Sometimes, it’s the little things that get under your skin and refuse to leave you alone, but Belfast-born, Rotterdam-based soul and funk artist Curtis Millen knows how to turn that everyday frustration into something you can move to. “SMALL STUFF” is a lively, groove-driven release that takes those nagging stresses and gives them a funk-fuelled outlet, encouraging listeners to shake off the unnecessary baggage rather than carry it home. And with its bustling beats and pulsating music, the track makes that advice feel less like a lecture and more like an invitation to hit the dancefloor.
Millen brings an engaging, savvy charisma to the performance, delivering his vocals with a suave confidence that sits comfortably within the song’s restless, infectious groove. There’s a spontaneity to his delivery that gives the track its personality, as though he’s letting the moment guide him rather than sticking to a rigid script. Rooted in the raw spirit of classic soul and funk, the song draws on the unfiltered energy associated with James Brown while giving the sound a contemporary edge that feels vibrant and refreshingly unforced, with the rhythm doing much of the talking.
Interestingly, “SMALL STUFF” began life during a Christmas Eve studio session in Belfast with producer Tribal Ting before travelling to Amsterdam for further development alongside Millen’s international team of musicians, including drummer Adam Gammage. Millen brought the track to audiences across the Benelux and Lithuania during his summer performances, allowing the song to grow through repeated live outings and crowd reactions.
That journey from Belfast to Amsterdam and onto European stages is written into the track’s spirited character. “SMALL STUFF” captures Curtis Millen’s knack for bringing people together through rhythm, personality and an infectious live-band energy. It’s a punchy, feel-good reminder that sometimes the best way to deal with life’s little annoyances is to stop dwelling on them, loosen up and let the music take over.
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Review by: Naomi Joan