Derek Miller, a Juno award-winning Aboriginal Canadian singer and songwriter, returned to London Friday Aug 28.
Miller is a multifaceted artist who has expanded his skills well past his successful music career. He has pursued acting, producing and even his own entertainment company. Although his schedule is demanding, he still makes music one of his main priorities.
Miller became heavily involved in music in his early teen years. His sound is often described as being a mixture of rock and blues. “Some of my influences include Link Ray and Howling Wolf, but the list is endless really,” Miller says.
Like many musicians, Miller faced some bumps in the road. He struggled with alcohol and drug addictions after the success of his first album. Music is the Medicine, released in 2002.
“It gave me a chance to evolve as a person and to help me figure out why I was doing what I was doing, but musically it really hasn’t changed anything,” he says of his addictions.
It didn’t take him long to seek help and get his life back on track.
There are no signs of slowing down for Miller. He just wrapped up his third album, which he worked on with Austin, Texas band Double Trouble. Miller says he also wants to “expand [his] shows by performing at larger venues with better sound systems.”
What will be Derek Miller’s musical direction in the future? “Whichever way it takes me,” he says.