JASON CHARLES MILLER – AN IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW

JASON CHARLES MILLER – AN IN-DEPTH INTERVIEW

By Ralph Beauchamp

Jason Charles Miller he is a man of many distinctions. He started his musical career as the singer and frontman of the industrial metal band Godhead. With Godhead, he played Ozzfest and toured the world with such acts as Rammstein and Disturbed. in the present tense, Miller has focused on a different audience. He is currently an accomplished singer/songwriter who has jumped into many genres including Americana, southern rock and blues in order to create something completely original and authentic. Miller will release his new album on 8/16 titled Knives in the dark via One Opportunity Records. Speaking of the new full-length:

“This is the first album I've written where my sole goal has been to write the best songs I can and not worry about where they might be categorized,” says Miller. “By not going out of my way to write about a certain genre, I've made what is, in my hands, the best – and most representative – album of my career.”

Stab will be Millerhis fifth full-length solo album, along with several EPs and singles and a number of high-profile scores and theme music works for shows and games, including 'Critical Role', 'Metal Gear Rising', 'Cyberpunk 2077', 'Legends of Multiverse and AEW pro wrestler Brandon Cutler. He will also be on tour later this month in support of Steel Panther.

Miller was kind enough to sit down with AMP to discuss his musical journey through life.

AMP: What made you want to become a musician?

MILLER: Obviously I sang a lot at home when I was a kid. I remember being on a train with my dad when I was around 4-5 and there was an amusement car at the back. There was a guy playing an acoustic guitar and a microphone. He sang and got no response. He then asked if anyone else wanted to come and sing. Not understanding sarcasm from a young age, I volunteered. I sang 'Take Me Home, Country Road' and it reportedly brought the house down. So at that young age, I already understood how powerful and exciting music could be. That gave me the bug and I never looked back.

AMP: Who are some of your early inspirations?

MILLER: My first records were John Denver and the Beatles. I grew up in rural Virginia, kind of out in the woods. So I could only listen to what I was exposed to and what I heard on the local radio stations. From there, my heroes became artists like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath. Also, being from Virginia, I listened to a lot of country music like Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson. And you can't forget Kiss. He was another big influence. So you can see my inspirations are pretty eclectic.

AMP: You were the frontman of the industrial band Godhead. How was that experience for you?

MILLER: It was life changing. We toured the world on every possible level. From crappy trucks to fancy RVs and buses. During the festival season, we flew around the grounds. We played Ozzfest and supported Marilyn Manson and Slipknot. It was an amazing time to be in a band. It certainly shaped everything that followed.

AMP: As a solo artist, your music spans many genres and styles. How would you describe your sound?

MILLER: I usually say southern rock or rock to keep it as simple as possible. I'm inspired by a lot of southern rock pioneers. Blues is another of my favorite genres, but I try to put my own stamp on both styles of music. Sometimes I say dark southern rock or goth southern. Honestly, I don't even know. Sometimes I rely on other people's perception of me. Americana is another motif I relate to. The thing is, I really don't think I fit into any of those categories.

AMP: You recently signed with One Opportunity Records. How did this happen;

MILLER: It happened by accident. I was on tour with Faster Pussycat last November. The owners of the record label came to visit one of their guitarists. They got there early enough to see my set. I didn't know I was showing for anyone, I was just playing my gig. That's what made them sign me. Actually, it took a while because I was still under contract with another company.

I really like One Opportunity's attitude and how they see the music industry. They are really like patrons of the arts. It's so important to have a label that really cares about promoting the art as opposed to just looking at the bottom line. I'm sure they want to be profitable, but they're just promoting the artists they like. It's a breath of fresh air.

AMP: Speaking of your new album, Knives in the dark falls on 8/16. Can you give us a little insight into the releases?

MILLER: It's a tale of two. I recorded four of the songs in February 2020. Right after that, I wanted to go on tour, but everything froze because of Covid. I was sitting on those songs until I finished the record, so during the pandemic I just put out a few albums of leftover tracks. I knew that if I put out an album of new material, it wouldn't get the proper promotion. So I kept the songs I really believed in. During this time I wrote a bunch more songs and ended up recording six of them.

Actually, Knives in the dark is a work inspired by JR Tolkien. There's a chapter in 'Fellowship of the Ring' called 'Knife In The Dark' and I thought about it a bit. The album's title track is about being haunted by your sins. The evils you have committed will come back and stab you in the back. Without realizing it, your rants will catch up with you sooner or later.

“The Enemy” is a friend or romance that you discover along the way has been manipulating you. You end up seeing them as an enemy. 'Digging In The Dust' is about a relationship that has gone horribly wrong and then gets even more complicated. He tries to revive a love affair from the dead, but it's already too late. These are just a few ideas. The rest is up to the listener.

AMP: You've worked with some high profile artists. Is there an artist, past or present, that you would like to collaborate with and why?

MILLER: I think David Bowie would be great. I got close because I worked with his longtime guitarist, Reeves Gabrels, who is currently in The Cure. Thoughts on a more current choice would be the guys from 49 Winchester. I'm a big fan. It would be great to be in the studio with Blackberry Smoke. I worked with Charlie Starr.

People always ask me who was my favorite artist to work with and I always say Billy Ray Cyrus. He was both entertaining and inspiring. In 2016 I co-produced one of his albums. He has so much charisma. You can see why he is such a superstar. When he's in a room with you, he encourages you to do your absolute best. It has this indefinable energy about it. If I ever had the chance to work with him again, I would.

AMP: Is there an album you wish you had written?

MILLER: Probably Pink Floyd's Dark side of the Moon. Returning to the question of cooperation. Ronnie James Dio would be amazing to link up with. I performed at his cancer fundraiser for the past two years. Also the documentary about his life, “Dreamers Never Die”, is really amazing. It's probably the best music documentary ever. I have ever seen.

AMP: What's next for Jason Charles Miller?

MILLER: I have a very wild few months coming up. I've been lucky enough to sing on several video game soundtracks. There is a game called Final Fantasy XIV which is one of the most, if not the most, subscription games in the world. I sang three songs on the soundtrack. Since it is a multiplayer game, it has a huge audience. Earlier in the year, I got to sing at the Tokyo Dome. Creators sponsor these massive soundtrack concerts.

So in about two weeks, I'll be in China for four FF XIV concerts with a full orchestra. I've been back home for two weeks and my albums are dropping. Then I'm on the road for a month with Steel Panther. After another three days back home, I'm off to Japan to do two more soundtrack concerts. Another two weeks home and then to South Korea. Just a little busy!

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