Almost A Dirty Dozen with SHERI MILLER – November 2021

According to a recent press release: “Today, with the release of her sensual, swaggering new single “Gold Hearted Man,” singer-songwriter Sheri Miller announces her extraordinary new EP, Waking Up To This Miracle Life, a revealing, poetic, and deeply intuitive 6-song collection. Like much of the album, “Gold Hearted Man” is an intoxicating, passionate tune, one that taps into a primal kind of energy as it revels in the all-consuming power of physical and spiritual desire. “Basking in the afterglow of an emotional encounter, inspiration poured through me, and I composed this song in a hurricane flood of emotion,” Miller recalls. With Bova at the helm and backed by a core band of A-list session players including drummer Aaron Sterling (John Mayer, Taylor Swift), guitarist Tim Pierce (Adele, Bruce Springsteen), bassist Will Lee (Paul McCartney, Alicia Keys), and cellist Dave Eggar (Coldplay), Miller set about cutting the new songs over the course of multiple sessions in Los Angeles, New York, and Nashville.  She pushed herself to her limits and beyond in the studio, digging deep to deliver the kind of radiant and arresting performances the material demanded.” We get Sheri to discuss new music, influences, and more…

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets you put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

When writing this special record, Waking Up To This Miracle Life, I felt inspired how it’s a miracle to be alive; especially at this time. To wake up every morning with a heart beating of its own independent accord, lungs breathing oxygen without us turning on a power switch, seeing beautiful blue skies with our open eyes, smelling delicious fragrances of trees, roses, jasmine, hearing glorious notes resounding from orchestras, brass bands or finely crafted pianos, guitars, drums, listening to golden-throated voices, touching luxurious silk fabrics, and feeling magnificent emotions of love, appreciation, happiness, fun, exhilaration! How being alive in our physical bodies is such a gift; what an extraordinary miracle we have our genius cells working symbiotically in mysterious harmony. Though I don’t understand electricity or the miracle of being born, I’m glad to be here!  This record celebrates life passionately. Especially after pandemic, it feels so good to focus on the magnificence of being alive. How blessed and lucky we are.  The song “Waking Up To This Miracle Life” sings “I scream to the heavens I’m alive, I’m alive, walked through fire, survived, survived. World keeps spinning I’m inspired, I’m inspired, Waking Up To This Miracle Life.  I throw my hands up to the sky, see stars born in my mind’s eye, feel your love could almost cry, Waking Up To This Miracle Life.”  No matter what struggles you’ve gone through (we all have), there’s always hope, fun, and even joy waiting closely; You’re never alone.  If you believe in yourself, trusting there’s unseen help available to us- closed doors open, our timing gets good, and avalanches of beautiful opportunities flow like rivers into our experience.  Your tiny extra bit of optimism cracks the door open to success, love, and more of your dreams realized.  I choose to keep waking up to this miracle life! Yes, there’s great golden complexities, details, diamond nuances in every note struck, melody woven, word written, in every millisecond of each song. A HUGE focus and deliberate intention embedded in the DNA of these songs. They’re more complex, profound and rich than they innocently appear on first listen. If you’re an audiophile, appreciator of songcraft and poetry, then listen to these songs on repeat with high-fidelity headphones.  Let the music sink into your being like a happy clam sponge, take you over with delight!  Yes, wink wink, to secret hidden nuggets!  Listen, dear one.  Let me know what you discover.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

Yes!  My musical inspirations started with my mom, who’s a magnificent opera singer, classical pianist, composer and storyteller.  Age 8, while I was practicing classical piano on our Steinway, I had an inexplicable, overwhelming, exciting urge to compose music and lyrics to my own songs.  As a wee little girl, I wrote dozens of complete songs about eternal love, lost wandering desert tribes in “The Lost Tribe,” passionate rock ‘n roll stadium anthems about ‘rocking the nation,’ love songs to my mom, Linda, and to my secret crush I imagined was in California. I kept writing songs in my teens, though never made a conscious decision to ‘become’ a singer-songwriter. Thank God, for me it was a natural, easy, gradual, ‘gentle push’ of spirit; my soul led me to this choice.  It chose me, I chose it, I decided to answer the calling. I believe we are all called to something, and it’s never too late, no matter what age, circumstances, to answer this calling, following your bliss. My story is magical, powerful synchronicity at work. While in college, I was secretly writing lyrics in my bedroom and taking jazz piano lessons 20 minutes away. I started receiving the thought ‘wouldn’t it be nice to have a little keyboard in my bedroom, so I could write songs easily? I can’t fit a piano, I don’t have lots of money, wouldn’t a little keyboard be nice?’ So I started dreaming up this idea for months, until it exploded vividly one Sunday morning. I woke up in a surreal, groggy state, having passionately dreamt of owning a little Casio keyboard the night before. Instead of walking to the library, taking the faster, straight-shot city street path, I felt magnetically drawn, with a strong impulse, to take the longer, beautiful, winding path across campus.  While on this scenic route, I passed a one-day church sale, selling the EXACT Casio keyboard I dreamt the night before!   It was $20, and ecstatic by this little miracle, I began joyfully composing songs in my bedroom on this Casio keyboard.  It felt like my soul gave me the gentlest, loving push and wink, to trust myself; sometimes the longer, winding path has magic.  Faster isn’t always more rewarding or satisfying.  From that day forward, I’ve been composing and performing. The Casio keyboard manifesting was a tiny miracle of magic.  Miracles exist everywhere, if you choose to open your eyes, and allow yourself to dream.

3. Building on that, is there a specific song, album, performer, or live show that guided your musical taste?

Yes!  I love the Beatles, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Joni Mitchell, Ray Charles, Etta James, Ella Fitzgerald, Stevie Wonder, Carole King, Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen, Rodger & Hart, Duke Ellington, Beach Boys, Rickie Lee Jones, Bob Dylan, Springsteen, Coldplay, Mozart, Tchaichovsky, Piazolla, Sufjan Stevens, Alicia Keys, India.Arie, Prince, Queen, Freddy Mercury, Stones, Tina Turner, Tom Petty,  Bob Marley, James Brown, Gershwins, Rumi.  I adore the brilliant musicians I work with- Jeff Bova, Kate Baker, Will Lee, Tim Pierce, Chris Lord-Alge, Frank Filipetti, Joe Zook, Dave Eggar, Paul Shaffer, Steve Cropper.  There are endless musicians who inspire me, flowing through every time I create. I appreciate all who’ve come before, paving this diamond trail of delights.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be, and why?

I’d call in Chris Martin of Coldplay and Paul McCartney.  I think they’re both songwriting geniuses and I love the optimistic spirit guiding their work.  There’s underlying depth, complexity, love, passion in the bedrock of their art.  I resonate with their ‘classical meets pop’ influences, the epic-ness, and stadium-size of their work.

5. What is your favorite activity when out of the studio and/or not on tour?  What do you like to do to unwind?

When out of studio, not on tour, I seek joy, fun, pleasure.  You’ll see my silhouette wiz by running beside the arms of lush green-leaved trees outside, admiring resplendent nature with my every quickened oxygenated breath.  You’ll find me in a spectacular restaurant, closing my eyes as I find deep satisfaction in a truffle-based handmade spaghetti dish, vibrant with a wild kick of cheese, garlic and olive oil, crafted with love.  I’m a passionate artist who deeply loves art- be it a painting, a musical song painting, or a food art dish of delight.  I love to support artists and art – you may see me inhaling the brilliant music of another artist, at a concert too. Wherever there’s finely imagined and created art – you’ll find me.

6. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before? What is the one comparison a reviewer or fan has made that made you cringe or you disagreed with?

Luminous, passionate, epic, soulful, sensual, triumphant, authentic, powerful song stories, written on piano and guitar, influenced by the greats in all genres of music and poetry, creating a new singular, magic swirling wild blend of song art.  Sheri Soul Music, or SoWHOLE music. Yes, of course, though I make peace knowing no one else, outside of myself, can truly understand the music I create, believe in, am proud of, or “get” my soul’s intentions with my music.  I think each listener has a singular personal vibrational translation and perspective of music. And of the world.  5 billion perspectives.  I’ve learned it’s none of my business how someone receives my music. I do confess, though, I love it when someone is touched by my songs. It lights up my soul with a huge smile of happiness.

7. When was the last time you were starstruck and who was it?

When I performed on two occasions right before Lady Gaga and Norah Jones in NYC, meeting them after.  I think they’re both geniuses, wonderful spirits, and it was an honor to rendezvous with them.

8. What is the best part of being a musician? If you could no longer be a musician for whatever reason, what would be your dream job?

My favorite part is channeling the divine energy, being a conduit, in writing songs. Then receiving great ideas and excellent impulses, in a spirit of joy, fun and passionate focus, while recording these songs. Next the thrill of being an open vessel to this high frequency love energy, in performing these songs at concerts, with freedom and spontaneity.  And then whew! Maybe even influencing those in the audience to higher states of alignment, feeling good, and even inspiration, if they’re ready for it?  I adore music, I adore songs.  I love the core elemental frequencies of sound, melodies, words, poetry. I am a musician, and was born to be one. If ever I was to have another dream job, I’d be a spiritual teacher, public figure, book writer and poet.  Funny though, I do feel I’m these things already with my songs and music, and surprisingly they keep revealing themselves more in my career.

9. What is one question you have always wanted an interviewer to ask – and what is the answer? Conversely, what question are you tired of answering?

I’ve wanted you to ask: “What color does your music feel like?” or “What’s one word with a “G” describing your music? Answers: Bright purple-blue or glittering, brilliant rainbow. Super luminous, bright, glimmering, sparkling, shining vibrant colors. Glorious. I’d appreciate a new question instead of: “Do you write the music or lyrics first?”

10. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over,” even if it didn’t change your current situation?

I have no regrets. I have a magnificent music career, that keeps expanding with more fun, joy, passion, success, creativity, higher levels of conscious art. I feel super blessed to create music, be an artist, call myself a musician. I’m joyously anticipating what’s to come!  I believe I can be, do, have, anything – and that you can too!

11. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

I would love to be part of Sergeant Pepper by The Beatles, Graceland by Paul Simon, or a collaboration with Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington, though my answer is: I’d magically move into the future and peep at my most spectacular record I’ve yet to make, and take immense pleasure witnessing it from an aerial view.

Thank you for your generous time, reading my answers.  I hope you find this same pleasure and enjoyment in listening to my new EP Waking Up To This Miracle Life.  Much love to you.

SHERI MILLER LINKS:

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Category: Interviews