Melodic rock extraordinaire and multi-instrumentalist Sam Millar releases his new single ‘Deja Vu‘ today. A track that evokes epic, boombox-hoisting synthwave whilst bringing the magnificence of Queen-inspired guitar, ‘Deja Vu‘ is taken from Millar’s upcoming album ‘Virtual Summer‘, his debut on the independent label Earache Records (which has been home to many of modern rock’s household names, including Those Damn Crows, The Temperance Movement and Rival Sons).
Shot with Shaun Hodson of Loki Films (Massive Wagons, Those Damn Crows), the new video is a statement of Millar’s intention to bring neon-shining music to the fore of 2024.
Millar says of ‘Deja Vu‘: “I drew a lot of influence from both modern pop and synthwave music – but at the same time it has a strong guitar element, something you’ll hear consistently across the album. It’s about pulling through bad times, focusing on the positives and being willing to do whatever it takes to get back to that good place.”
Born and bred in Wigan (average annual rainfall: lots), it was there that the 80s vibe (the era where bands like Van Halen, Toto and Def Leppard personified a summertime sound built on big beats, bigger melodies and choruses so epic that singing along was the law) has found new life in the form of ‘Virtual Summer‘.
Millar comments: “I know you don’t expect this sort of thing to come out of Wigan, but that’s why it did. Half the time it’s raining and miserable, so ‘Virtual Summer’ is like tapping into summer whenever you need to, just put it on and it’s always there for you.”
Raised on a parental diet of Slade, Springsteen and Sabbath, it wasn’t long before Millar soon discovered his own hard rocking obsessions. If there’s a familiar ring to any of the dopamine cannon blasts of ‘Virtual Summer‘ then it’s because it’s the culmination of the guitar-slinging maverick’s lifelong adoration for the finely honed melodic perfection of the giants of AOR, and Toto in particular.
Millar asserts: “I guess you could call it cheesy, but there’s something about being able to sing a song after you’ve heard one chorus, the feeling it gives you – it’s just so positive.”
“I’ve written, produced and played everything myself. There isn’t really a scene for this, and that’s a good thing – it’s feelgood radio pop, and there’s a place for that now. Just listen to Taylor Swift or The 1975 – those big gated snare drums – it sounds so different from so much other pop music and that’s a great thing.”
And from the Van Halen-loving fireworks of album-opener ‘The Killing Floor‘ to the synth-laden slickness of ‘Deja Vu‘, it’s an album that wears its heart on its sleeve, and it makes no apology for where it comes from.
“‘Fooling Yourself‘ is quite heavy, but in my head I wanted it to be a rocked up version of ABBA. People probably think I’m mad, but I love ABBA! ‘Dancing On My Own‘ is quite heavily Huey Lewis and the News and Hall and Oates territory, and there’s a track called ‘When The Summer Ends‘ that channels all my Toto into one song. My music may be tongue-in-cheek, but it’s no joke. I can’t call it a guilty pleasure, because why would you feel guilty about that?”
‘Virtual Summer‘ is due for release on 27th September 2024 and is available to pre-order on colour vinyl, black vinyl, a signed CD (feat. 3 bonus tracks), cassette, digital download and as part of merch bundles at earache.com/sammillar.
ROCKPOSER DOT COM! 