Feature: Curtis Millen Decodes “Break Out the Cutters”
Can you tell us about the inspiration behind "Break Out the Cutters" and the story it tells?
“Break out the cutters” started out as a poem I'd written to get myself out of a panic attack I was having aboard a train to Amsterdam on my way to a gig. I'd been struggling with anxiety for years and out of the blue I found myself feeling as if I was going to die and recognised the sensations my first panic attack when I was 19. The tools of deep breathing and rationalising my thoughts I'd learnt from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy weren't working and all I had in front of me was pen and paper. So I decided to write a poem to get me out of it. This poem was me telling myself I'm sick of this way of thinking and somethings gotta change. When I read over it I thought this is actually quite rhythmic, I wonder how Gregory Porter would approach this.
Were there any memorable or standout moments during the recording sessions for this song?
The day we brought Fran Rodrigues in to play keys on the song the vibe of it just flipped straight away. We put down guitar, keys and the demo vocals and new life and power came to the song. Then came the cherry on top, the steroid injection into the song - tenor and baritone sax by Jesse Schilderink. Just insane, the solo you hear on it is the last of 13 takes and believe me it's the craziest one.
What did you enjoy most about making "Break Out the Cutters?"
Discovering a thicker layer in my vocals and learning to be more percussive in my timing as a singer.
How did you get started in music, and what inspired you to become a singer-songwriter?
My first public performance was at 7 years old in Clonard Monastery in Belfast singing an old catholic hymn in my native language of Gaeilge. After that I became shy and didn't sing in public for 15 years. I grew listening to my granny's Motown and soul music and sang all falsetto as a kid as a soprano. Then my voice broke and in my early twenties I'd had to reinvent myself with my new found baritone voice inspired by the likes of Tom Jones, Charlie Wilson and mainly Teddy Pendergrass. Songwriting came later during my time spent working abroad in construction when I'd started dipping my toe into improvising at Jam sessions and coming up with catchy hooks.
How do you balance crafting relatable stories with maintaining your unique voice as a songwriter?
It's all about balancing your truth in the moment. Both in capturing the truth of what's happening in your life in at that time and ensuring that the voice going on the recording is as close to who you are as you can be.
