Steve Kilbey (The Church): Why Under the Milky Way Means So Much | Beneath the Applause
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What makes a song stay with us for a lifetime? And why does The Church's *Under the Milky Way* continue to mean so many different things to so many people?
In this members-only episode of **Beneath the Applause**, Steve Blame looks beyond the interview with **Steve Kilbey**, frontman, songwriter and bassist of **The Church**, to explore the influences, insecurities and creative philosophy behind his music.
Kilbey remembers growing up in a British migrant family in Australia, where his father's passion for music introduced him to Frank Sinatra and the emotional power of songwriting. He recalls feeling he wasn't particularly good at anything and finding in music a way to prove himself.
He talks about the extraordinary influence of Marc Bolan and David Bowie, the teenage obsession that helped him discover his artistic identity, and why the music we fall in love with when we're young can remain with us forever.
Most revealingly, Kilbey explains his approach to writing lyrics. For him, the secret is **ambiguity** — allowing listeners to discover their own meanings rather than telling them exactly what a song is about.
And he challenges the idea that great art must come from personal suffering, arguing that imagination can be just as powerful as experience.
**Beneath the Applause** explores the people behind the music, looking beyond what artists say to understand the experiences, emotions and creative choices that shape their work.
Exclusive to members of **Pop the History Makers with Steve Blame**.
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