Brighton-based indie-alternative rock band Miler have released their new single, Betty, from their upcoming Your Best EP. We asked vocalist Calista Morgan the BIG questions . . .
The band name Miler comes from a racehorse term for a horse trained to run only a mile at a time.
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Led by Hastings-born songwriter and vocalist Calista, the band also have Cork roots and their music moves through “confessional indie, hazy shoegaze, brooding ’90s grunge, country-tinged slow burners and huge, cathartic crescendos”.
Speaking about Betty, Calista says: “It’s about the last conversation I had with a friend before she died, in which she told me to think carefully about my life and what path I was on, before I ended up on a path like hers.
“This has very much shaped the EP as it is quite a personal self-reflection and exploration of my experiences and how I let them shape me, and the parallels in our life that she warned me against.”
Tell us three things about yourself . . .
I’m a massive Beatles girlie, named our dog after Ringo but I’m kind of a George purist.
I really love confessional style song writing and poetry, I find it a lot easier piecing together your thoughts and feelings using a song when you don’t know how to express yourself to those around you.
I used to do talks on sea life at an aquarium, so if you ever come see us play and we run into a tech issue, know you will be learning some shark facts.
How would you describe your music?
The songwriting is very personal and I will normally kick things around for a few years before it’s shaped into a finished song, so the narratives can go on a bit of a journey. Miler’s sound is the result of a real love for rock and alternative music, but its foundations are definitely rooted in a background of traditional folk music, stemming from Ireland and Northumbria mostly. I would say our sound right now feels similar to Sharon Van Etten, Mitski and Wolf Alice.
Who are your musical inspirations?
We have a really broad range of musical inspirations, but artists like Stevie Nicks, Florence and the Machine, Kate Bush, Ellie Rowsell – they have always been constant sources of inspiration for sure.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
My first ever gig was to see Femi Kuti when I was 10. As teenagers we went to as many gigs as we could, but I remember specifically that as soon as we were old enough to go to venues by ourselves me and Mikey (bass player) went to see Wolf Alice.
What was the first record you ever bought?
The first record I ever bought was an Elvis album when I was eight years old with a HMV voucher from my Nana, was definitely just trying to replicate her collection so I could have it at home haha.
What’s your favourite song right now?
I can’t stop playing Cradle the Pain by Morgan Nagler and it’s driving everyone around me up the wall.
Favourite lyric of all time?
Tricky question! One of my favourites of all time would have to be the lyrics in Winter Song by Lindisfarne. Alan Hull always wrote humanity and imagery so well, and he’s so right, Santa is an American astronaut.
If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life, what would it be?
Mine is Run of the Mill by George Harrison, as a band it’s probably Girl in a Sportscar by Alan Hawkshaw.
Where can people find your music/more information?
You can stream it in all the usual places and find us @milerband on socials. Come to a gig and have a chat though, we’re dead friendly I promise 🙂
Alan Corr