Chris Milam reopens some old wounds with his sharp-edged new single Cut Myself Shaving — premiering exclusively on Tinnitist.
The first single from the Memphis singer-songwriter’s upcoming third album Orchid South, Cut Myself Shaving heralds a massive sonic and stylistic departure from his previous release. Combining gritty garage-rock guitars and rich southern-soul horns and a Beatlesque pop bridge, this raucous nugget chronicles Milam’s early experimentation with self-harm. A far cry from conventional singer-songwriter fare, Cut Myself Shaving is representative of Milam’s newest album: Loud, fast, bold and masterfully layered.
Due in May, Milam’s Orchid South is a kinetic, slyly subversive rock record inspired by the music and events of his teenage years. Set firmly in its time and place (1990s Memphis), Orchid South blends ’90s alt-rock, Memphis power pop, and Milam’s vivid storytelling into 11 portraits of teenage life. Of its time and ours, the album draws a direct line from the tumult, thrill, depression, and anger of adolescence to the chaos of the present. Bombastic, gorgeous, exuberant, and anthemic: These are the sounds of Milam’s youth.
Orchid South was recorded at High/Low in Memphis with Shawn Zorn (Amy LaVere), Mark Edgar Stuart (Elizabeth King, Alvin Youngblood Hart), Art Edmaiston and Marc Franklin (The Bo-Keys), and Steve Selvidge (The Hold Steady).
Milam’s first two albums — 2017’s Kids These Days and 2020’s Meanwhile — earned him widespread critical acclaim. Orchid South is the third chapter in this out-of-order trilogy, and ends at the beginning: What were the sights, songs, and events of Milam’s youth? What preceded the exploration and disillusionment of Kids These Days, followed by the loss and transition of Meanwhile? Tune in next spring to find out.
Years of dogged, grassroots touring have earned Milam a dedicated fanbase across the U.S. and U.K. Collaborations and co-bills with Stax legend William Bell, Valerie June, Amanda Shires, Cory Branan, Garrison Starr and more earned Milam’s reputation as an ascendent artist to watch.
Check out Cut Myself Shaving above, hear more from Chris Milam below, and see if you make the cut on his website, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
