Hello! How are you doing today?
Not too bad at all. Sick last week, so this week is feeling a lot more productive. Thanks for asking.
Tell us what Drew Millward is about, what you do and why you do it.
That is the sort of thing that will send me into an existential crisis. I find it best not to think about myself too much in the third person, and certainly not to pay too much attention to what I’m all about. Basically I’m an artist/designer/illustrator. It’s not that easy to pigeonhole really. I suppose there are elements of all those disciplines in what I do. But the bottom line is that enjoy drawing pictures and having fun.
You seemed to have a developed a unique balance and blend of dark and light themes within your work, where does that influence comes from?
I think those are elements that I’m very much interested in. I’m drawn to things that have elements of light and dark, it’s something that I strive to illustrate in my own work. The thought that something can be attractive and disturbing at the same time is something that can engage a viewer in a pretty interesting dialogue. It allows you to build narrative into the work that would otherwise be lost without that balance. If something looks nice and the subject matter is ‘nice’, as much as people are drawn to it, the attraction tends to stop there. Equally with an image that works only to offend or confront the viewer will only really illicit one sort of response. You mix the two together, and you instantly create something that is a lot more engaging. I’m not saying I always achieve that, but it’s definitely something I look to as what I hope to create.
Are there any hidden meanings or messages within your work?
Lots. I find it really dull listening to people explaining why things are done the way they are done. It takes away some of the mystery. Like I mentioned before, I like the viewer to enter into some sort of dialogue with the work, so if someone sees something that means something to them it can draw them in and create a narrative that is personal to them, or indeed is intended to be there.
I love comics, and I love the traditional narrative form, but personally I could never think about sitting down and drawing a whole book. I would simply get bored. I’m much more interested in getting a narrative into a single frame, be that a poster, shirt, painting… anything really.
Tell us a bit about the process of your designs. I understand you do a lot of it by hand first.
Yeah, I’m a bit of a heathen really. I still prefer to draw everything by hand and then put it together in Photoshop later. I suppose as time has gone by I have become more reliant of computers to colour images and I’m beginning to see the advantages of using them to work out layouts a bit more, but I still would never want to stray too far from the hand-made aesthetic. Drawing is what I love doing, so creating something purely with a computer is not something I’m in any hurry to do. Having said that, it’s about the best tool you can hope for aside from a paper and a pen.
Does the music of the band you design for have any aesthetic impact on what you produce?
I would like to think so. The challenge of designing for a band is to try and capture the aesthetic of their music into a visual medium. As much as I have a style of work, I would like to think that I tailor what I do to the specific project I’m working on… maybe some are more successful than others. I really try as much as I can to work with bands that I personally like. As much as I don’t like turning down work, sometimes it’s unavoidable. If I were to disagree with a bands politics, or really dislike their music I would find it very difficult to produce work for them. I guess it’s a balance you have to get right.
You’ve done posters for The Melvins, Sonic Youth, Gallows, Bon Iver. What has been your favourite design you have done to date?
I’d probably say my Mogwai poster, but in truth it’s usually the last thing I have completed, since it’s usually fresh enough for me not to be sick of the sight of it.
Where do you hope to take your work in the next few years and eventually in the long term?
I’d love to carry on doing what I’m doing. As much as I bitch and moan about it, I genuinely consider myself one of the luckiest people on earth to be able to do what I’m doing. There are some things I’d like to do, like make toys, more clothing projects, more album work, but that is pretty much what I’m doing now. I would, however, like to own a house. Anything that can make that happen would be the best.
Music
What are you currently enjoying?
I’m constantly listening to music, so it’s a pretty long and eclectic list to be honest.
I’m listening to a lot of Tom Waits of late. I’ve always been a fan, but I’ve recently gone back and filled in some gaps that were in my collection. As a body of work it’s pretty much second to none, he even came through the 80’s unscathed. It’s pretty impressive that he has never made a bad album in such a lengthy career.
Other stuff…P.O.S., Trap Them, Black Tusk, Thou, Cannibal Ox, Pinback, Springsteen, Russian Circles, Hanged Up, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Sunn 0))), Master Musicians of Bukkake, Goblin, Wolves in the Throne Room, Crippled Black Phoenix, Guapo, King Crimson, Lambchop, Richmond Fontaine, Mendoza Line, Giant Sand, Mogwai, Narrows, Planes Mistaken For Stars….
Who would be your all time favourite band you would design for?
I’m honestly not sure. Mission of Burma are one of my favourite bands, but I’m unsure whether my work would fit with their aesthetic. I’d love to work with Shellac, that would be awesome. To be honest, I’m happy to work with anyone who would ask me. But if pushed it would have to be Tom Waits.
Debate
What’s really ticking you off at the moment?
Most things really. I’m a grouchy individual at the best of times, but couple that with the fact that I’m mainly sat alone means I’m pretty much wound up by most things and most people.
What are you “buzzing” and being happy about?
Working alone and for myself.
And finally what would you change in this crazy world?
I honestly wouldn’t know where to begin.
You can view more work and information on the Drew Millward website. You can also follow Drew Millward on Twitter.
Drew Millward’s Music pick on spotify
Tom Waits, Cannibal Ox, Pinback, Goblin, Lampchop
