The music of Tobie Milford is like dreaming underwater, wondrous and suffocating. Perhaps it should be attached to a warning label: “This music may cause Stendhal Syndrome.” Stendhal Syndrome (as described by Wikipedia) “is a psychosomatic illness that causes rapid heartbeat, dizziness, confusion and even hallucinations
when an individual is exposed to art, usually when the art is particularly beautiful”. With a violin and some looping devices, the singer-songwriter creates an ethereal symphony of sound. His voice, reminiscent of Jeff Buckley, only contributes to the music’s otherworldliness.
Tobie alternately drives pandemonium from his violin with a bow then forges melodic currents by plucking the strings. The addition of lyrics and layers of instrumentals completes the sound to create a transcendent noise.
The au fait musician began playing the violin at the age of three. Fifteen years later he laid aside the instrument and opted for a guitar. It was then he introduced the practice of looping in his music. However, it wasn’t until Milford combined his first instrument with this innovative style of performing that he struck on a sound so unique and beautiful as to bring crowds a sense of awe no matter how seedy the bar he might be playing in. Perhaps the juxtaposition of Tobie’s sublime sound in the often disconsolate crowds of bar hoppers is what manifests the music’s strangeness, its seraphic nature.
Not surprisingly the Valley is taking notice. In addition to performing alone, Tobie joins forces a multitude of local musicians including Michelle Blades and the Black River Bandit. He also is a member of the band Whisperlights.
Tobie Milford has yet to release his first solo EP but a pre-EP EP has been floating around and tracks can be heard on his MySpace page. Milford is planning on recording the tracks in a more professional manner with the folks of Surface to Air Studios, a recent addition to the state. Tobie has opted to play each track on the recording as he would live, with looping pedals and single takes, rather than dividing up the pieces and laying separate tracks to be later combined in the studio. He admits that by recording in this fashion he is “going to make mistakes.” But this style choice speaks of something higher often lost on musicians in the modern industry: authenticity. And, at least for me, nothing is more important.
Tobie Milford is an exceptional musician. Take the time to see him perform live for the betterment of your soul.
