_

Your music has always had a really emotional quality to it. What do you think has changed the most about your approach to songwriting since you first started?

Jamie Miller: I feel like my whole career has been very sad, and I feel like this year, walking into this year, like I took two years off of music, and I’m just happy. I feel like I’m just really happy for once. And I feel like that’s just like reflecting in the music that I’m making. And I feel like I, I was worried about putting “Babydoll” out because it’s such a departure from what I’ve done in the past, but I feel like fans, like, actually can see me happy, and it’s like kind of cool just to be happy and not sad. Yeah. So I don’t know. I don’t know.

You’ve had huge moments with songs like “Babydoll” and “Here’s Your Perfect.” Does having a song connect with people on that level change the way you think about what you want to write next?

Miller: No, to be honest, like I feel like I created an album this year just purely out of like love and excitement for music again. I feel like I just got my spark back, and I had no expectations for “Babydoll” to, like, be what it’s doing right now. So I don’t think so. I feel like I’ve just made music that I love, and the music that I’ve always wanted to make. So now it’s like, cool, that I get to put that out into the world and see what, see what it does, and see how it changes people’s lives in a way. I feel like “Babydoll” is like, really like unified people. And that’s like been like the most amazing thing to come out of it. So yeah, I don’t think I’m doing anything to create a hit. I’m just doing stuff to- that I love to put out there.

You and Antonio Cipriano first connected on the “Babydoll” dance trend before you actually collaborated on it. When did you first realize that you wanted it to be a collaboration?

Miller: The day we actually did that video was the day we actually recorded the vocals. He, I’ve been a fan of him for so long. He’s like one of the most talented people and kindest people out there. His voice in person is ridiculous. So yeah, I just like, I reached out to him, and I was like, jokingly, I was like, “Hey, if you want to ever be on Babydoll, like this spot’s there.” And I was like joking. And then he replied, like, “Oh, if you’re not joking, I’d love to be on it.” And then he flew out to LA. We recorded it, and it was like one of the best nights of my life, just getting to know each other and just sharing stories. And he’s like, honestly, a phenomenal, phenomenal human being as well. It’s like magic.

What is your creative process like? How do you know when a song is finished?

Miller: Normally the day I write it, I don’t, I don’t really change anything. I write, I wrote Baby Doll- and we didn’t we changed nothing. Like it was like very just like I’m, I’m a very quick, like I believe in like, if something feels magic in the room, then it’s magic. And then if you try to turn it into something that is not, then it takes away the magic. So yeah, I’m very much like, we created Baby Doll in a day, finished it, and that’s the version that the world heard.

You’ve built a really strong connection with your fans online. What is the most memorable fan interaction you’ve had?

Miller: Oh, I would say like, I went on tour last year, and like, I was able to have like conversations, like my meet and greets, and like just hearing people say that my music has helped save their life in some way, or like I’ve been like, I’ve been with them at really dark times, is like such a beautiful thing for like an artist, because I’m, I feel like if I’m being honest, like I’m a very insecure person, and like, I feel like I count myself out a lot, and I put myself down a lot. So like to hear those reactions in person, it’s just like, almost like, so validating that like I’m doing something right, because most of the time I’m putting myself down for something. So it feels very cool.

Let’s go back to talking about making music for yourself as opposed to trying to make a hit. What does that look like for you?

Miller: I mean, like growing up, I listened to like a lot of like Motown, like, and soulful music. My dad introduced me to like, Stevie Wonder and Donny Hathaway and The Temptations and just like the great music, like really old soul kind of vibes. And I feel like that’s kind of always the music I’ve wanted to make. I feel like once I sing like my favorite covers, it’s never like I wanted to make music like, I sing my favorite covers, you know? And I’ve never really had that. And then this year, I just like took away all of everybody’s opinions. I was always around people who, like, wanted me to be the next person that was working at the time. And I was like, I felt like there was just room for everybody. But I was always made to feel like I needed a change to like make it in the industry. So yeah, I feel like for me, I went away this year, and I just made a whole album that for me, like didn’t necessarily sound like hits, but it sounded like music that felt like Jamie. And I felt like that was like what I saw as success, because I wasn’t trying to be anybody else other than me. Finally. And yeah, I don’t know, I feel like “Babydoll” was just like fun. And I’m, it’s like I’m having fun. Whereas like before, I think I always was chasing the hit. Whereas like I finally walked into this year, and I let go, and then things started happening.

Do you feel like you’re going to just be having fun going forward?

Miller: Hopefully. I mean, that’s the goal. I feel like the joy I felt this past eight weeks has been undescribable. Like, I didn’t even know, like happiness, like this could exist. And like seeing the love that the world has given me has been phenomenal. So like, if like, I just want to carry on feeling this way. I know it’s, I know, like things change, and nothing really lasts forever. But if I could just carry on feeling the way I do now for a while, I’ll be happy.

You’ve been sharing the stage with the Jonas Brothers, and you’re performing with them tonight. First of all, how do you feel? And what’s most exciting for you about sharing the stage with other incredible artists?

Miller: It’s crazy, to be honest. Like, they were like the soundtrack of my childhood. Like Camp Rock was my favorite. I, I, I’m finding it hard to like, process like what, like, the opportunities that come on my way. And especially the Jonas Brothers are my, my manager called me and told me that I booked it. He was like, “Check your calendar.” And I checked my calendar, and I was like, opening up for the Jonas Brothers. And I just sobbed like a baby. But I just feel like it’s like such an amazing thing for them to, like, invite me on to their platform and to like champion me the way they have. And they’re incredible people. Like, we just did the podcast with them yesterday, and they’re just like amazing guys. And I was like really hoping that they were going to be everything I wanted them to be. And, and they are. And I don’t know if I’m answering your question right.

What are you most looking forward to in the next year?

Miller: I think I’m most looking forward to doing my own world tour and like meeting everybody out there that like has been supporting me for my own shows, which would be very exciting, and to like put out an album and show people the world that I’ve made over the past year and a half. And yeah, very excited about everything that’s coming.

I removed every “um” and tidied punctuation and capitalization (song titles, names, quotation marks around reported speech). I left all other words alone, including the stutters and repeats like “I, I” and “like.”

Watch Jamie Miller on BeatRoute Express:

@beatroutemedia

Get to know Jamie Miller a little better on BeatRoute Express 💫 @Jamie Miller #jamiemiller #beatroute #babydoll #interview

♬ original sound – BeatRoute

Head to AdmitONE to see artists like Jamie Miller LIVE!