Bursk, “Run Home to You”. This song got placed on LifeTime TV’s Movie Trigger Point. I produce and write for other artists, ranging from artists like soulful crooner Will Jay, to dark pop singer Mia Rashap, to indietronica project Lion-S.

Tell us a story of transformation; musical, identity, or something that has played a key role in change in your life.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YNK-YAC8MO-1TtyUwMkxC73l-v-ZDUA3JkUE7wRE6JI/edit?usp=sharing

Describe a place, either geographically, socially, or emotionally that has driven, or continues to drive, your creative process.

The place that I drift to as I meditate truly inspires me. I just started meditating for the past few months, and it’s truly changing my life. There is a place of lightness and clarity that strengthens my creative intuition. I meditate for 10-20 minutes almost every morning, and also right before every performance.

How does the “Asian American” identity play out in your musical universe?

My experience as an Asian American has a unique story, and that story affects the lyrics I write for my recording artist project, MILCK. I find myself learning from the frustrations and joys of my unique experience, and realizing that my frustrations and joys are very much universal, no matter someone’s race or nationality. I love this because it reminds me that we are all connected, and that we are here on Earth as one (though it is easy to forget that on a day to day basis).

Describe your community. How do you make your community?

My community is eclectic, and beautiful. Songwriters and musicians. Music lovers. Non industry related friends. Family. Mentors who guide me along my way. Good hearted music industry folk who help pitch and sell my music.

What is your personal definition of success? What are your keys to success as an artist?

Personal definition of success: Making a living where I am able to not only survive, but thrive and create more art off of it. The art that I make must be meaningful to me, and the relationships that I build off the process of making music must be warm, loving, and inspired. If I stay consistent, persistent, and keep learning every step of the way (no autopiloting whatsoever), I will chalk that up to be a beautiful existence on this planet.

Keys to success: meditating every morning, remembering the things I am grateful for (and thinking about them often), writing, producing, or performing music at least 5 days a week, and keeping an open mind. I’m always fully immersing myself into each environment I step into. I truly listen to people when I am talking to them, and am truly expressing if they listen. True connections can come unexpectedly, and I want to be ready for them, because they make life rich.

If you were given the opportunity to create a world, what would be in that world?

If I were to create a world, there would be much more transparency in all institutions, to help educate people on how things are truly done. There would also be a food industry that prioritizes human well-being over profit. There would also be more of a focus on family, community, and the elderly. I think it’s very important to keep the mentor/mentee relationships alive between generations.

What’s your motto or an advice you that live by?

Keep Zen and Try Again!

Discover more about MILCK:
www.connielimmusic.com
www.milckmusic.com