Interview: Milky Chance – “Celebrating Life And Togetherness Is Our Main Goal”

Milky Chance are currently on their most extensive North American tour, which includes journeying through 48 US and Canadian cities alongside Young The Giant. Before their upcoming West Coast shows, the German duo caught up with Recordspin to discuss their latest album, Living In A Haze, the collaborations on the record, and what fans can expect from a Milky Chance live performance.

Originating from Kassel, Germany, Milky Chance, comprised of Clemens Rehbein and Philipp Dausch, won hearts globally with their unique fusion of indie-pop and electronic music. In 2013, they made a splash with their infectious debut single “Stolen Dance”. The song’s relaxed ambiance, paired with Clemens’ serene vocals and Philipp’s adept guitar tunes, quickly gained popularity. Their subsequent album, Sadnecessary, delved deeper into their musical talents, touching on love, life’s unpredictabilities, and the longing to wander.

Subsequently, the duo marked their 11th anniversary with the launch of their fourth studio album, Living In A Haze. Their recent record stands as a reflection of their musical evolution. The album seamlessly blends genres, incorporating New Wave, 80s synth-pop, reggae, and modern club tunes. Their collaborations with renowned artists like Fatoumata Diawara and Charlotte Cardin underscore the band’s adaptability and dedication to preserving their distinctive sound. The album was released on June 9th, 2023.

With tracks ranging from the emotively appealing “Golden” to the contemplative “Frequency of Love,” Milky Chance consistently showcase their sonic range. The title track, “Living In A Haze,” shot them to the top of the Alternative radio charts and even secured a spot in Spotify’s Top 500 Highest-Streaming Artists.

Currently touring North America with Young The Giant, Recordspin connected with Milky Chance via email. Here’s what they had to say.

Hey Milky Chance! Thanks for spending the time to speak to us today. How are things with you?

We‘re in the middle of our big US tour right now and we‘re having a pretty good time so far.

First off, congrats on the release of “Living In A Haze”. It’s a remarkable album with quite a broad array of influences. Can you share more about your inspiration behind the record and how you managed to balance such a variety of sounds?

I think we have always been influenced by many different styles in music. We‘re always curious to hear stuff we haven‘t heard before and to go where we haven‘t been before. I think curiosity is one of our main forces when it comes to creativity. We wanna surprise ourselves when we create.

Your collaboration with Fatoumata Diawara and Charlotte Cardin on this album resulted in some unique tracks like “Flicker In The Dark” and “History Of Yesterday.” How was the experience of working with these artists, and how did these collaborations come about?

It was incredible! Both are very inspiring and talented artists and it was a huge pleasure to work with them! We met Charlotte in Berlin in our studio and we had to two days together writing the song. Unfortunately we couldn’t meet Fatoumata in person yet, but the voice messages and memos we got from her brought this song to another level.

Watch Milky Chance’s “History Of Yesterday (ft. Charlotte Cardin)” music video below

The album’s lead single, “Living In A Haze,” is quickly climbing up the Alternative radio charts. Can you share some insights about the song and what it represents for you both personally and professionally?

It turned out to be one of our fastest and danciest tracks so far, which we were really surprised by in the beginning. I think that‘s why we liked it so much and picked it to be the single because it just hit different and it‘s fun. The song was definitely inspired by the desire of going out for a night and just dance shaking if all off.

Watch Milky Chance’s “Living In A Haze” music video below

With the release of the new album, you’re currently out on your biggest North American tour to date, including shows with Young The Giant. How was the tour been going for you so far and any standout moments?

The whole tour is a vibe and a highlight for us. We love these outdoor amphitheaters and we love playing during the summer.

With shows still to come in Seattle, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles (Irvine), and Colorado’s Red Rocks to name a few, what can gig-goers expect from a Milky Chance live performance?

Our shows became very energetic and dancy. It‘s all about the music and having a good time. Celebrating life and togetherness is our main goal when play live shows.

And, to close, what song/EP/album have you been playing on repeat recently?

Recently, I listened to When Smoke Rises by Mustafa. It’s very good!

Milky Chance 2023 North American Tour Dates

August 10 – Vancouver, BC – Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre
August 11 – Seattle, WA – Marymoor Live
August 12 – Portland, OR – McMenamins Edgefield
August 14 – Boise, ID – Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater
August 15 – Bend, OR – Hayden Homes Amphitheater
August 16 – Reno, NV – The Grand Theatre at The Grand Sierra
August 17 – San Francisco, CA – The Greek Theatre at Berkeley
August 18 – Santa Barbara, CA – Santa Barbara Bowl
August 19 – Irvine, CA – FivePoint Amphitheatre
August 20 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Amphitheater
August 24 – Calgary, AB – Grey Eagle Event Centre
August 25 – Edmonton, AB – Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
August 26 – Saskatoon, SK – Coors Event Centre
August 28 – Billings, MT – Zoo Montana
August 30 – Denver, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre
August 31 – Dillon, CO – Dillon Amphitheater
September 1 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up
September 2 – Aspen, CO – Belly Up

For more information on Milky Chance or to get tickets to any of their tour dates, visit their website here.