Reviews & Testimonials

Ali's finding her sound, writing a new album

These days Ali Milner is hitting milestones around every corner and forcing herself to step outside her comfort zone.
The golden-voiced Whistlerite turns 18 on Friday (May 30) and the next night is her high school prom. In a few short weeks she’ll graduate from Whistler Secondary School and suddenly the whole world will be open for her to pursue her music career.

With a sweet smile and toss of her fiery red hair, Milner admits she’s nervous to graduate. “I really like school,” she said.

While the near future is planned — she’ll be back performing at the Fifty-Two 80 Bistro in June and then heads to Boston for a five-week program at Berklee College of Music — the rest is full of options. She described the intense summer program as a “taste test” for post-secondary music training — but then she’s also interested in art history, literature, geography and environmental studies.

Milner has been offered a scholarship at Humber College in Toronto, but she’s planning to take at least a year off school to pursue her music career.

“Right now it’s an open range for music and touring and writing and recording,” she said.

In addition to regular après-ski gigs at Fifty-Two 80 this past winter, Milner is regularly booked to perform at private events, charity benefits, Olympic countdowns and industry functions. In early April, she attended the Junos in Calgary, where she made some important connections with music producers. Most recently, she performed during the New Music West Festival in Vancouver.

Milner has been performing for more than four years now, and she was only 14 when she wrote and recorded her self-titled debut album. But the young songstress said until recently she wanted to “play it safe” with her music — finding comfortable places in cover tunes and sticking to a mostly classic jazz sound.

“It’s never scary doing covers,” Milner said.

But she’s writing again, putting herself out there in new songs that begin with a personal experience and become stories that are “an exaggeration of real life.” She recently recorded three new songs that take her music in a decidedly more pop direction.

“Crystal Clear,” “Chasing Alice” and “Perfect Rainy Day” are upbeat, catchy offerings that still showcase Milner’s rich vocals. She agrees they’re a little more mainstream.

“I’m trying to find my own sound, to find out who I am with my music,” she said.

The three new tunes will eventually make up a new album, but that project is on hold right now while she focuses on finishing high school.

While Milner said she’ll always consider Whistler home, it’s likely that musical opportunities and schooling will soon beckon her elsewhere. Don’t miss your chance to hear her beautiful voice and soulful piano during cocktail hour at the Fifty-Two 80 Bistro, starting June 13.

Visit www.alimilner.com to hear her new songs and stay up to date on her blossoming music career.

This article brought to you by Jennifer Miller of the Whistler Question May 29 2008.

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The Songbird: Ali Milner

NMW Show: Friday, May 16, 7:45 PM, at the Libra Room (1608 Commercial Drive)

When we say "great young artists," we really mean "young" in the case of Whistler-based jazz-pop singer Ali Milner, who is just 17. In a phone conversation, she mentioned to me that she will turn 18 later this month -- the day before her prom.

But before Ali and the rest of the 2008 graduating class of Whistler Secondary School enjoy that wonderful high-school tradition of corsages and slow-dances, Ali will be performing at the Libra Room on Commercial Drive, sharing a bill with Discorder's very own lovely and multi-talented editor, Nat Jay.

For that show, Ali will be accompanied only by her piano, performing what she calls a "pared-down, loungey set." She'll be eschewing the jazz standards and covers that she often performs at her regular weekly performances at the Four Seasons Hotel in Whistler in favour of her original songs, and three songs written by her uncle, Canadian country singer John Howard. "His lyrics are really amazing, but the songs don't sound like country anymore," Ali says of the jazz renditions of Uncle John's songs that she has prepared for the show.

This promising young talent has already played for some pretty impressive crowds, including a performance at a stadium in the city of Guangzhou, China, when Ali appeared as part of a cultural festival, playing to a crowd of 60,000 people. "Beyond epic" is how Ali describes the show, which featured fireworks, pyrotechnics, performers from several different countries and none other than Jackie Chan onstage singing a Chinese pop song. When asked to evaluate Jackie's performance as a singer, Ali responds, "He was alright... but it was Jackie Chan!"

Ali's self-titled debut album was released on Venus/EMI and is now available through her website (alimilner.com). She has already recorded some new material, though it's not certain when or how the follow-up will be released. In the meantime, though, Ali will be busy this summer attending Boston's famed Berklee College of Music, in the same five-week performance program that was completed some years ago by another BC-bred jazz-singer and pianist - Diana Krall.

Ali recently had the chance to perform onstage with local legend Dal Richards and his 12-piece band. Richards, who recently celebrated his 90th birthday, has had a lifetime of performing music, something which Ali looks forward to. "I'd like to be involved with music indefinitely, for as long as I can. I'd like to do this and nothing else, so that I can make a living, travel, and write music. I would love it if this could be my last job."

Ali may still a year away from being able to order a cocktail at the Libra Room, but her New Music West appearance this month will be a great opportunity to show that she is a soulful, old-fashioned jazz singer, with style and talent beyond her years.

Kudos goes to Daniel Fumano, the author of this article in the May issue of Discorder Magazine.

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“When I was fifteen, I wish I had had the poise and command on stage that you have. You were Great!”
Sarah McLachlan, performer

“In over 30 years in the music business, I have never heard such a mature voice from one so young.”
John Stronach, music producer, winner of 80+ Gold and Platinum records

“nice songs, nice voice, and what a cutie..”
Michael Buble, performer

“I can't thank YOU and ALI enough! She has the voice of an angel and was perfect! “
Pat Rekert, In Any Event, Circle of Care

“Her voice is beautiful!”
Michael Plowman, Principle Composer, Briar Patch Music

“With a big voice and a blossoming musical career, Whistler’s own Ali Milner is one talented 12-year-old. From the Vancouver Children’s Choir to solo appearances, Ali is turning heads whenever she performs.”
Whistler Pique Newsmagazine, December, 2002.

“The audience was wowed by your ability and it set a wonderful tone for the evening. Thank you so much for sharing your talented voice with everyone there.”
Shantal Cashman, Special Events Manager, Women of Distinction Awards, Vancouver YWCA

“Ali is a beautiful singer…lovely rhythm and blues. She needs to call us any time she’s in Toronto.”
Jasmine Baker, Director of Food & Beverage and Events, the Drake Hotel, Toronto

“... had the pleasure of hearing your daughter sing. She was absolutely wonderful! An awesome voice…”
Hillar Kalmar, Senior Vice President, Investments, GrowthWorks Capital Ltd.

“Beautifully sung…clear, natural, vibrant voice.”
Millie Hildebrand, Adjudicator, Howe Sound Music Festival

“You are a talented and focused, kind spirit…and an inspiration to many”
Sadie Culliford, Founder and Director, Moving Chords Youth Show Choir, Whistler

“A Monster Talent!”
Janet Warren, Carson Graham Secondary School, Fine Arts Coordinator & jazz teacher extraordinaire