So I may be a bit biased but I have been in the mood for thinking, contemplative music. Finn Miles provides this effortlessly. With a gentle voice, steady strumming, and songs to dream to it is obvious that he values more than just the "performance" of music. He has drawn from his pure passion and heart.
With songs that stretch from "Looper" to "Catch You if I Can", Finn Miles has a comfortable range that never lingers too far from the core of his music. He is the type of artist that you could just as easily tap your feet to as you could cry.
Let's just say he had me at the intro of "Metamorphosis"... ;)
Who/What inspired you to pursue music?
I was inspired in college to take up guitar and harmonica in order to learn how to play the blues. The Animals version of "House of the Rising Sun" was the first song I became obsessed with. Once I learned the basics of guitar it seemed natural to write lyrics, jam, and be musically creative.
How do you usually write your songs?
I usually start with a concept, or a single "thesis" line; then I pick up my acoustic guitar and start trying to find the song's soul. Songwriting is very much like sculpting; I am usually working on a number of projects at once. I'll sit down and chip away at a lyric or melody, then come back to it in a week or two and continue to whittle away, bit by bit.
(see Tarkovsky's 'Sculpting in time' http://www.longpauses.com/blog/2000/02/sculpting-in-time-1987.html)
What is the first artist you remember loving as a child?
The Beatles. I believe there is some embarrassing family footage of me strumming a tennis racket and lip-syncing to 'Help' somewhere on an old VHS tape in my parent's basement.
If you could collaborate with one musician, dead or alive, who would it be?
I would collaborate with Sufjan Stevens, just to see get an inside glimpse at his songwriting method. The guy is a genius!
What is your dream venue to play?
Austin City Limits would be a dream come true.
If you could experience another decade of music first hand, which would it be?
It seems like a trite answer, but I really believe the best music is yet to come. I'm excited about 2010 and beyond because I think it'll be the first decade of true post-rock music; the innovation of independent musicians is bound to churn out some indescribably good tunes.
If a movie is ever made about your life, who would play you?
I suppose I would play myself. If I wasn't available to play myself I'd ask Tobey Maguire to stand in.
If you could pick a gemstone to symbolize you and your music what would it be?
Opal. It's generally earth tone and blue; it's calming and has a lot of texture and depth.
Is there anything that I haven't asked that you'd like to say?
Live simply. Whistle. Say hi to people. Play music. Read a book. Learn how to love.
Watch for a new Finn Miles album and a tour in Fall 2010 at www.finnmiles.com!
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