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Dirt Miller‘s music is a raw compilation of his own real-life experiences and the emotions he experienced fighting to stay alive mentally, physically and spiritually. A reflection of the soul. Evoking what many of us are often unable to express or articulate, bringing familiarity and solace to our own journeyed stories. Drawing from blues, folk and rock, the genre he creates is what one would describe as a cinema of sound, bringing back the essence of real, live musicianship. Miller's captivating vocals and gritty guitar playing makes his live performance one to be reckoned with. Raw, unassuming and with no apologies. A glimpse into a weathered soul, willing and wanting for what is just around the bend.
DIRT MILLER
SHARES NEW SINGLE & VIDEO FOR
"BLINDED BY SUBSTANCE"
OUT NOW
WATCH VIDEO HERE
"Dirt Miller Bares His Teeth Premiering Fightback Anthem, “Blinded by Substance'"
- American Songwriter
Single art by Dirt Miller
Los Angeles-based Alt-folk singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Dirt Miller, shares his new single, "Blinded By Substance," along with a music video that he directed himself. Fitting with the theme of directing himself, the song is exactly what it sounds like it's about -- it's Miller's wounded healer story of going from an addict to a sober visionary, who's sharing his experience with the world, in hopes of creating more hope for those who need it. Sometimes seeing someone else heal is enough proof that change is possible, and can serve as the spark to change and cause a ripple effect.
American Songwriter, who debuted the song and video, says, "Whether you know who he is or not, Dirt Miller deserves a tip of the hat. Anyone who continues to get back in the ring when that problem has soundly and repeatedly knocked you on your ass, that’s a damn hero. Even if it was only unto himself, Miller was his own hero and the very one he needed to survive. Literally. Then to be able to turn that into music, in the absolute midst of it all? That’s a tall order few people are capable of."
Miller comments on the song in an interview with American Songwriter, explaining, "Blinded by Substance” is a blunt description of my substance abuse. All my songs are about my true-life experiences and this particular song I started writing in the first rehab center that I went to, appropriately entitled about being blinded by substance of all kinds. Coming to the point of realization that you have fucked up your life so many times that there are really only two options… quit what you are doing or die... Since I was a kid, I always felt like there was a dark presence in my life trying to bring me down. I’ve had to fight it my whole life.”
"That’s a strong realization and while he may not be the only person to see the edge of the cliff barreling down on him, it still puts Miller into a rare circle of air that only the truly strong occupy. Though he’s sober now, Miller has had to outlast the darkness for decades," says American Songwriter. On the song itself, they add, "Turbo charged with authenticity, “Blinded by Substance” is a swollen, fast flying mix of blues, country, and folk with a touch of moonshine mountain / hill country. With vocals reminiscent to those of Marcus Mumford of Mumford and Sons but in a slightly higher register, Miller boasts a raw and gritty honesty uniquely their own. A glimpse into a weathered soul, willing and wanting for what is just around the bend."
Dirt Miller says, “The vibe of the song is a symphony of sound bringing back real live music and instrumentation. The inspiration…the raw and real of my life.” Having directed the video to accompany the song, he was able to connect the feeling to a visual, with a little help from Jonathan Windbush, an amazing graphic artist who works on a lot of major motion pictures (ie: the Marvel movies) in order to get the creative vision from Miller's head into video format.
On this collaboration and the video as a whole, Miller says, "Having him [Jonathan Windbush] on board was a major blessing. Jonathan really saw and interpreted what was already in my head, and seldom does that collaboration happen so effortlessly. In the end, I wanted to create a video different from everyone else. Originally, my plan was to create a candid glimpse into the life of an addict with real-life explicit content. Basically the REAL shit that’s going on... but I don’t think people could handle it. If I had it my way, the video would’ve been much more explicit than it was, but instead I decided to tone it down for public consumption. Having a team around me that really “gets me” and is able to interpret and all collaborate together effectively is key. It allows me to be free as an artist and to communicate my music alongside visual content in a way that feels authentic. My hope is this video will resonate with my fans similarly as the music already has."
The song is definitely resonating with Spotify playlists and can be found on Deep Roots, Cofee House Faves, Roadtrip Vibes, Melancholy Rainy Days, and American Roadtrip. With more music on the way, be sure to look out for more from Dirt Miller.
Photo credit: Cami Bradley Photography
Photo credit: Cami Bradley Photography