Blueburst is the musical brainchild of Craig Douglas Miller (The Reach), collaborating legendary guitarist Marty Willson-Piper (the church, Noctorum) to release his first new music in 20 years. With Blueburst, Miller and Willson-Piper have created lush, guitar-based alternative rock, firmly rooted in 80s alternative and post-punk, but with a timeless feel and foot pounding pace. In a world of often overproduced, slick alternative rock, Blueburst is unapologetically retro in style, proudly wearing it’s oldwave influences on its sleeve. “Most of my friends, and a lot of younger people as well, are still listening to the albums we grew up with, I think because there’s a rawness and honesty in that music. That’s what we aspired to here,” says Miller.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hello Blueburst. What first got you into music?
When I was a little kid, 3-4 years old, my parents had one of those stereo systems that was a huge piece of furniture, where you opened up the top and the record player was inside. I used to play records and stand there with the lid resting on my head while I watched the records go around. My parents thought I might have had brain damage or something. But I think I just liked being in the sweet spot right between the two speakers.
What do you think your role is in this world?
Gosh, that’s a big question! I think I’m here to take care of my wife and my dogs, and hopefully make the lives of the people around me happier and better and less angsty. I went through a lot of self-induced angst over the years, and I’d like to contribute to people maybe taking themselves less seriously and not wrapping themselves up in self-doubt like I did for a long time. I also think that I’d like to put some beautiful things out into the world before I’m done that might inspire some people or make them feel a little less alone, in the form of my music.
Your latest track is 'Vanish'. Can you share with us the background of its creation and did any unusual things happen during its creation?
Actually, my latest track is “Supernova”. Musically, that one started with me getting frustrated by going through a lot of old half written stuff I had that was very dark and depressing. So, I set out to write something new that would be happy. I played it for my wife and told her that I thought it might relate well to her sort of rebirth after getting sober, and she suggested the idea of “No one gets out alive”, as in, you’ve got to make the most of things while you’re here. From there I ended up writing the words about my own journey really, as I just turned 50 and had a sort of moment of clarity that I needed to stop worrying and just get on with life.
One thing that happened while writing it is that Marty had the idea for the key change that happens just before and just after the guitar solo. It’s something I never would have thought of, it was just a brilliant move that really brought that section, and the whole song really to a new level of joy. Massive kudos to him on that one, and for a whole lot of other stuff too. I originally played most of the guitar on Supernova, but ended up replacing my parts with Marty’s playing on most of it, as he played the same parts but with a little rock’n’roll sneer added that kept the song from getting too pretty and nice.
What is one message you would give to your fans?
Stop doubting yourself. Who cares? We’re all insignificant. Put it out there. Don’t listen to anything anyone else says that’s negative. You’re not living your life to keep people from criticizing you. If you do you’ll be sorely disappointed. Live your live for the people who get and appreciate what you do. Even if it’s just one person.
About three people total really listened to my first band, but one or two of them have reached out to me over the years and told me that the music meant something to them. So who cares that the band never made it? We made a couple folks’ lives better and that’s worth something.
How do you spend your time?
My day job is that I’m an advertising writer. So I spend time doing that, taking my dogs to the park, hanging out with my wife, going to shows more often lately as I’m trying to broaden my musical horizons. I’ve been trying my hand at some screenwriting, and enjoying that despite not having made anything yet. I’m picking up golf again lately, as I realized I needed a hobby that’s non-creative where I can shut that part of my brain down temporarily. It’s near impossible to be creative 12-14 hours a day, which is what I’ve been attempting.
And of course, I spend loads of time in my studio. I rent a practice space here in Atlanta where I can go to write and record and think about nothing but music.
What are you most proud of?
Outside of music, I’m pretty proud of the Domino’s Pizza ad campaign I wrote in 2009, in which Domino’s admitted that their pizza was terrible, and announced an overhaul of their recipe. I’d like to think that it maybe encouraged some who saw it to not be afraid to apologize when you’re wrong, and that it encouraged some corporations and/or politicians to try being a little more honest and quit bullshitting people.
I’m also proud of my marriage. It’s had it’s ups and downs but we’ve stuck with each other and get along better now than ever. So I’m glad I stuck with it. And that she stuck with it.
Musically, I’m quite proud of the music I’m making now. Because I think it’s the best I’ve ever done, and some people out there seem to really be enjoying and getting something out of the meaning of it. I’m also proud that I pulled myself together and did it after the journey it took to get me here after 20 years of just beating myself up mentally.
On a side note, working with Marty Willson-Piper has been a godsend. They say you shouldn’t meet your heroes, but in this case, Marty’s turned out to be even more that what I’d built him up to be in my head when I was a sixteen year old watching The Church on tour. Mentorship is not an easy thing to find at any age, and especially as a musician at age 50. Without Marty’s encouragement and sometimes tough love, none of this music would have come to fruition.
If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be?
Dang. That’s a tough one. I think I’m gonna go with Rush, as I learned to play guitar listening to those guys, and Alex Lifeson seems like he’d be a really fun guy to meet backstage and talk shop with. And I’d like to do it at Red Rocks in Colorado, while we’re at it.
I would say The Cure, but I think I’d just be too starstruck to meet Robert Smith and say anything coherent.
What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as an artist?
I’m learning piano. I’m experimenting with more alternate tunings on guitar to shake me out of my habits. I’m making an effort to listen to more new music instead of just pulling out the old favorites. I actually saw an article about that in Pitchfork today. (https://pitchfork.com/features/podcast/the-scientific-benefits-of-listening-to-new-music).
I’m a bit set in my ways and haven’t liked a lot of the “alternative” music that’s come out over the last decades. But I’ve discovered some really great new stuff recently, like Lucy Dacus. And I was blown away by seeing Lemon Twigs live a few nights ago in Atlanta.
Do you think that technology is improving lives?
Another tough one! I think medical technology is absolutely improving lives. It’s incredible what modern medicine can do these days, and I get so frustrated by people who assume that doctors don’t really know anything, which is absurd. Both my parents would be long dead without the incredible cancer treatments available now. And I’d probably be dead too, as I wouldn’t have ever known about the blood disorder I have, which thankfully has no symptoms if treated, but can kill you if not.
One thing I do think technology has taken away from us a bit is the sort of common ground we used to have of the music, film and TV that most of us watched or listened to and could then talk about. It’s all very fragmented these days, which I think means it’s unlikely you’re going to have these real milestone albums like The Joshua Tree that become part of everyone’s psyche.
And like most people, I have to question whether all this screen time is good for us.
And AI, that’s gonna change everything, very quickly. Some for good, some for bad.
But generally, I think technological progress is good, even though it always comes with downsides. i.e. The Industrial Revolution.
What are your plans for the future?
Keep doing what I’m doing. I’m quite happy at the moment. However, I would like to get a live act together for Blueburst. I just don’t quite know what form that will take yet. But I miss playing live, and I’d love to play these songs with a full band in front of a rapturous crowd!