Louis Miles: Reflecting Dream Through Song on Latest Single 'Another Blue'

 

Though only releasing his debut single 'City Living' as late as April 2021, Louie Miles has already made a mark for himself as one to watch for his eclectic mix of dreamy vocals and entrancing guitar and piano melodies. Latest release 'Another Blue' sees Miles continue to adopt the nostalgia-inducing qualities of his initial release, this time opting for a somewhat more up-tempo style, straying slightly from the melancholy that enrobes 'City Living' and carries it from beginning to end. To suggest that Miles' work depicts an atmosphere of isolation, or even desolation may initially appear critical, however it is through this melancholic ambience created by Miles that music takes form and allows for the delicacy and melody of artists like Elliot Smith and Nike Drake to shine through. 

I spoke with Miles to talk the creative process behind 'Another Blue', taking inspiration from Roy Orbison to Dusty Springfield, plans for future musical releases and more.

(DH) - You released your latest single 'Another Blue' last month- how and when did the song come to be written?

(LOUIE) - 'I first came up with the chords for 'Another Blue' on the keys maybe around January/February time this year. Often when I'm playing keys or guitar, I like to mess around with different chord inversions/root notes and movements to create sequences until I find something that seems to be a product of both what I'm feeling and my own creative experimentation. Sometimes this can fall together instantly or take a couple weeks/months of tweaking ideas, for 'Another Blue' I remember spending a week or two of altering the chords before the words and melody came. The chords that came to be felt both quite soothing but unsettling, and reflective but progressive and those feelings reflected these quite intense dreams I was having every morning at the time. It was this that abstractly inspired 'Another Blue' which to me is about the emotional conflict experienced in your imagination which can be caused by change or perceived loss.'

- 'Another Blue' juxtaposes the melancholy and sedate pace of debut single 'City Living'. Was the decision to release a more upbeat- style follow up single a conscious one?

- 'It was pretty conscious. It was something I was aware of and had some conflicting thoughts about doing but did it anyways. I guess I have always enjoyed artists who can explore a large range of sounds, atmospheres and emotions but keep it all uniquely their own and this is an ethic of creating music that has always appealed to me. Another reason for this decision is I feel that in the last year alone, my own satisfaction with the music I have created, my creativity and my confidence creatively feels like it has skyrocketed, and each song consecutively I have recorded has left me with a 'this is the best thing I have ever done!' sort of feeling, and I guess quite impulsively I want to share this stuff before the way I feel about newer songs overshadows how I feel about older ones.'

- What was the recording process of 'Another Blue' like? Were you responsible for all instrumentation on the track?

- 'I remember as soon as I had the song finished with me singing/humming at the keys, the next day I woke up with a lot of energy to record it. I feel incredibly grateful to have had all that I needed within the flat between myself and my two housemates Zak and Dan to record a good sound with some lovely instruments. I recorded the guide track on keys, followed by recording the drums, which were set up in my small room. Bass came next then everything else followed. I spent around two to three days pretty obsessed with trying to finish the track before the excitement inevitably would calm down again. After a few days it was done and I was very pleased with it so quickly sent it off to get mixed by my talented friend Finn Howells. I impulsively bought a saxophone maybe two weeks after listening to to sax solo in Dusty Springfield's 'The Look of Love' and spent two months learning all the notes chromatically on it, and surprised myself to discover that I could still blow a sound from the few lessons I had in my early teenage years. After Finn mixed it I later discovered the right notes the right notes to overdub a part for 'Another Blue' which seemed to be the missing piece for the song. That was the song done.' 

- Any artists you've been listening to lately who's influence may have fed through onto the single?

- 'I can find it hard to say directly sometimes. Without me listening to 'The Look of Love' I wouldn't have bought the sax the next day, which wouldn't have then featured on the song. I had been listening to a lot of sixties western sounding music at the time like Scott Walker and Roy Orbison which has definitely influenced a lot of the music I have made these last few months. I love the arrangements in this music and think they have definitely in some way influenced the song. I know 'Time of the Season' by The Zombies had a bit of an influence on the mix too.'

- As an artist hailing from Birmingham, are there any local acts you'd suggest checking out?

- 'Studying in Liverpool these last few years makes me wish I was a bit more in touch with the music scene locally around Birmingham and there's many I'm sure I'm yet to listen to. Myles Newman I am a fan of though, he records it himself, has a really cool sound and some lovely songs. Definitely look forward to hearing what he creates in the future.'

- And finally, do you have plans for any future releases?

- 'I have a few tracks that are finished, in terms of the mix, that will hopefully be online in Autumn, and an EP to follow that, which I recorded all this year. I feel pretty excited to share them as I have found an enormous amount of fun and satisfaction in recording them.' 

Listen to 'Another Blue' on all major music streaming platforms now.