Jamie Miller, at one time best known for a third-place earning run on The Voice UK in 2017, is now making himself known for heart wrenching honesty through his own music. He’s released a slew of singles and covers over the past few years, including October’s The Things I Left Unsaid EP.
On a new path in 2023, he’s snagged himself a new management team and is currently on tour with Eric Nam, hitting cities around North America through the end of November. We caught up with him right after the release of The Things I Left Unsaid to learn more about the relatable artist. Keep reading for the full interview!
Jamie, what are you looking forward to the most on your tour with Eric Nam? You’ve signed with EN Management, so you’ve got quite a few connections to him and his camp now. What’s that feeling like now?
Yeah, I feel like before I signed with EN, Eric was one of my closest friends of last year. He just kind of helped me transition into a new team and [form] a new perspective in the music industry. Because I think last year was so rough for me personally, that kind of bled into my professional life. I think I’m excited just to do it all again – but in the right way… I think I’m just excited that I’m going on tour again, being able to perform in front of thousands. I think signing with a new team is just one of the best things I could have done for myself.
For The Things I Left Unsaid EP, how did you decide on the tracklist? Will any songs that didn’t make it be released in the future?
I started the process back in December. I felt like the reason why I picked those six songs is… listening back to songs after you’ve written them for so long, after having them in your phone for so long, I think those were the six that kind of spoke to me in terms of, “Oh wow, they’re really a part of my life in every aspect!” So, I feel like that’s why I picked them. But I definitely, definitely think there’s songs that didn’t make it that will make my future debut album for sure.
What is your favorite song from the EP?
I was in Asia a second ago, like last week, and I was doing a press trip. I feel like one of the songs that really resonated there was a song called “Maybe Next Time” on the project. I felt like writing that last year for me was a really special thing, because I was having such a writer’s block and a creative funk in my mind. I felt like after writing that, that was kind of the shift into this next era, so I would say “Maybe Next Time.”
What song was the most difficult to create?
Oh, I would say “Empty Room,” because I wrote that about my grandma. I lost my grandma a few years ago, and I felt that I never really had the closure that I needed, like saying goodbye to her and stuff like that. I would say “Empty Room” just because I think it brought up a lot of emotions, and hearing how much it connected with other people too. I think that’s a difficult one. I think I’m gonna find that one difficult to sing on tour for sure.
What is one thing you want fans to know about Jamie Miller? Is there anything in particular that you think people should know about you?
Honestly, I feel like that’s a good question because I feel like on social media – and I’m trying to break this habit – I’ve always tried to portray myself as perfect, and my friends always say to me, “Why don’t you show people the real Jamie?” I’m the most carefree person you’ll ever meet in your life, but the minute a camera’s on me, I try to be this different person. I need to start showing my funny side. I just find it really hard when a camera’s in front of me to not be like this, but it’s like some mode kicks on. When I’m with my friends, I’m just that carefree, normal guy that everybody has as a friend. I need to show myself more.
A lot of your songs center around heartbreak, and many center around tough times in life. Is that something that you often find inspiration from? Is it through your own experiences of heartbreak normally, or do you take inspiration from other art or situations that don’t necessarily involve you?
I would definitely say everything that I write about my life personally, whether that’s heartbreak in love, or that’s breaking up with a friend, or even if it’s work situations, I feel like no one really talks about the aftermath of losing a friend or losing a job or something like that. And touching back on last year again, I used to feel like it was just a really difficult year for me because it was so, so transitional. It was so scary that I was leaving certain things, certain people. I think that’s why The Things That I Left Unsaid came about, because there were so many things that I was trying to be for so many people. I kind of just lost touch of who I was, and I feel like that’s why I wrote this project.
What’s your creative process? Do you think you work best collaboratively or solo? Is collaboration how things come about often, or is it more that you don’t really know until it happens?
I would say I definitely work better if someone’s in the room with me [and] bouncing ideas with me. I start a lot of my songs in a journal or in my notes app on my phone. There’s no better feeling than being with a songwriter who knows what you’re going through, what you’re talking about, that you can bounce ideas off of. Definitely collaborative, I’d say.
You’ve had a lot of obviously intense music experiences. Growing up, what role did music play in your life? Were you someone that was singing and putting on shows for your family and friends, or was it something that you grew into?
I’ll be honest, I used to take dancing way more seriously than singing. I used to travel the UK with my mum just going to dancing competitions and stuff like that. Then, when I kind of got the titles that I wanted out of dance, I kind of just turned to singing. It’s always been a part of my life. My mum put me in a theater school when I was like three. For me, it was more so kind of like a comfort blanket. Where I’m from, all my mates were like rugby players and football players, and I just wasn’t a sporty kid. I just didn’t have it in me, but I feel like music was a comfort blanket to turn to. Also, at the same time, [it was] very hard because you know how it was back in the day. If you were a singer back then or liked Justin Bieber or anything like that, automatically [people would say] you were gay, as if it was a bad thing… I used to go to choir class, and I would hide under the table so that my friends didn’t see me. Looking back now, it’s just wild to think about that. Like, the one thing that I was so embarrassed about is the one thing I’m celebrated for now.
It seems like it was a part of your life for a very, very long time. And even though you tried to hide it, or were embarrassed of it, it’s now something that you can take pride in.
There you go. Perfect.
You’ve done a lot of work internationally. How’s it been realizing that you have fans in cities and countries that you maybe haven’t even had a chance to visit yet?
I had that experience last week in Asia. I literally said that I was doing a little meetup, because I used to busk before I was a singer. And I just always said to my team, I was like, “I just want to go back to my roots!” [They were] like, “Well, while we’re here, let’s just go and busk.” I held this busking [event], and when I tell you I was so shocked… I thought like 10 people were going to show up, and it was like a thousand people. I was like, “What the f- is going on?” It’s just so strange, and so I can’t comprehend it still. That’s the thing. And then I did a mall show, and there were like seven security guards around me. I’m like, “What?” I was so confused. But at the same time, it was a “pinch me” moment that I’m on the other side of the world, and so many people care about the words that I have to say in songs. It’s definitely trippy, and I feel like that’s one thing that I’m really excited about: to travel again, especially this year, and next year when I’m doing my headline tour. To get that experience all over and go back to my hometown. I’ve never done a headline show on my own in my hometown!
So, there’s a solo tour in the works. Is that something that will be announced soon? Do people already know about it? What’s the vibes with the solo tour?
We’re actually planning. Me and my team are planning dates right now for a solo 2024 world tour, so no one knows really right now. But I’m definitely very excited. I think before Christmas, I’ll be announcing that.
It’s like an inevitable step in this new era for Jamie Miller, so I’m sure everyone’s expecting it. You’re also no stranger to covering other artists. How does your process of making your original music differ from making covers?
I feel like I saw most of my success at the beginning of my career through covers, and I feel like people wanted to hear my original music sound like my covers, and I felt like for me, [it was] kind of the same because I love the Adeles of the world and the Lewis Capaldis of the world. I think for me, I was very lucky that if I posted this Sam Smith cover, Sam Smith would find it and post it. If I posted a Kelly Clarkson cover, Kelly Clarkson would repost. Like, it was so random. But I feel like I always took such pride in singing other people’s songs that when it came to my own, I was like, “Okay, now I have to be on the ball!” People were impressed with me singing other people’s words. That’s the amazing thing about music, just the fact that it’s been able to translate and transfer into my own music and still give people the same feeling that they had when they heard me sing someone else’s song. It’s really cool to me.
Do you have any really obscure or niche music artists that you listen to?
I wouldn’t say obscure or niche, but I’m the biggest country fan known to man. I love it. Nashville is my favorite TV show. I mean, I just love country. And everybody’s so surprised at it. I think because I grew up in the UK, and we were so deprived of country music, that when I first heard that I was like, “I love it!” Dan + Shay, Rascal Flatts, Kelsea Ballerini right now. I love country.
What music has helped you pull out of a dark place or given you the needed inspiration for that time? Has it been mainly your own music? Are there any artists or albums that you’ve taken inspiration from?
Yeah, definitely! I felt like Adele’s album really helped me this past year. I think because she’s went through such a difficult time herself, her album was just phenomenal to me. And honestly, this year, I think I’m not one of those people like, “I’m healed! I’m happy!” Yeah, I feel like I’m in a much happier place, but there’s obviously still days where it’s hard. Kelly Clarkson’s new album, too, is one that has helped me through a lot. I think those two pieces have been incredible for my life.
Is there any other media that you find yourself talking about with your friends, or even binging in your room at 3 a.m.?
I would say I love, love, love Kelsea Ballerini in terms of music artists right now. If we’re talking about binging in my room, I’m a huge Bachelor fan. I watch The Bachelor all the time. What else? I’m one of those grandpas who scroll on TikTok until like 4 a.m. because I don’t have anything better to do. Yeah, I mean, except for singing, I love reality TV. And I’m not embarrassed to admit it.
Jamie Miller’s new EP, The Things I Left Unsaid, is out now.
Written by Lily Dabbs.
