Since he was a young dude in Akron, OH, Anthony Mills has been listening to a lot of country music. The "Rubber City" native vividly remembers getting ready for school while the morning radio played the hits from big names like Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers, and Willie Nelson. Charlie Pride was probably in the mix up in there, but Anthony was not aware of who he was at the time.
Though the faces of the artists who dominated country radio waves were mostly white, Anthony found the ethos of their music to be just like his. He felt country music belonged to everyone and did not feel insecurity based on race. "I knew I was built Ford tough, 'like a rock' and all that blue collar tendency.”, says Mills. "That for me, is the byproduct of great storytelling."
Anthony Mills is a country artist no matter what you might think. He is a man who has lived a life and has a story to tell. The great-grandchild of middle America's industrial revolution. Born and raised in working class Akron, Ohio with family stretching from Lake Charles, Louisiana to the West Indies to Stockholm, Sweden. Plus, Mills is a character who cut his teeth as a classical voice major at The Manhattan School of Music. Since the late 90s, Mills worked and toured with Harry Belafonte, Amy Winehouse, Krs-One, Sizzla, Grace Bumbry, Leela James and more including writing and top-line EDM anthems for Dada Life and Moonbootica. These experiences forged the character Anthony Mills has become.
Anthony Mills' poetry, lyrics, music production and fine art catalogue is exhaustive. In previous incarnations, he wrote and produced original techno, reggae, alternative, r & b, punk, hip-hop, house, deep house, and tech-house. He sees himself as a musical outlaw doing what comes naturally channeling the power of song.
It was just 3 years ago when Anthony began to tell his story through his flavor of country music. He released his debut album, 'blue collar work ethic' with the label Icons Creating Evil Art in 2019 giving us a taste of his amazing storytelling capabilities. At the top of 2020, he released the single 'rusty cadillac' (featured by Paste/Noisetrade here) and followed up with second single 'drinkin by myself (again)' earlier this summer. He's now ready to release his third and last single 'drunk-n-high too' from his upcoming second country album 'drankin songs of the midwest' where Anthony deliver deep south background partnered with "up norf” nuances and creating some down home country "drankin" songs.
Anthony Mills’ sophomore country album, 'drankin songs of the midwest' is released Oct. 9 on the label Icons Creating Evil Art.