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Arts & Entertainment

Milton: A Hastings Musician Grounded in Performance

A Hastings singer songwriter brings diverse sounds to his music.

Singer songwriter Milton of Hastings wouldn’t mind being rich and famous.

But regardless of whether that day comes, the definition of success for this one-named artist is well within reach.

“I want to write really good songs, play as many gigs as possible and keep getting better at what I do,” he said.

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His inspiration began at the age of 4 when he first heard the Beatles. “They sounded so wonderful and it seemed they were best friends—and all the girls liked them," he said.

What would suffice as his formal education in music began in his parents’ living room. Jazz, blues, country, rock or reggae, he said, “I never really discriminated between the style as long as I thought it was catchy, soulful and cool.”

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A listen to him perform a cover like "Shoo Be Doo" will have you reaping the rewards of his open-minded upbringing. Rhythm and blues laced with a country beat and a hint of reggae that can’t help creeping in from the edges.

Not falling off to the side, jazz, folk and pop collide in originals such as “Her Place Uptown” and “In the City,” while his voice tends to rasp into a meld of Huey Lewis and Colin Hay, the now solo artist formerly of Men At Work.

Milton, born Milton J. Milton, was initially more literary than musical so rather than covering songs with his guitar, he wrote lyrics first and then set out to play them. “I sort of learned (to play) on the job,” he said.

His first band in high school was called Bad Mustache with lyrics a bit on the “naughty side,” but he soon outgrew that. He continued on in his musical self-education playing in numerous bands, as he would go on to major in Spanish Literature at New York University.

At this point, he’s shared the bill with the likes of Pete Seeger appeared at large venues like the Irving Plaza.

Otherwise, he also relishes his recurring roles at smaller scenes such as the Peekskill Coffee House and The Living Room in NYC.

“I really like to get out there by myself or with one other person and play acoustic because then it’s just the writer of the song and making a connection,” he said.

And he takes the writing seriously at a time when descending to your garage to record has maybe become perhaps too easy. “A lot of people don’t take the time to work on their craft, and I believe in that strongly,” he said.

Surviving has always consisted of an amalgamation of careers. He’s been a teacher, translator, housing advocacy caseworker and muddled through the standard fallback position of waiting on tables.

“I’ll do whatever it takes to get by,” he said. “It’s very difficult but it’s an enormous reward to be able to do your thing and get better at it."

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