Life In Measures 001 - Lucy Sissy Miller
Lucy Sissy Miller talks about music that impacted her life.
The first in our new series ‘Life In Measures’ where we ask artists, musicians, writers, collaborators and more about the music that impacted their lives. Sign posts on the journey through their creative and personal evolutions.
I’m delighted to say that our first guest is one of our own, the wonderfully talented and genuinely lovely French/British artist, and Métron roster queen, Lucy Sissy Miller. She’s created a Spotify playlist and written about ten tracks below. We’ve added Bandcamp links where possible.
When Lucy sent me the demos for what became her incredible album Pre Country back in 2023 I was blown away. She had such a beautiful spin on a number of popular genres, and the way she exploits her voice through both raw vocals and delicately manipulated auto-tune creates some truly magical moments, warping her voice into otherworldly places and beyond. And panning the depths of human emotions - that’s just what Lucy does all across the deeply personal and evocative release.
Ultimately the record is one of my absolute favourites in our catalogue and we want more people to hear it and enjoy it. So please, once you’ve explored the sonic universe that inspired Lucy’s art and life - go check out her phenomenal album Pre Country.
Lucy Sissy Miller by Constantin Dzianisau
Bruce Langhorne - Opening
I remember listening to this in early spring. It became the soundtrack of my summer, walking the hot roads of the Saint Jacques trails and sleeping in woods and fields, the summer I started reading As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning by Laurie Lee. I remember open roads, adventure, a horse rider in the morning dew. This album was released by the gracious Scissor Tail Records. It's the work of the incredible banjo and guitar player Bruce Langhorne, composed for the soundtrack of the country-western film The Hired Hand. I love the textures of this record—one of my all-time favorites.
Judee Sill - The Phoenix
I've recently taken a deep dive into the work of Judee Sill. She's an incredible songwriter who gently seeps into your soul with luminous lyrics and melodies. Her songs often explore the celestial, sometimes drawing on Christian influences. She has deepened my sense of what’s possible lyrically. Her music is all about the soul.
Alex G - Immunity
I wanted to include this track in this playlist because it was a huge influence on the making of Pre Country. I was in the studio working with the musician and rapper Dolorain, and as we shared our favourite tunes, I heard this song. It moved me to tears, and I suddenly understood the chord that could be strung with autotune—the key chord shifting. A masterpiece.
Torres - Cowboy Guilt
An icon, fond of her production and guitar on this one. How the track takes off like a plane. "I was queen and protected, wrapped in my Sunday best with the king of fort worth, Texas".
Samia - Sea Lions
This song was carried through many suitcases and heartbreaks, I used to listen to it over and over again, grieving female friendships and bonds from my early adult years. The phrasing at the end mends the heartfelt lyrics with humor, which is what I love about Samia's work to blend very honest facts with the absurdity of the poetry of life.
The Space Lady - Synthesize Me
A classy inspirational and innovative space lady.
High Places - Banana Slug, Cosmonauts
The production is insane, organic and luminous. I was a habitual watcher of Skins as a teenager and discovered this band. Who I think looking back infused a lot of what I make now.
Nora Brown - Buck Creek Girls
Driving around America this summer with Mary who had low data we used to listen to this playlist and song over and over again, I knew a bit of her banjo work reprise. Always makes me think of the sea air of Vashon and open windows.
Karen Dalton - In The Evening
I wanted to include some of Karen's work, she's been a big inspiration. I first picked up a CD at a store because I loved the tones of the jacket, and was so fortunate to discover this record which is a lot of what Karen recorded at home. I love that you can sometimes barely hear her over the banjo, sometimes the telephone is ringing or talking to whoever she's with. I think she's an artist that, like Nina Simone, speaks to me immediately. It makes me aspire to make something with my whole heart.
Ethel Cain - Pulldrone
Leaving you all with a darker tone. Punisher is a dark and intimate record. Something I've not experienced for a while. She allows us to enter to a space similar to what I can imagine happens at the Black Lodge at Twin Peaks or in Eraserhead from the David Lynch film. It's an album for those who are not afraid to be in the dark. Truly haunting and somewhat empowering.
You can purchase Lucy’s incredible album ‘Pre Country’ here
