Tor miller music11/11/2022 “I was stuck back in my hometown with no prospects of what to do next-no idea.”ĭepressed and uninspired, he reconnected with his old childhood mentor, a local producer, who listened to sketches of new material, inspired by the bleak suburban life he thought he’d fled for good. Despondent, he moved back in with his parents in New Jersey, disillusioned by where he had ended up. “I didn't have an apartment and hardly had any money after touring so much and you realize that everything comes out of your pocket in the end,” recalls Miller, now 24. Following his debut EP Headlights the next year, he released his first full-length, American English, in September 2016, putting him on an international tour that included stops at SXSW, Lollapalooza and multiple visits to Europe.īut when he returned to the States and the tour wrapped, it all came crashing down. TOR MILLER MUSIC PROFESSIONALIn early 2014, the Brooklyn native signed to independent label Glassnote Records, putting his professional career on track at 20 years old. I chatted with Tor back at Thanksgiving about what it’s like to regain total creative freedom as an independent artist, what to expect from his upcoming album (due out in May, as far as we know!), and the magic that happens when you find your creative community.After dropping out of college two years in to chase his musical dreams, Tor Miller found himself living them in real time. I’m back in the smoky piano bar trying to act like I didn’t just have a very efficient 30 second meltdown. It’s overwhelming and beautiful and takes my breath away… and then just like that at the 2:53 mark, it all goes back to normal. TOR MILLER MUSIC FULLThe moment at 2:22 when everything stops for a split second and comes back in full force feels like every memory I’ve ever had flooding into my mind at the same moment. And honestly, as a fan, I’m kind of pissed I didn’t get to hear it sooner - it’s a classic Tor Miller ballad that would have blended in perfectly on American English, full of soaring choir harmonies and that smoky piano bar feeling that his music captures so well. His latest single, “ All Time Low“, is one he’s been holding onto for years after being told he shouldn’t release it. But with the independence that leaving the hold of a label brings comes a new album, new shows, and the new ability to do whatever he wants without conforming to the vision of a larger entity. And of course, like all of us, he had to put the majority of his plans on hold while the earth shut down for a while. He started managing New York hyperpop artist, Mel 4Ever. He parted ways with his label, Glassnote Records. In the last two years, his career has seen some big changes. I feel just as confident recommending his music to a new coworker, a blogger friend, or my grandparents, and I haven’t been wrong yet. I’d argue that Tor surpasses that through the intricacies of his work, the elements that make it timeless. Too often when we talk about “accessible” music in the major label boardroom way, it’s about the lowest common denominator - something that’s inoffensive, simple, and easy for the majority of people to passively listen to. Mixing the energy of an old NYC detective film noir with the careful craft of modern pop music, Tor has written a catalogue of songs that can appeal to everyone. It was four quick tracks, just over 16 minutes, but it was all I needed to get hooked and remain on this bandwagon for nearly a decade. I discovered Tor Miller’s debut EP, Headlights, on this very day eight years ago.
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