You & I: Mila + Lucas Single Launch @ Brunswick Artist Bar 12.07.25

Mila + Lucas, Image taken by Lucinda Goodwin

Saturday night, the 12th of July, the Brunswick Artist Bar was absolutely packed with an excited crowd buzzing around the fairy lights and green streamers all for Mila + Lucas’ gig for their newly released single, You and I, supported by Thom Johnston and Mekky.

Mila + Lucas’ performances are always incredible. There’s something so genuine and heartfelt in their music and performance that has everyone in the room captivated from start to end. Both artists are massively talented, and the messages, inspirations and themes of their songs are tied to such simple core experiences and feelings, such as books that stick with you for life, funny moments with friends, your love for your pet and dealing with grief. I think that is why they’re able to immediately connect to listeners and viewers with ease. I think this is also because of how beautifully the songs are arranged which are able to resonate and replicate these emotions and themes. One of my personal favourites is their original, Skin From Skin, which Mila had explained was inspired by a book she had read when she was younger that spoke to her, called The War That Saved My Life. 

Mila + Lucas also played a few cover songs, and even these spoke to their love and passion for music, paying homage to their inspirations and music mentors including Breathe In Now by Katie Noonan, who they had performed that song with during one of Katie Noonan’s concerts last year, and My Favourite by Georgia Fields, who was actually in attendance at the gig.

Thom Johnston, Image taken by Lucinda Goodwin

Mekky and Bjorn, Image taken by Lucinda Goodwin

Opening for Mila + Lucas was folk/country artist Thom Johnston and indie pop/jazz artist Mekky, which really tied the whole night together. All three artists complemented each other so well.

Thom Johnston started off the night, creating the cozy and community feel that would remain for the rest of the night. He played quite a few originals, including a few off of his album Barwon Bridge under the pseudonym Maxwell925, and quite a few covers too including High and Dry by Radiohead and Blister In The Sun by the Violent Femmes, which saw everyone singing along, enjoying themselves, and even getting involved.

Mekky continued to captivate the crowd, singing and playing ukulele alongside her guitarist Bjorn. She had such a sweet and charming performance that was really beautiful to listen to. During the performance, I was thinking some of the originals sounded very Laufey inspired and then she actually ended up doing a cover of Beautiful Stranger by Laufey, which the crowd loved. I also loved the addition of the ukulele as part of Mekky’s instrumentation. I feel like you don’t tend to see the ukulele all that often as part of performances but it perfectly encapsulates Mekky’s aesthetic and sound.

Collage showing gig decor, all three performers and You and I lyric booklit

Arguably though, the best part of the night was when Mila + Lucas performed their new single, You and I. When the song was released, I immediately fell in love with it, the layered guitar lines, relaxed and catchy melody, and the fun piano adlibs really encompass Mila + Lucas’ overall sweet and alluring folk style. What I really love about the song though, is its inspiration and subject, Mila’s dog, Pepsi, which I am slightly biased towards as I also have a dog who I love lots. Prior to when the performances started, Mila and Lucas had handed out lyric booklets for You and I so everyone could sing along when they performed, and prior to performing the song, Mila had said how someone told her the booklets reminded them of church to which she replied: Well, yes its the church of Pepsi! Songs about love and heartbreak are so common that I think having a love song about something so different and personal to you, but, that others can still relate to so easily makes the song more special in a way. It really emphasises their inspiration for their music as the simple things in everyday life that sometimes seem trivial or are taken for granted because they’re the simple things everyone knows or always sees or experiences. But these are also the things that make us who we are and play such a massive role on who we will be.

Overall, the whole night had a very wholesome, warm community feel. All the artists were insanely talented, and there wasn’t a moment anybody wasn’t having a good time and wasn’t captivated by the performances. I think the You and I single launch was a perfect example of artist vulnerability and their ability to connect so strongly with an audience on an emotional and community level. All the artists expressed why they were performing the songs they chose or wrote and the crowd always responded back. It was such a beautiful night and I’m excited to hear what Mila + Lucas, Thom Johnston and Mekky have in store next. 

If you’re interested in what these artists have in store next or their music links are below!

Inst @milalucasmusic - Mila+ Lucas Spotify

Inst @thomwmjohnston - Maxwell925 Spotify

Inst @m3kky.mp3

CREDITED PHOTOS TAKEN BY @lucindagoodwinphotography