Spotlight: Singer-Songwriter, Marie Miller

Marie Miller - photo by Sarah Barlow

Singer-songwriter Marie Miller recently visited Wilmington, opening for Five for Fighting at The Grand Opera House on March 10. Delaware Arts Info sat down with Marie to talk music, touring, a charity she loves and more. Check out our interview below… 

*Since March is Women’s History Month, tell us about some of the women who’ve inspired or mentored you early on. 
Yes! So many wonderful women have influenced and inspired me. My female heroes are Joan of Arc, Mother Teresa, Sheryl Sanberg and my mom. 

*Is there anyone — female or male — you’ve modeled your career after?
I model my career after Sara Barielles. She is so talented, and her lyrics are so raw and real. My goal is to be able to sing her high notes with ease. 

*Tell us about your work with the Imprint Hope project. How and why did you get involved? 
Imprint Hope is a non-profit that works with children with disabilities and educates their parents on how to care for these special kids. In Uganda, many people see persons with disabilities as ‘cursed,’ and Imprint Hope is a place where these children are loved and celebrated. I heard about [the organization’s] founder Clare Byrne through a mutual friend and had to see her and the work she was doing. I visited Uganda and performed for the children and their families there. I also brought back some beautiful bags and headscarves that the mamas made to sell at my concerts. We donate the proceeds back to Imprint Hope, and we’ve raised almost $1,000 on this tour alone!

*Congratulations on touring with Five for Fighting. Is there anything you’re excited about experiencing during the tour? How did you connect and decide to tour together? 
This tour has been amazing! John from Five For Fighting is a killer performer and a wonderful person. It’s a blessing for me to watch the show every night and soak up his obvious professionalism and artistry. My awesome manager, Josh Terry, got me this tour though his connection with Five For Fighting’s manager. 

*How long will you tour? Do you record while you’re on the road? This tour is only a couple weeks, but I’ll be on and off the road all summer. I haven’t! I can’t imagine recording while touring, although I know a lot of people do. 

*Is there any anxiety associated with touring? How do you manage stress? I don’t have very much anxiety on tour. We don’t sleep very much, so a ton of coffee is a must! I try to keep up with my workout routine, prayer/meditation time and a healthy diet. I don’t always succeed, but I think that makes a big difference. 

*Your label is in Nashville; is that your home base? What do you miss about home when you’re touring?
I have a room I rent in Nashville, and I love my life there, but I also spend a bunch of time in Shenandoah Valley Virginia, where my family lives. I love being on the road. Besides my family, I don’t miss much! I think I was built for this life. 

*Letterbox is your first full-length album. Was the process different for you than producing singles or EPs? 
The process of recording the album was uhhhhmazing! I recorded it in L.A. and Nashville with two incredible producers, Eric Rosse and Chad Copplin. Recoding a full-length is really just twice as much fun as an EP. 

*What’s your favorite song on the new album and why? My favorite song is Glitter Gold. The production is exactly how I wanted it to be, and I felt like it captured the emotion of the song in such a beautiful way. I always seem to like sad songs. 

*Where do you get most of your inspiration when you write?My inspiration comes mostly from my own personal relationships either with friends, family, or love interests. My songs are very much like reading my journal. I usually write solo, but I am getting better at co-writing! 

*Do you think full-length albums can still be relevant in today’s music scene?I think people are always going to want full-length albums โ€” or at Ieast, I know I will. 

*What other music do you listen to? Are there any singer/songwriters or bands that you follow now? 
I listen to a lot of different kinds of music now, anything from The Lumineers to Thomas Rhett to broadway musicals. 

See www.mariemillermusic.com.