pronounced "MY - LOW"

Millo is an alternative, electronic rock band from Rochester, NY.

There are layers to it all.

Millo is a shoegaze synth alternative rock band based in Rochester, NY. Originally a solo project founded by multi-instrumentalist and producer JD Laird, Millo has expanded in recent years with the addition of touring members Dan Booth, Nicholas Cerbone, and Lee Sortore. Known for their atmospheric, emotionally charged soundscapes, Millo blends reverb-soaked guitars, ethereal synths, and raw, vulnerable lyrics into music that captures the in-between moments of life—late-night drives, quiet spirals, and lingering memories.

History

The project began as a personal creative outlet for JD Laird, who writes, performs, mixes, and masters most of the music himself. In 2020, Millo faced a major setback when a corrupted hard drive erased seven years' worth of nearly finished songs. Rather than abandoning the project, Laird rebuilt it from scratch, drawing influence from artists like M83, Tame Impala, and Radiohead.

Millo released their debut single, "Control", in 2022, exploring themes of human vulnerability and the illusion of control. That same year, they released "Gravedigger", their most popular single to date, blending shoegaze and underground indie-rock influences into a reflective, atmospheric track.

In 2023, Millo released "Infrared", a commentary on the alienation of the digital age, and closed out the year with "Another Way", which leaned into electronic alt-pop influences, marking a sonic departure for the band.

Discography

"Control" (2022) – Single

"Gravedigger" (2022) – Single

"Infrared" (2023) – Single

"Another Way" (2023) – Single

Musical Style and Influences

The project began as a personal creative outlet for JD Laird, who writes, performs, mixes, and masters most of the music himself. In 2020, Millo faced a major setback when a corrupted hard drive erased seven years' worth of nearly finished songs. Rather than abandoning the project, Laird rebuilt it from scratch, drawing influence from artists like M83, Tame Impala, and Radiohead.

Millo released their debut single, "Control", in 2022, exploring themes of human vulnerability and the illusion of control. That same year, they released "Gravedigger", their most popular single to date, blending shoegaze and underground indie-rock influences into a reflective, atmospheric track.

In 2023, Millo released "Infrared", a commentary on the alienation of the digital age, and closed out the year with "Another Way", which leaned into electronic alt-pop influences, marking a sonic departure for the band.

Discography

"Control" (2022) – Single

"Gravedigger" (2022) – Single

"Infrared" (2023) – Single

"Another Way" (2023) – Single

“This music shines with bright melodies, thoughtful lyrics- leaving me with an immediate curiosity to hear more.”

-BUFFALO LISTENING CLUB

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MILLO/electro ambient

ROCHESTER

HIGHLIGHT: “ANOTHER WAY”/ single

Music Voyager: Maddox Sargent

One of my favorite feelings of being a New Yorker is the essence and embrace of the changing seasons. Summer comes to mind as an eminent space for exploration with long nights and the most beautiful warm air against your skin, while shopping local stores or taking a stroll by canalside. I love when music can take you to a certain nostalgia within a season- bringing you to a completely different place entirely because of artistry. Music really is time travel.

Being given the opportunity to listen to the art of so many, it couldn’t possibly BE more fulfilling. Every artist has encouraged and inspired me beyond belief. When making the decision to hit play, I am blown away by not only talent, but overall vision and mood. MILLO, a project orchestrated by JD Laird is not one to miss in your listening voyage. Laird started his music career in the second grade as a student of drums. Through creative endeavors with friends in high school, he began to explore music in different ways, eventually leading him to further his education in musical production. Within the history of this project, the common goal has always been to provoke emotion while promoting the act of self exploration and human experience.

With much anticipation, I drove my listening UFO right over to a planet of where electronic, indie and ambient collide. A massive sphere illuminating colors of the 80’s. Warm neon pinks, purples and blues vibrantly welcomed my eyes. Completely drawn to this planet’s spinning rings, assembled by thousands of vinyl records and speakers, twisted into each other. When was the last time you carried yourself to this genre? There is so much to be appreciated here. Electronic music has this beautiful allure built in the sounds lingering together. Foggy vocals with inventive instrumentation are such a loving embrace to feel. There is something very special about MILLO’s newest track, “Another Way”, and how the production and arrangement inhabit this beautiful landscape. Straight away, I was attracted to crisp yet gentle beats- emerging as a platform for all the other sounds to rest. This song was really fun to hear, it gave me a feeling of positivity, hope and calm. Beautiful, melodic vocals with a comforting timbre helped bring this tune to a whole different category for me. I felt a deep connection to the song and honestly wished there were twelve more coming after to indulge into. You will feel the warmth of summer within this arrangement, it captures the atmosphere in such poetic nature. During the duration, I got feelings of Sohn, Amber Run, Wild Nothing and Washed Out, which are all some of my favorites in this universe of sound.

As the listener, MILLO provides us access to a heaven where synths melt into pads. This music shines with bright melodies and thoughtful lyrics, leaving me with an immediate curiosity to hear more. If you are looking for a fresh, unique chapter of electronic music, look no further. Strap into your vessel and glide right into the next realm.

PASSENGERS:

JD LAIRD- WRITER + PRODUCER

Vibe: It is 1985, and you are driving along an empty highway around midnight, somewhere in California. You are completely at peace. In a vibrant purple convertible with all the windows down, you are a smooth operator- weaving in and out of dotted lines. The music is at its highest volume, then suddenly, everything surrounding you melts into the sky as you accelerate towards infinity, with only this song playing as your soundtrack.

“...definitely one to impress as a first-time listener to the band”

-THE SOUND ROC

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Written by The Sound Kate on Fri, 4/29

Millo's new single is out 4/29

Brand new rock outfit, Millo, releases their first single, 'Control', and it's definitely one to impress as a first-time listener to the band.

The track fuses various and distinct genres together - rock, electronic, even a bit of dreampop- into a catchy, immersive wave, intense yet gentle throughout. Vocal octaves guide the song as sweeping synths add a nostalgic undertone, driven by big, pulsing drums. It feels somber and passive, but you hear strong emotion and anger peak throughout.

The song was written about the innate human desire for control, and the inability to totally have it. JD Laird, the writer and performer behind Millo, states that the tune is meant to lull the listener into a sense of predictability, but ultimately leave them with an unsettled feeling overall - similar to the feeling we have when we lose control.

Hailing from Spencerport, JD began this project after a hard drive full of his work was damaged and he needed a fresh start. In 2020, he began to construct Millo and is finally sharing his work with the world. We're glad he is sharing his music and contributing this great project to the Rochester music scene.

You can listen to Control here, and follow Millo on IG here.ven where synths melt into pads. This music shines with bright melodies and thoughtful lyrics, leaving me with an immediate curiosity to hear more. If you are looking for a fresh, unique chapter of electronic music, look no further. Strap into your vessel and glide right into the next realm.

PASSENGERS:

JD LAIRD- WRITER + PRODUCER

Vibe: It is 1985, and you are driving along an empty highway around midnight, somewhere in California. You are completely at peace. In a vibrant purple convertible with all the windows down, you are a smooth operator- weaving in and out of dotted lines. The music is at its highest volume, then suddenly, everything surrounding you melts into the sky as you accelerate towards infinity, with only this song playing as your soundtrack.

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