MLHLND
Meet MLDLND, the Australian artist combining visual and audio art as he explores the idea of beauty within the twenty-first century, portraying and encapsulating beauty in it's purest form, capturing the innocence of youth, and the pressures of sex and desire. We spoke to the artist exclusively:
What made you decide to become an artist?
I don’t remember having a choice. I have had a creative mind since I can remember and putting it to use seemed to be the only option. I still feel that way.
What are your biggest creative idols?
I take influence from all kinds of people, places, audio, visuals and era’s. As far as idol’s go, I think it’s important to reflect on or look up to people who have always pushed themselves be the best versions of themselves possible and have never been afraid to take risks. People like Prince, the Dalai Lama, Michael Jackson, Gandhi and my childhood-self spring to mind and always provide inspiration.
Tell us about your latest single - “Twenty First Century Love”?
I wrote “Twenty First Century Love” mid last year. I was listening to a lot of The Cure at the time and I remember the romanticism in their music and lyrics held huge significance to me. With this in mind, I started writing and producing a single that became “Twenty First Century Love”.
Musically, I wanted to create an atmosphere and write a song that embodied the feeling of falling for someone. That’s why you hear a lot of dreamy undertones in the synths and guitars and plenty reverb on the vocals. I wanted the sounds to reflect a head-in-the-clouds feeling that comes with falling for someone. The excited snare hits in the chorus act as an awakened heartbeat.
Lyrically, I thought it would be a good opportunity to touch on the idea of love in the 21st century and romanticise all aspects of it. The longing, the materialism and purity.
How have you been able to merge your practice with both visual and audio mediums?
It’s an interesting thing, a lot of the time it's a visual medium, whether that be film, photography or installations that stimulates my songwriting. On the flipside, it’s music or audio that motivates my photography or filmmaking. I think they go hand in hand and I couldn’t imagine separating the two.
For example, I try to create music that would fit a certain film scene or snapshot. Vice versa, I try to pair my visuals up with music for inspiration. Often asking myself, “what would this song look like if it were a photograph?”.
Your work has often reflected on Australian culture - has this been a passionate subject of yours?
I feel very privileged to live in this beautiful country. Although I believe there is long way for us as a nation to grow culturally. I know am very lucky to have grown up here and I do like to tip my hat to that a little in some of my work.
I’m also a big fan of the Aussie-pride wave that swept through pop music in the 80’s, so there’s also that to blame..