ALBUM REVIEW: Desert Trash - Mija

Desert Trash - Mija

Amber Giles (born May 30, 1992), known professionally as Mija, is an American DJ, music producer, and promoter, originally from Phoenix, Arizona, who came to attention in 2014 after she played with Skrillex.

She stepped out of her comfort zone with her 2020  release of her debut album  Desert Trash. Spanning 13 songs, Desert Trash is certain to take you on a journey through Mija’s purest form of herself and who she is.

The album itself is filled with so many types of moods, characters and emotions, and at times it is dark and somber. In many instances the main form of instrument you’ll find is percussion, incorporating stomp-like drums, with additional intense sounds that weigh down the songs. Other songs feel light, angelic, and even feathery. Mija proves that she is not afraid to experiment with sounds and styles. After all, experimenting is the only way to create something amazing and original. Miija calls this a project that she has “identified with her whole life.” and elaborates, “I wrote this album with the intention of stripping down all the excess and focusing on what truly matters to me; self expression, realness, and the story. Desert Trash is who I am.”

Songs like “Mind Control,” lean more into the house music realm that she's more known for nowadays,  while others on the album, like “Digressions,” have heavier drums and bass sound, evoking another half of sound that she's known for.  She conquers the light and feathery sound with her song “Cover Me,” completing the album's full-circle of sounds. 

A repetitive musical phrase seems to be a common theme throughout all of these songs. We hear it in tracks like “So Close,” where what sounds like a clarinet gives the song a sort of Egyptian feel. This song does a great job at truly capturing the feeling of the album's title, Desert Trash. Mija does a great job creating the sound, showing off just how many sounds and textures she can work with at a time.

While “So Close” feels like a video montage or a tour announcement sounding song, tracks like “The Thrill” give off more of an eerie vibe. Once again, using the pattern of repetition mentioned before. The piano riff in the song is so haunting and mysterious, which makes it give off a feeling of completely feeling weightless. When listening to this album, you never know where the next track is going to take you.