
About this episode
Crispian Mills (Kula Shaker)
'It's something to do with control and chaos'
Crispian Mills is best known as the songwriter, singer, and guitarist behind Kula Shaker, and his writing stands out for how boldly it blends classic pop craft with spiritual curiosity.
At a time when Britpop leaned heavily on irony and everyday realism, Mills zigged toward mysticism—pulling from Indian philosophy, psychedelic rock, and ’60s melodies, sometimes even weaving Sanskrit lyrics into radio-friendly songs.
Crispian Mills is a great example of a songwriter who fully committed to his inner obsessions—and in doing so, carved out a sound and lyrical identity that still feels singular.
Kula Shaker existed in an alternate reality.
Emerging in the midst of Britpop’s lad-culture swagger and retrograde cool, they appeared like a luminous anomaly — flooded with Sanskrit and sitar-drenched feedback as they became one of Britain’s most exhilarating live bands.
Fronted by the spiritually restless Crispian Mills, the band carved out their own mystical counter-narrative, fusing British psychedelia and eastern mysticism that felt less like a gimmick and more like an invocation.
Phenomenal success soon followed. How many other artists can claim to have actually headlined Glastonbury twice in the same weekend? Scored one of the fastest selling double-Platinum debuts of all time, a run of Top 10 singles, and opened for Oasis at their era-defining Knebworth shows?
Now Kula Shaker are set to prove that they're back at the top of their creative game with their eighth album WORMSLAYER .
Still consisting of their original line-up - best friends Crispian Mills (vocals/guitar), Alonza Bevan (bass), Paul Winterhart (drums) and Jay Darlington (Hammond organ)
Website: https://kulashaker.os.fan/
Elijah's book - The Songwriters Handbook:
https://amzn.eu/d/02CYvGRC
Theme music 'Wake Of The Dawn' by The Gravity Drive:
http://www.thegravitydrive.com
Get every episode summarized
Each time Songwriting For Songwriters publishes, we email you a written briefing from the transcript — the topics, who appeared, and any specific claims, with the ad reads skipped.
Email me new episodesFree for 3 shows. No card needed.
Hosts & guests
No transcript yet
This episode has not been transcribed. Request it and it moves to the front of the queue.
More episodes
More from Songwriting For Songwriters

Graham Fellows
Songwriting For Songwriters

Rick Witter (Shed Seven)
Songwriting For Songwriters

Ian Gillan (Deep Purple)
Songwriting For Songwriters

Cole Stacey (India Electric Co)
Songwriting For Songwriters