Our artist this week is a singer/songwriter/producer and more! His name is Blake Miller, and he is quite the musical talent. We were lucky enough to sit down for an exclusive interview with him, and we got to learn a ton about this incredible artist. We’ve listed some of his accomplishments below, as well as his new EP Baybe Food which just dropped, and of course, the interview. Enjoy!
Blake Miller has been the voice behind well-loved Los Angeles indie band Moving Units, the brains behind Weird Science (feat. Steve Aoki) and the balls behind Lies In Disguise (feat. Le Castle Vania).
He’s played Coachella (twice), toured with rock legends (Nine Inch Nails, Smashing Pumpkins, The Pixies and Blur) and DJed around the world (including Electric Daisy Carnival).
He’s also garnered his share of notoriety in print (Rolling Stone, NME, AP and Nylon) and the blogosphere (Big Stereo, Palms Out Sounds, Discodust), to name a few.
After all these years of touring the world and collaborating with other musicians he’s finally found his voice in his new solo project, simply titled…’Blake Miller.’ Expect big things from Blake in 2012 and (if the Mayan’s permit) for years to come…
Blake’s first solo EP ‘Baybe Food’ dropped on Beatport recently via Burn the Fire Records. The EP contains two blistering tracks, both of which feature new original Blake Miller vocals and lyrics. The A-Side, “Gada Let Go,” is a dubstep monster that features Paradigm and Cold Blank’s Chris Gaspar. The B-side, “Four Leaf Covr,” is a beast of an indie-electro tune with a pulsating bassline that will ignite dance floors. This track again features Chris Gaspar as well as up-and-comer Anzo.
Grab the EP on Beatport HERE.
Preview the EP:
What was it like growing up in Detroit? How did the music scene there influence you?
Detroit is a freaky place. Guns, rock music and trucks were popular. A college radio DJ friend introduced me to underground techno and acid house. I was instantly hooked.
It seems like you have your hand dipped in every realm of music right now, how do you find time to balance all of it?
There is no balance. Everyday is a hardcore hustle. When something I produce connects with a crowd I just run with it.
How was Moving Units formed? What’s your favorite part about working as part of the band?
I wrote “Between Us & Them” and formed a band around the vibe of that song. My favorite part is writing disco basslines. That’s where the sex is.
Tell us about your partnership with Steve Aoki, Weird Science, and how it has impacted your career.
Steve asked me to collaborate with him for a Bloc Party remix. We had no idea what we were doing but we had fun making it happen. It boosted my career and changed my state of mind in a huge way. Now I have a club DJ and band guy wrestling for control of my soul.
What is one thing people should know about you?
I never say “never”.
Under interests, you say ‘Brightness + Darkness.’ What do you mean by that?
I thrive under extreme conditions. Everything in the middle sucks. It’s boring and it’s crowded.
What was the motivation behind your new EP Baybe Food? How do you feel about it now that it’s finished?
I wanted to produce something polished for the clubs but I hate the slick EDM image. For production, we used big synths, lush vocals and dirty basslines. For press, we used sadomasochistic cover art to create a Warholian disco priest vibe. I’m proud of it and I love the way it hits on a system. Will the world care? Who knows – I’m happy!
Who are your musical influences? How do they impact your style and work ethic now?
David Bowie, Daft Punk, Iggy Pop, Giorgio Moroder, Aphex Twin. They influenced my provocative style and urge to fuck with the status quo. My work ethic has always been the same: keep pushing ’til you get results. repeat.
What’s playing on your iPod right now?
Early 80′s shit like The Cure, Depeche Mode also King Tubby and Basto’s “I Rave You”.
What’s next for Blake Miller?
Composing music for a Sundance Film Festival indie film, producing new Moving Units and releasing my “Thundrwall” single on Dim Mak. Then I’ll either hang with jungle monkeys in Costa Rica for a few or overdose on Xanax and tequila. Stay tuned to find out!
Connect with Blake Miller
1 comment
Lee Krysinski on Facebook says:
Jun 18, 2012
Blake Miller