Imagine if Harry Styles traded in his flashy Elton John costumes for a leather jacket, a pair of jet-black boots, a pack of smokes, and an iPod Nano maxed out on storage from old Red and Flyleaf albums. You would probably find something similar to McMillin, a 27-year-old guitarist and vocalist from Nashville who has cut his teeth playing shows across the globe with bands like Ratilla and Space Radio, maintaining residencies at Nashville’s top entertainment venues, Category 10, Ole Red, Tin Roof, and playing original music at iconic Nashville venues EXIT/IN, The End, Eastside Bowl, and more. On his new EP, Only From Afar, he delivers a project that falls into a fascinating musical overlap between dreamy guitar-pop and the kind of cinematic hard rock popularized by the 2000s-era bands that formed him.
The project launches into overdrive immediately with “OD,” a driving, no-frills track that delicately weaves back and forth between a thrashing, downbeat-heavy verse and a head-bopping, shuffling hook. Listeners who long for the days when hard rock radio was king will not want to skip this track — one of the most structurally cohesive and artistic moments on the project.
We then slide effortlessly into “Knots,” a silky-smooth standout that focuses the infernal energy of “OD” and channels it through a more mid-tempo, modern guitar-pop lens.
“Joke” continues this inward progression, allowing the tone to shift freely yet decisively toward a cleaner, more polished sound while still maintaining the momentum of the first two songs.
That driving energy dissipates into a floating, atmospheric ballad with “Contract,” a well-timed change of pace that adds a soft balance to the EP, giving it a layer of humanity, depth, and wholesomeness. The song offers a sentimental, tender reflection on life on the road and the longing for the stability of home. It takes inspiration from McMillin’s many years working on eight-month traveling contracts for temporary residencies at amusement parks and cruise lines.
“My only friends are barflies too far up on the wall.” — McMillin, “Contract”
After taking a moment to collect its breath, the energy comes hurdling back to Earth with “Skeletons,” perhaps the heaviest song on the EP (and certainly the heaviest since “OD”). With this one, we’ve returned to a musical spine of distorted power chords and four-on-the-floor drum beats as McMillin gets to flex his guitar chops a bit more prominently. Yet it maintains the accessibility that makes Only From Afar so replayable.
“Falling Out of Falling in Love” leans back into a poppier sound, which works to its benefit — it may be the catchiest and most radio-ready single on the project. It’s danceable and still keeps the rock-star ethos McMillin has created. While it carries a hint of Drake Bell nostalgia, the track layers in vintage “guitarmonies” inspired by McMillin’s listening to the Eagles and Blue Öyster Cult. It’s a seamless blend of 70s and 2000s energy that works effortlessly — a fusion that feels timeless rather than tied to any specific era.
The EP’s finale, “Cautionary Tale,” channels a very Green Day-esque energy before breaking open into something that trades angst for atmosphere. A road-trip-friendly, roll-down-the-windows recording begging to be played on the radio, it captures a sliver of the project’s unique influences. It synthesizes them in a way that bookends Only From Afar effortlessly.
MORE ABOUT MCMILLIN
McMillin’s career is an unapologetic collision of raw energy and personal truth, where each song pushes boundaries and leaves an undeniable mark. His sound doesn’t play by anyone’s rules, blending the ferocity of modern rock with a touch of punk’s restless energy. From introspective, soul-baring lyrics to riffs that hit with an almost tangible weight, his music is a testament to a journey filled with relentless creativity.
Featured in EarMilk and other major media outlets, McMillin has carved out a space in music where authenticity is non-negotiable. He also performs in Space Radio, Ratilla, bringing his signature guitar work and vocals to each band, shaping their unique sound. He has been featured on editorial playlists such as Apple Music’s New in Rock and New in Alternative, and Live Nation’s Ones to Watch.
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