MILLI needs to battle. We’re speaking about stepping within the ring, with boxing gloves and mouth guards — the actual deal. She has, in any case, been coaching in Muay Thai boxing for the previous two years.
“So I told my company,” the 22 year-old artist begins. She speaks from contained in the sweltering media tent at 88rising’s tenth Head within the Clouds Pageant in Pasadena this previous weekend. “And they were like, ‘No, we’re not gonna let our artists do that, you know you’re gonna hurt yourself. So I planned out the song ‘One Punch,’ and then [that led] to my second album, ‘Heavy Weight.’
“They agreed with me, I can have a real fight, because it might be good for the album too. You know, it’s perfect. I’m using my career to do whatever.”
That type of tenaciousness appears to be a signature trait for the performer whose delivery title is Danupha Khanatheerakul. Rising from a younger woman in an unusual household in Thailand, she has change into arguably the nation’s most well-known feminine musician, however Lalisa Manobal, in any other case referred to as Lisa from Blackpink.
Again in 2022, at simply 19, MILLI made each historical past and headlines by turning into the primary feminine Thai solo artist to carry out at Coachella. She ended her set by consuming a bowl of mango sticky rice, aptly, throughout her track “Mango Sticky Rice.” Clips of that efficiency went viral whereas again in Bangkok, orders of the delectable South Asian deal with skyrocketed. That efficiency was one of many causes she landed on BBC’s 100 Ladies record that 12 months, the one Thai girl to take action.
MILLI performs on stage at Head within the Clouds Pageant in LA final weekend.
(Sarah Midkiff/ Courtesy of 88 Rising)
With an eclectic vary, high-energy performances, and historical past of addressing social and political subjects in her lyrics, MILLI rapidly endeared herself to Thailand’s Gen Z.
“Phak Khon,” her 2020 debut tackling college bullying with lyrics in Thai, Isan dialect, Lu and English, helped catapult her to fame. The monitor, launched by homegrown label Yupp! and produced by fellow Thai rapper and producer Nino, resonated with audiences for its takedown of poisonous boy-loving imply ladies. Thus far, the track’s video has racked up over 96 million views.
Ice Boonyiamtanad flew to Head within the Clouds from Boston along with her boyfriend to catch MILLI’s set Sunday night on the 88rising primary stage. The 27-year-old advertising pupil from Thailand has been following the artist since she appeared on the Thai competitors present “The Rapper 2,” the place even then precocious teen MILLI confirmed efficiency prowess and a move harking back to Nicki Minaj, considered one of her main influences.
“I feel like all of my generation listens to her,” she says. “I’m actually a fan because of [all of her] talents, her voice … she sings so great,” says Boonyiamtanad, additionally citing MILLI’s relatability to Thai youth, particularly girls as a think about her fandom.
However her voice is one other draw. MILLI is a self-taught vocalist. Her stage title, she mentioned, refers to a milliliter, a method to measure water. And like water, she sees herself as in a position to move, altering kind with out shedding her core alchemy — equally snug spitting fireplace rap verses as delivering sultry R&B riffs.
On stage at Head within the Clouds she debuted “Menace,” displaying off her barely smoky tone. Neo-soul lyrics name out a poisonous man as a thudding baseline hits. Mixed along with her vocal cadence, it’s just a little harking back to “Baduizm”-era Erykah Badu.
MILLI performs along with her backup dancers at Head within the Clouds Pageant final weekend.
(Sarah L. Midkiff / 88 Rising)
For a lot of followers, her stage theatrics, usually related to tradition, are removed from performative.
By way of Mariano, a 20-something from Burbank who works for Hulu, first found MILLI in 2020 throughout the pandemic. “I was an Asian studies major in college,” she says whereas ready for MILLI to start her set. “ I wanted to learn more about music from around the world and when I got to Thailand I was like ‘Who’s the best spokesperson for Thailand?’ For me it was MILLI.
“One of the things I appreciate about her is that she takes the time to learn other languages,” Mariano continues. “Especially in ‘Mirror Mirror’ where she is rapping in Thai, Korean and Japanese and flipping between each one verse for verse, it’s a super impressive skill. I think for sure her momentum is going up, especially working with 88rising … it’s a really great opportunity to grow her as a brand.”
Over the previous few years MILLI’s rise has been marked by hit collaborations with different world stars. She trades verses with Changbin from Stray Children on “Mirror Mirror” and swaps sultry verses with fellow 88rising label mate Jackson Wang.
Head within the Clouds is 88rising’s flagship music pageant. The quantity 88 signifies double happiness in Chinese language tradition, a lucky title as the corporate has grown to change into one of the crucial influential driving forces in leisure, serving to to propel Asian artists like MILLI from everywhere in the world.
After her set, we caught up with Sean Miyashiro, who together with Jason Ma co-founded the label (then beneath a distinct title) in 2015. Miyashiro, who grew up in San Jose and is in his mid-40s, may very well be mistaken for a skater or surfer many years youthful if not for his lengthy, grey hair.
“To this day I don’t think I’ve met anyone like her,” he says of MILLI. “She’s this crazy, talented genius, but it’s the energy and the feeling she gives you when you interact with her. … She’s super special, that comes through with her lyrics and her stage performance too.”
Though 88rising has change into extra impactful on the music trade, carving out a vital house for artists like MILLI to develop, Miyashiro nonetheless sees his firm as able to develop.
“The major labels run s— when it gets to a certain level, you know,” he says. “And I think that we always try to punch above our weight, we are the underdogs … and we like that.” He provides, “It’s not necessarily a barrier to me, it’s a great responsibility … we have an opportunity to wake up every day and pop some s— off.”
Though 88rising has change into extra impactful on the music trade, carving out a vital house for artists like MILLI to develop.
(Lauren Nakao Winn)
Issues have been undoubtedly popping off earlier throughout the efficiency of “One Punch,” her first single to drop from the brand new album. ‘‘One Punch,” released in collaboration with the popular game “Valorant” for VCT Masters Bangkok, is a hard-hitting rap anthem with a chorus begging to “lemme get that punch.” For her Head in the Clouds set, MILLI — clad in a boxer’s gown — introduced Muay Thai legend Buakaw Banchamek onstage, along with her backup dancers deftly ducking his kicks.
As fearless as she is, the principle factor she has to battle is herself. “My enemy is myself,” she confesses. “I still see myself in the mirror and say ‘You’re not pretty enough, you’re not smart enough, you’re not good enough.”
However with “Heavyweight” the gloves are off. “I’m a fighter, and I have to prove that I can do whatever I want, even if I’m a girl.”
It’s a combating spirit that continues to work in her favor. That battle she needed? She acquired it.
