Exclusive Interview With ForeverMilana

June 06, 2025

Exclusive Interview With ForeverMilana

With the drop of her new single "Blow My Mind", ForeverMilana is bringing forth a daring new era—one that's grounded in soulful nostalgia but electrified with state-of-the-art sophistication. Taking cues from Timbaland's golden age while crafting a style completely her own, the rising R&B/Soul talent wedded groove-infused production to vulnerable lyrics and unapologetic self-expression. In anticipation of her new project Blow My Mind: Milana Reloaded, we got in touch with Milana to discover the background story of the single, the inspiration behind it, and what it's like being a female artist making space for herself in the music industry today.

1- "Blow My Mind" is a great mixture of nostalgia and innovation. What drew you to Timbaland's golden era as an influence, and how did that shape your approach to this track?

I’m a heavy listener of both old and new school R&B and hip-hop, but there’s something about Timbaland’s golden era - especially the mid-to-late 90s, that just hits different. The experimental rhythms, the way he played with basslines and drum patterns in this hypnotic, almost monotonous way… it was genius. Hearing those sounds gave me this weird emotional reaction, like, ‘This tune is ridiculously good - and it’s nearly 30 years old.’ There’s a kind of grief in that, a bittersweet feeling that we may never get that exact sound again, but that’s where the passion kicks in.

Me and my producer found we have this natural affinity with Timbaland’s early work, and that connection shaped how we approached Blow My Mind. We wanted to honour that nostalgia, but with our own eccentric twist - something rooted in that era, but reimagined through my voice and today’s energy.

2- You say the song is about that instant when you're completely disarmed by someone. Was there a particular experience behind that emotion, or was it more of a thought experiment?

For me, “Blow My Mind” is about being completely disarmed - not just in love, but in all the ways someone can get into your head. It’s that feeling when someone ruffles your feathers, taps into your soft spots, your ego, your insecurities, and even your best qualities. It’s chaotic, it’s exposing - but also magnetic. The song is like a scene: I’m caught off guard, then flipping the script, putting my guard back up and firing off all these sharp little statements, boundaries and instructions. It’s that tension between vulnerability and control, letting someone in, but not letting them run you. It’s sensual, yes, but it’s also defensive, layered - like I’m saying, ‘You got me this time, but don’t get it twisted.’

3- The sound design on this song is so detailed — all the way down to the groove-heavy bassline and the rap-sung melodies. Can you take us through your process in the studio when you were recording this?

I got sent the beat after showing my producer, Exponenshall, Timbaland & Magoo’s ‘Man Undercover’ with Aaliyah and Missy - I was deep into that sound at the time. As soon as I heard the track, I got to work straight away. I pretty much freestyled most of the lyrics on the spot because it connected that well. When I create, I’m usually coming from a place of unconsciousness, I don’t always know what my lyrics mean until I play them back. The flow state gets real. So I’m never quite sure if it’s a structured concept or my deeper mind revealing itself. That’s what makes the process so raw. The sound design had to carry that same energy - from the bassline to the rap-sung melodies, everything needed to feel emotionally locked in.

4- This single is a prelude to Blow My Mind: Milana Reloaded. What does "reloaded" means to you within the context of your female and artistic growth?

Reloaded, to me, means a restart - a fresh spin, like I’m spinning the record back up. It’s that moment where something’s so strong, so impactful, it’s reload worthy. It also taps into 90s and 2000s music culture, which has heavily influenced my sound and aesthetic. So it’s not just a personal reset - it’s a nod to that R&B/Soul era, and to what I represent as Milana during this rebrand. Blow My Mind: Milana Reloaded is about returning stronger, more self-assured, and creatively fearless. This is me in full form - redefined and reloaded.

5- You've definitely created a sound that's your own and yet still pays homage to 90s R&B. Did you ever feel pressured to follow trends rather than keep it true to your roots? How do you balance the two?

Honestly, I felt pressure just around creating on TikTok full stop. I didn’t promote my music on there until this year for Blow My Mind. I was scared to start from scratch, it felt overwhelming having to build something new from the ground up when I already had my sound and visuals figured out. On top of that, I don’t have that mainstream pop vocal tone that tends to go viral easily, so I’d question whether I even fit into that world. But eventually, I stopped trying to mould myself into something I wasn’t. I embraced the fact that my voice is rooted in soul - artists like Lauryn Hill and Amy Winehouse showed me that being different is the power. Now I create from that space, knowing it might take longer, but it’s way more authentic.

6- As an emerging female artist in music, have you experienced moments of invisibility or resistance? If so, how have they informed your voice or your vision?

Absolutely. I’ve experienced moments of invisibility - and what’s been hardest is that it hasn’t just come from strangers. It’s been from people who actually know me. People who’ve seen the work, the growth, the vision - and still chose to look past it. That kind of silence hits deep. And then, as a female artist who doesn’t fit into a trend-driven or ‘palatable’ mould, there’s another layer of resistance. There’s pressure to make yourself smaller, more digestible, just to be seen. But those experiences have shaped me. They’ve made me more intentional, more focused. Milana Reloaded is about reclaiming that space - not asking to be included, just showing up as I am, fully. Every lyric, every visual, every decision comes from that place now. I’m no longer here to fit in. I’m here to be felt.

7- There's a sensuality, a confidence in this song. Do you think that your music is a way of reclaiming or redefining femininity and sensuality in contemporary R&B?

Yeah, I think my music naturally taps into femininity and sensuality, but in a way that feels true to me. I’m not trying to force anything or follow a certain image - it’s more about expressing presence, emotion, and confidence in a subtle way. With Blow My Mind, that energy came out effortlessly. There’s softness, but also edge. So in a way, yeah - I guess I am redefining it, just by showing a version that’s grounded, a bit mysterious, and doesn’t need to shout to be felt.

8- Moving ahead, what do you hope "Blow My Mind" and the forthcoming project will convey regarding who ForeverMilana is — not only as an artist but also as a storyteller and cultural voice?

With Blow My Mind and the full project, I want people to understand that ForeverMilana isn’t just a voice - she’s a storyteller, and everything I create is rooted in real emotion and lived experience. Every song is a mood - a relatable one, crafted with the right blend of musicality, emotion, and just enough grit to make it stick. My sound is for women who are soulful but sharp, vulnerable yet in control, and not afraid to say what needs to be said.

This EP moves through phases of identity, from feeling invisible to stepping into full self-assurance. It holds space for softness, clarity, and bold expression. There’s elegance, but there’s also rawness - the kind that reminds you you’ve been through something, and came out with vision. As an artist and a cultural voice, I want to reflect that - the layered, complex woman who doesn’t perform her power, she owns it. This is more than just music. It’s a reckoning. It’s me, reloaded.