Milo Blake

Director — London

01Profile

A Milo Blake Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Milo Blake, Angel, Islington.

Describe your style in three words?
Mod meets Hip-Hop, I know technically four but let that slide. ;)

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
It's torn between the Gorillaz at the Roundhouse, was one of the first gigs I went to when I really started to get into music, with such a good venue and artist who has great live music credentials. The standout track for me during it was 'Empire Ants' (ft Little Dragon). My other option is Connan Mockasin at the Barbican, was with two close friends and I think Connan is such a unique individual, It was largely sitting down but the quality of the music was just so high. Track of the performance was 'It’s Choade My Dear'.

If you could collaborate with any artists in history?
Actor wise I think it would have to be Marlon Brando or Vincent Cassel. They both have such natural charisma and are willing to venture so deep into the characters they play, sometimes in Brando’s case too far. Artist, I think Kara Walker, I love her silhouette work and I think it would be cool to work with that in an animation or moving medium. Then DP or Director wise I’d love to have been involved with Christopher Doyle and Wong Kar Wai, the two of them together made really fearless work and I think as a trio with me involved who knows what we would make!

Which subcultures have influenced you?
For me, I see a lot of common ground with subcultures in England that would be listening to and bringing over rare soul from America but also listening to the sound system culture coming out of the Caribbean which then led to the groups and style that would emerge with The Specials and many others. As a more modern reference, I draw a lot of influence from the Mo'Wax generation, in terms of the visual representation and collaborations, fusing together punk, electronic, hip-hop. I think that Mo'Wax was a precursor to the subcultures and scenes that we see existing today in the UK, I think because we aren’t looking back in hindsight on it, there isn’t a name but I definitely think there is style of thinking and eclectic expression which I defo get a lot of inspiration from.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Muhammad Ali is a big hero of mine so it would be a huge honour to share company with him and then maybe as someone more related to what I do, just to pick their brains, Orson Welles or Francis Ford Coppola at their peak.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
I’ve had some great nights at Corsica Studios, and I thought Passing Clouds was a sick venue before it got shut down. I think a good venue is made by the community it fosters.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
On a personal level, I think Roots Manuva is a really under-appreciated figure in UK hip-hop, always had crazy creative instrumentals and lyrical style that was uniquely him, yet I rarely hear his name thrown out in the conversation about rappers from Britain.


Milo Blake is a Film Director from London. You can watch some of the music videos he has directed below or follow him on Vimeo and Instagram for more.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Footprints' by A Tribe Called Quest.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Galvanise' by Chemical Brothers, my Dad put it in a playlist for me when I was like 14 and I’ve loved it ever since. Its music video was also a big early inspiration for me.

One record you would keep forever?
If we are talking song then it would be 'Simply Beautiful' by Al Green - which I think is one of the best songs ever made. I never tire of it. If we are talking like an album, 'Untrue' by Burial is like nothing else.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
“Taxi driver, be my shrink for the hour
And leave the meter running
It's rush hour
So take the streets, if you wanna
Just outrun the demons, could you?
He said, "Allahu akbar"
I told him, "Don't curse me"
"Boy, you need prayer"
I guess it couldn't hurt me
If it brings me to my knees
It's a bad religion
This unrequited love
To me, it's nothing but a one-man cult”

'Bad Religion' by Frank Ocean is so beautifully written. But the first verse sits with me the most, they are honest, vulnerable, hard-hitting but also effortlessly simple and conversational which I think as a combination is genius.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'Nomalizo' by Letta Mbulu.

A song you wished you had written?
'In Each Life Some Rain Must Fall' by The Inkspots and Ella Fitzgerald.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Transient' by Mr G.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Arcanum' by Show Me The Body.

Best song to end an all-nighter on?
'Hei! Você' by Dom Salvador and Abolição.

Any new music you are listening to right now?
'Sleek Form' by PVA.
'Dear Mama' by Nayana Iz.
'En Route' by Ragz Originale.
'Lovedon' by Archie Valentine.
'SSS' by KwolleM.
'Uck' by Ovrkast.
'Moving On' by Babeheaven.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?
Milo Blake, Angel, Islington.

Describe your style in three words?
Mod meets Hip-Hop, I know technically four but let that slide. ;)

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?
It's torn between the Gorillaz at the Roundhouse, was one of the first gigs I went to when I really started to get into music, with such a good venue and artist who has great live music credentials. The standout track for me during it was 'Empire Ants' (ft Little Dragon). My other option is Connan Mockasin at the Barbican, was with two close friends and I think Connan is such a unique individual, It was largely sitting down but the quality of the music was just so high. Track of the performance was 'It’s Choade My Dear'.

If you could collaborate with any artists in history?
Actor wise I think it would have to be Marlon Brando or Vincent Cassel. They both have such natural charisma and are willing to venture so deep into the characters they play, sometimes in Brando’s case too far. Artist, I think Kara Walker, I love her silhouette work and I think it would be cool to work with that in an animation or moving medium. Then DP or Director wise I’d love to have been involved with Christopher Doyle and Wong Kar Wai, the two of them together made really fearless work and I think as a trio with me involved who knows what we would make!

Which subcultures have influenced you?
For me, I see a lot of common ground with subcultures in England that would be listening to and bringing over rare soul from America but also listening to the sound system culture coming out of the Caribbean which then led to the groups and style that would emerge with The Specials and many others. As a more modern reference, I draw a lot of influence from the Mo'Wax generation, in terms of the visual representation and collaborations, fusing together punk, electronic, hip-hop. I think that Mo'Wax was a precursor to the subcultures and scenes that we see existing today in the UK, I think because we aren’t looking back in hindsight on it, there isn’t a name but I definitely think there is style of thinking and eclectic expression which I defo get a lot of inspiration from.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
Muhammad Ali is a big hero of mine so it would be a huge honour to share company with him and then maybe as someone more related to what I do, just to pick their brains, Orson Welles or Francis Ford Coppola at their peak.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?
I’ve had some great nights at Corsica Studios, and I thought Passing Clouds was a sick venue before it got shut down. I think a good venue is made by the community it fosters.

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
On a personal level, I think Roots Manuva is a really under-appreciated figure in UK hip-hop, always had crazy creative instrumentals and lyrical style that was uniquely him, yet I rarely hear his name thrown out in the conversation about rappers from Britain.


Milo Blake is a Film Director from London. You can watch some of the music videos he has directed below or follow him on Vimeo and Instagram for more.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?
'Footprints' by A Tribe Called Quest.

A song that defines the teenage you?
'Galvanise' by Chemical Brothers, my Dad put it in a playlist for me when I was like 14 and I’ve loved it ever since. Its music video was also a big early inspiration for me.

One record you would keep forever?
If we are talking song then it would be 'Simply Beautiful' by Al Green - which I think is one of the best songs ever made. I never tire of it. If we are talking like an album, 'Untrue' by Burial is like nothing else.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
“Taxi driver, be my shrink for the hour
And leave the meter running
It's rush hour
So take the streets, if you wanna
Just outrun the demons, could you?
He said, "Allahu akbar"
I told him, "Don't curse me"
"Boy, you need prayer"
I guess it couldn't hurt me
If it brings me to my knees
It's a bad religion
This unrequited love
To me, it's nothing but a one-man cult”

'Bad Religion' by Frank Ocean is so beautifully written. But the first verse sits with me the most, they are honest, vulnerable, hard-hitting but also effortlessly simple and conversational which I think as a combination is genius.

The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
'Nomalizo' by Letta Mbulu.

A song you wished you had written?
'In Each Life Some Rain Must Fall' by The Inkspots and Ella Fitzgerald.

Best song to turn up loud?
'Transient' by Mr G.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?
'Arcanum' by Show Me The Body.

Best song to end an all-nighter on?
'Hei! Você' by Dom Salvador and Abolição.

Any new music you are listening to right now?
'Sleek Form' by PVA.
'Dear Mama' by Nayana Iz.
'En Route' by Ragz Originale.
'Lovedon' by Archie Valentine.
'SSS' by KwolleM.
'Uck' by Ovrkast.
'Moving On' by Babeheaven.

 

05Videos

Finn Foxell | Make It Count (Dir. Milo Blake) (2020)

Lord Apex | UK Sh*t (Dir. Milo Blake) (2020)

KAM-BU | Different (Dir. Milo Blake) (2020)

Louis Culture | Being Me (Dir. Milo Blake) (2020)