Hailing from Central Pennsylvania, renowned alt-country and folk singer-songwriter Pete Miller released his debut album, "Live On Record" on August 12, 2022. The album's release has been met with both critical praise and commercial success. Two singles, "A Light out There" and "The Raven and the Dover," reached the UK iTunes Top 20, amassing more than 175K Spotify streams between them. When not making music, Pete Miller is working blue collar jobs that he finds around him. Studying mechanics part-time, he often takes up work at warehouses, lumber yards, construction sites and more. With his music, he aims to reflect on the blue-collar lifestyle and share his deepest feelings in stripped-down and down to earth songs.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hey Pete Miller, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
Just listening to it…My mother introduced me to her many doses of Pink Floyd, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Jethro Tull, and Jackson Browne…From there, I really expanded my search backwards from the 70s and 60s into 50s music, which has always inspired me…When the great Arthur Crudup’s song, “That’s All Right” was re-invented by Elvis, it changed everything in the music world…So, it’s just the constant expansion of listening to things I’ve never listened to that keeps the train rolling…Now, I always listen to Classical Music…I like Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Chopin, and Tchaikovsky quite a bit…Now I am leaning towards Dvořák, whose music is extremely beautiful and haunting…I always try and listen to something from the past I haven’t heard before…Now, I am getting into Marty Robbins…And Hank Garland, whose musical talents are, today, undervalued in the highest degree…Thanks a lot…PETE
Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of music?
Well, I take engineering classes in my free time…I like to constantly bombard myself with more things to do, so then I have goals…I like hiking with my dogs…
Your latest song is 'Hard to Find'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
I will re-record this as the second to last album…It’s just about a man trying to get away from sin, but keeps walking into it…And meets the Devil, or a fiend of some sort, who is holding up a room with a bow and arrow…And tells the man a lesson, which he goes on to utilize in his sinful actions…Which only puts him in more despair…Again…Lots of issues here with the recordings…I never added the last verse, unfortunately…Will do so later on…
Can you reveal the recipe for a musical hit?
I haven’t a clue…I still haven’t gotten there…Still learning…
What are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as an artist?
Just keep learning from my mistakes…And get better as a writer…And not make so many mistakes…I have become a bit clearer in the head…Erasing a lot of things…And focusing more on newer songs…I have a bit less pressure about paying my fees to the management, which was causing me a bit of stress…Now, that I have a few extra bucks in my pocket, I’ll take my time and start recording in about a month…And keep doing it until the train needs to take a break…
What inspires you as an artist? Could it be the sea, the weather or something else?
Yes, the “sea”, the “weather”…Anything can…There’s inspiration everywhere…It comes from the mundane, the spectacular, and the dread or joyful parts of life…
How do you spend your free time? What makes you feel relaxed?
I like to read things…I have a huge pile of books, though, that need to be read…I like to take hikes with my dogs, too…I’ve also started collected vinyl records and am learning, now, how to clean all the Goodwill finds…
Do you have a mentor or coach?
I’ve had mentors and coaches all the way from my youth until now…They never stop…God is good and loving and sends to me the people I need the most in my life…I trust I’ll have mentors and teachers all my life…Everyone from my tennis instructor (from my youth into my teens) to my fifth grade teacher to my English and art teachers in high school…And then many more I met afterwards who helped me gain a heightened spiritual sense, while also helping me with my health…And, then, many more who helped me with jobs and who taught me their musical influences…I’ve had so many to count and am eternally grateful for them…And, of course, family members and friends are always mentors to me…But, God is Number Uno…
Do you think it's easy to become established in the music world, or is it difficult?
I’m not quite sure…I haven’t put all my music out yet…Once I do this, I suppose, I’ll figure that one out…I just need to get the art right and pristine in my eyes before I can think about this question…As It’s not a career for me as of now…But, simply, more of a hobby
What accomplishments do you see yourself achieving in the next five to 10 years?
Well, I have a bit of trouble focusing too much of what’s that far ahead of me…In the next year, I hope to put out more “Live on Records”…(The last two being Retakes of the first recordings and the last one being, merely, covers of songs that I always loved)…Thanks a lot for the questions…I appreciate it and sorry being so late with this…Many Blessings to you, PETE…