New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Singer-songwriter, producer and advocate MILCK taps into 'The Great Resignation,' redefining the movement instead as, what she calls, 'The Great Reclamation' with her new single "The Machine," out today. In line with her recent releases "
Animal" and the prevalent recent protest song "We Won't Go Back" with BIIANCO, GRAMMY-winner Autumn Rowe, and Ani DiFranco, MILCK is using her artistic platform for the advancement of social advocacy. In her music, MILCK taps into important cultural movements of social change and brings awareness to underrepresented communities.
"I wrote "The Machine" the night after one of my teammates shared about her past experiences working at a highly competitive corporate environment," says MILCK. "I will never forget how she told me she kept a sleeping bag under her desk so that she could minimize time away from her work. Her coworkers would call her "The Machine" as a compliment for her high performance. With tears in her eyes, she told me that her reputation as "the machine" felt like a ball and chain that took her years to free herself from.
I deeply related to her story in so many ways. Growing up I noticed that I would get rewarded for my productivity and achievements. I noticed people would listen to me more when I sang on stage, or received "shiny" accolades. My hyper focused addiction to work and achieving now feels like a dead-ended attempt at earning respect. So, as I mature, I am getting much better at loving and accepting myself for who I am, regardless of external validations and expectations. I can finally be free because I know within my bones that - no matter what - I accept me for who I am.
I know many others are learning to love themselves amidst systems that benefit off of us doubting ourselves. This time has been known as The Great Resignation, but let us call it The Great Reclamation. We are reclaiming the sides of us we thought we had to abandon to fit into an aging paradigm."
Following the release of "The Machine," this Saturday, October 8th, MILCK will perform at the Women's March in DC alongside her "We Won't Go Back" collaborators BIIANCO and Autumn Rowe. The 2022 Women's March performance marks the 5-year-anniversary since MILCK found worldwide success with her song "Quiet" during the 2017 Women's March, where her acapella performance with 25 strangers was captured by a cell phone and went viral. In reaction, MILCK released the sheet music for free, inviting choirs to create harmony in a time of dissonance. Hundreds of choirs formed, translating "Quiet" from Dagbali to Spanish. The song was named Billboard's No.1 Protest Song, selected for NPR's American Anthem Series, and The Grammy Museum featured MILCK in the "Songs of Conscience" exhibit earlier this year.
Following "Quiet," MILCK established the Somebody's Beloved Fund to use her music to generate resources for ten grassroots beneficiaries that build power around racial justice, feminism, LGBTQIA+ rights, criminal justice reform and mental health. Fifty percent of the proceeds from "We Won't Go Back" are being donated to Planned Parenthood, SisterSong and Yellowhammer Fund, while ten percent of proceeds from the "
Animal" music video and ten percent of proceeds from "The Machine" will benefit Somebody's Beloved Fund.
Recently, MILCK also participated in New York Fashion Week, for the esteemedSurvivor Fashion Show, which honors the voices of Women who have survived sexual assault. This year she has also spoken at Global Citizen NOW, Planned Parenthood's #BansOffOurBodies, and Vital Voices' Global HQ alongside Secretary Hillary Clinton and
Diane von Furstenberg.
Last month, MILCK lent her voice to Billboard's cover story feature 'Roe' Overturned: Music's Leaders on How to Take Action. MILCK's also been featured in TIME Magazine, Elle, NPR, Forbes, BUST, People Magazine, Vulture, InStyle on MSNBC, The
Kelly Clarkson Show and more.
