The Music of John Mills

John Mills was born in Melbourne in 1953 and grew up in a musical household. When his cousin gave him an electric guitar at age ten, his love for the instrument was born. Like most young people of that time John followed the meteoric rise to fame of the Beatles, learning to play just about everything they wrote, by ear. Throughout his school years he formed several bands, developed an interest in blues as well as a passion for Jimi Hendrix, then at nineteen, decided to undertake a formal study of the classical guitar.

John developed a career as both a teacher and performer and spent many hours writing and composing. As John says, " I find the process of writing/composing quite mysterious; I don't set out to write anything in particular, but more through improvisation and meditation a piece will begin; lines and themes rattle around inside, quite often for months on end, and then something complete emerges. There are some pieces that I have been working on for years and have yet to find any completion, while others may be finished in a few nights. The feedback I get about my writing can range from that piece is so tranquil, to your music seems to dabble on the edges of darkness or that is such a sad piece…...I like that my music can be all those things; I like the idea of being able to shake someone a little into feeling a response."

John has completed three CD's and recently, has written and recorded pieces for "High Country Life". His work has been highly acclaimed in America and his CD's are released independently here in Australia.

A review of one of John's CD's titled Hallowed Moon, written by 'New Age Retailer' says,

"It takes more than technical mastery to compose music and play it on the guitar in a way that really touches people's hearts. Australia's John Mills, has just such artistic talent. He uses even the silence between notes to shape his tender, lyrical melodies. Rather than blister the ears with cascades of notes, Mills has the courage to place each note like a precious star, allowing the emotion of the melody to carry through. That Mills also happens to be among the 10 best guitarists that I've ever heard makes Hallowed Moon just that much more special."

Melissa Kenihan, creator and producer of "High Country Life" speaks about John Mills' music.

"I met John when my children began their schooling at Melbourne Community School; John is one of the teachers there. He plays his guitar on a regular basis and accompanies the children during choir. I've always enjoyed listening to John play, and listening to his recordings. I have to say that it was John's CD's, particularly Hallowed Moon and Facing into the Sun, that lulled my children off to sleep each night. It wasn't just music to go to sleep to, the songs evoked such a wonderful state of relaxation and peace; it was kind of like story telling in the form of music. When I began to edit together all the recordings I had collected of the Lovicks, I placed a couple of John's tracks against some of the stories. I found that the music added an essential dimension to the stories. I approached John in the hope that he would allow me to use some of his music. He not only agreed, he also wrote several pieces specifically for my project. I truly believe that no other music could have been more perfect."

Purchase Hallowed Moon here