Carolyn Miller
Feed the Band
Feed the Band
Carolyn Miller
Patrick L.
This is our 44th interview. You would think by now that surprises would be few and far between. Especially the ones that relate to my personal growth during the past two years. Yet today, I have had the largest growth I have ever had when it comes to country music. This genre that I have been listening to since birth has had its changes over the years. Some recent ones, like bro-country phenomenon, I think country music could do without. Recently though there is something that has completely made me look at country music in a different way. Our next artist on Feed the Band is redefining what a country music artist looks like.
If you told me Carolyn Miller’s pedigree two years ago, I would never have given her a second look. It sounds harsh I know, but keep reading. When I first started Southern Fellow, I rarely was interested in listening to female artists. That changed within a few weeks. Women in country music work harder than their male counterparts. That sounds pretty loaded, but for Southern Fellow that is a factual statement. Carolyn Miller is no exception. Being female though, is not what brought Carolyn to Feed the Band.
Carolyn Miller is a New York girl. Not only that, but she is a classically trained dancer, actor and singer. I know for some country fans, this is starting to sound bad. A few months ago I would be paddling that boat with you. Today though, I am here to tell you that Carolyn and other country artists out of the northeast are doing better country than many of their Nashville counterparts. No factory baked bro-country here, just real stories told by real people.
She may be from the big city, but Carolyn Miller is open and humble. Within a couple of minutes in conversation, I forget that we have only been talking for a few weeks. It feels like we have known each other for a couple of years. Carolyn’s hospitality is not limited to me, it is everywhere. She supports other artists every chance she gets and works extremely hard to connect with her fans. I could stop there and that would be enough. However, she also happens to be an amazing artist. Her vocal power and soul is on full display in her music. Songs like “Summer Time” and “What You Can’t Have” are heavy hitters for a new artist.
Carolyn Miller may be northern born, but she carries all the values we hold dear here at Southern Fellow. We had a great time creating a recipe for her. It’s going to be an amazing holiday appetizer. Give it a try and make sure to enter our giveaway. Let’s get to it. Here is our interview with Carolyn Miller.
Tell us about your road to country music.
Where I grew up, country music was never on the radio. My first real introduction to it came from Carrie Underwood on American Idol! I remember watching her season and loving every song she sang. Every artist she covered. Every group she collaborated with (i.e. Rascal Flatts!). That show ended up being really educational for me and helped me discover a genre I had never been exposed to before. Simultaneously, I was working in show business. I grew up doing commercials, voiceovers, theatre, film, tv, etc. I attended The Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music and majored in musical theatre — so I was honing my skills for this career without even realizing it. Fast forward a few years later, a door unexpectedly opened and I had the opportunity to record original music for the first time. Country was a no brainer for me – I loved the storytelling aspects, the weight of the lyrics and melodies, the honesty and vulnerability the artists display. I’ve always appreciated these qualities that carry such importance within the genre. I’m glad the universe gave me this opportunity to explore this other side of myself.
In your own words define success.
Happiness. Plain and simple.
What is something you never leave home without?
My iPhone. Wallet. Keys. A bottle of water. Chapstick…in that order!
What is your biggest fear?
Dying in a plane crash. I have that dream all the time! I get really nervous on airplanes.
We are always developing recipes here at Southern Fellow; when writing music, what recipe do you use?
My “recipe” or process for writing songs changes day to day. Sometimes I have a scheduled write session and I’ll go into the room with random ideas. Other times we just start talking about our lives or our day and a song with organically emerge. Sometimes I’m walking down the street and a hook or melody will suddenly pop into my head and I end up humming/writing an entire song into my voice memos on my iPhone on my walk home. It all depends! All my songs have different back stories.
What’s the most interesting thing about you that people may not know?
I danced a lot as a kid and into my early 20s. I’m actually an award winning choreographer and have had my pieces compete all over the country! I have always been an active member of the performing arts community in one way or another.
Connect with Carolyn
What is your first fond memory of food?
My aunt always throws the most epic Christmas Eve’s. We are Italian so we do a version of “Feast of the Seven Fishes” – but it’s more like SEVENTEEN! I always look forward to that every year. It truly is a feast in every sense of the word…I loved that holiday growing up! Still do. It’s my favorite one!
If you wrote a song about food, what would it be about?
Pasta or bread….I’m a huge carb lover 🙂
What does the coming year look like for you?
Lots of shows and lots of music!! I’m hoping to keep the momentum going and not keep people waiting for new songs. I’d like to release new music pretty frequently in 2020. The industry is ever changing but I think now more than ever, it’s time for single releases! Keep an eye out for a song called “Flatline” in the coming months – it’s a bit more edgy/rock, definitely influenced by my New York City roots 🙂
What’s your favorite thing to do when no one’s looking?
Kick my legs really high! I used to be a dancer and every now and then I like to kick em up for fun 🙂
Your new single “Summer Time” has a huge sound. Tell us about it!
This was written by my friends Lance Carpenter, Leah Turner, and Blake Bollinger. Lance texted me one day and was like “check this out” – I heard the first 30 seconds and was hooked. I loved the storyline, could totally relate to it, and couldn’t get the melody out of my head!! It’s just a blast to perform live. This song is your ultimate summer jam that reflects back on that one summer romance you’ll never forget. We all have one – it doesn’t matter if it happened when you were 14, 22, 35, etc…no matter how much time goes by, you’ll always remember those days like it was yesterday!
Try this inspired recipe!
You mentioned to us that you are married. What relationship advice do you have?
Swallow your pride and apologize. We all make mistakes – it’s how we fix them that can determine the way the rest of the night or week can go. Don’t be stubborn. You married this person for a reason – always give the benefit of the doubt! And laughter…you have to be able to make fun of each other and shake the little things off 🙂
If you were queen for the day, what would you try to achieve?
Eliminating animal cruelty. Rescuing every pet from a bad home and putting them into a loving one!
Is there anything else you want your family at Southern Fellow to Know?
I would love to connect with my Southern Fellow family over social media. If you read this article, please drop me a note and say hello on facebook or instagram: @carolynmillermusic!
It is an honor to have Carolyn Miller as the latest member to the Southern Fellow family. Please stream and download all of her music. You can find Carolyn Miller on all of your favorite music services including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon and YouTube. Also make sure to give our recipe for Zesty Taco Shrimp Bites a try. Carolyn truly inspired something fun. Also enter our giveaway for some merch. Join us next week on Feed the Band. We have country artist Bailey James making her debut. Thank you for being part of the Southern Fellow family.
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