Dreams Come True: MILCK On Her Music, Activism and Power Up Concert Performance
Connie K. Lim, the artist known as MILCK, seen here in a performance at NPR. She will be on stage at the PowerUp Conference & Concert August 26. (photo by NPR)
“I learned quickly that my dream of being a singer wasn’t what my immigrant parents wanted for me. Making art for a living was for them not a reality-based decision,” says Connie K. Lim, whose professional name is MILCK; it’s her first two initials and her last name backwards.
But she did make her dream happen in a very big way by using her power, immense talent and voice in an enormously successful global musical career, activism and presence in the social justice equity movement and advocacy for truth and personal power. MILCK performs in person at Take The Lead’s Power Up Conference & Concert, “Lead Your Intention,” August 26 on Women’s Equality Day.
“@MILCKMUSIC performs in person at @Takeleadwomen ‘s #PowerUp Conference & Concert, “Lead Your Intention,” August 26 on #WomensEqualityDay.”
Register here for the Power Up Conference & Concert
The daughter of immigrants from Hong Kong, Lim was born and raised in Palos Verdes, a suburb outside of Los Angeles, a first generation Chinese American and the youngest of two daughters. Her father was a physician, and her older sister, Annie, later enrolled in medical school at age 16.
“I had to reveal to my parents after college that I was not going to pursue medicine. It broke my dad’s heart,” Lim says. “But they were able to receive that I can make my life and living from my ideas and my art is a result of their hard work. It is evolution and growth in a beautiful way.”
Graduating high school in 2004, Lim was homecoming queen, a feat she says grew from her people-pleasing tendencies as a survivor of domestic violence, anorexia, and anxiety.
“I was the popular unpopular girl,” Lim says. “It’s an interesting juxtaposition, I looked like I had it all together, but had anxiety, an eating disorder and had an abusive relationship.”
Enrolling at University of California-Berkely as a pre-med student in 2004, Lim says she lasted one semester with that major, switched majors to business, then after another semester, switched to pre-law.
“I think I was grasping for what I thought people wanted for me,” says Lim, who graduated in 2008 with a major in international political economics.
““I learned quickly that my dream of being a singer wasn’t what my immigrant parents wanted for me. Making art for a living was for them not a reality-based decision.” - @MILCKMUSIC. #womeninmusic”
Wanting to pursue a career in music, ”with zero idea or connections of how to get into the industry,” Lim moved to Los Angeles and worked as a tutor to high school students to earn money. She pursued her musical career on the side, writing her own songs and performing them in a studio.
Read more in Take The Lead on 50 Women in Media & Entertainment
In 2011, Lim was encouraged to audition for “The Voice,” and though her audition did not make it to air, a snippet of her performance was on a promotion for the show.
“I was exposed to artists who opened me up to letting go of my strict philosophies. I’m not just a singer and vocalist, I craft the lyrics and the melodies. So I decided to put my focus on writing music.”
That intention led her to a collaboration with Adrienne Gonzalez, and together they wrote the song, “Quiet.” Her performance in 2017 of that song at The Women’s March in Washington, D.C., when she was 30 years old is what catapulted her to international fame. Her videotaped performances of the song throughout the day with other singers at the March earned 8 million views on social media in two days. It was on her 2018 debut EP, This Is Not The End.
Her song led to a social media explosion with #ICantKeepQuiet as a motto for recovery and the power of voice for immigrants, survivors and anyone who feels silenced because of their experiences or identity.
“@MILCK MUSIC ‘s song “Quiet” led to a social media explosion with #ICantKeepQuiet as a motto for recovery and the power of voice for immigrants and survivors. ”
Read more in Take The Lead on following passion into music
“This journey of alchemizing what we are given shows that it is unfortunate that trauma is such a powerful teacher, but it does create powerful opportunities,” Lim says.
“I’m always constantly surprised in general that I am alive and I get to sing because I pursued this for so long without many bites,” Lim says.
Celebrated earlier this year as part of The TIME IOO, a 2023 documentary about her life, “I Can’t Keep Quiet” dives into her activism, personal experiences as well as her creative talents and great success.
““I’m always constantly surprised in general that I am alive and I get to sing because I pursued this for so long without many bites.” — @MILCKMUSIC. #intention”
“I was told Asian artists weren’t cool and I needed to go to China to perform,” Lim says. “I didn’t want to go to China. “ She adds, “My grandfather is good at roulette and I joke that I’m like a gambler too. I get to achieve my dreams just by being myself and without becoming this idea of a competitive, harsh person.”
Lim asks, “What if I can be a good person and be kind and authentic and make it even if someone says it’s not possible?”
As for the breadth of her influence and achievements, Lim adds, ”That voice that I can hear within me is not surprised.”
This is the message Lim intends to share with in-person and virtual participants of her live performance at the Power Up Concert August 26, the finale of the Power Up Conference, “Lead Your Intention.”.
“As an artist I hope my offering of music and storytelling on the Power Up stage will encourage everyone to be who they are and to open their hearts to the possibility that things beyond their imaginations can happen. I’m an example of that.”
““As an #artist I hope my offering of music and #storytelling on stage will encourage everyone to be who they are and to open their hearts to the possibility that things beyond their imaginations can happen.” - @MILCKMUSIC”
The artistry she shares, Lim says, can inspire many to follow their dreams and intentions for their work and their lives—the purpose of this year’s Power Up Conference & Conference.
Hopefully, this will bring people to their higher selves, Lim says. “I have found that I am consistently rewarded when I am true to myself.”
Read more in Take The Lead on 2022 Power Up Concert
She says she wants the Power Up Concert in-person and virtual attendees to ask themselves the most important question: “What do we want?”
“@MILCKMUSIC says she wants the @Takeleadwomen #PowerUp Concert in-person and virtual attendees to ask themselves the most important question: “What do we want?” #womenleaders”
Lim adds, “My attempts at answering that question bring me closer to my true power. That’s what my songs are.”
Take The Lead Leadership Takeaway of The Week:
“I have found that I am consistently rewarded when I am true to myself.”--MILCK, musical artist
