Kenny Hill, a partner in Grand River Enterprises on Six Nations Of The Grand River, agrees to help me out and provides a budget to allow me to see this project through. While we are discussing where I will record the album, he suggests that he build a studio right on the reservation to accommodate the talent pool in the area and provide a world class facility for the people to work on their respective projects.
In February 2008, I loaded up a film crew and headed to Austin, Texas to start tracking the album. After 12 days we had recorded 15 bed tracks and ideas. I had some studio time booked in Pedernales, Willie Nelson’s studio, so I took all the songs there and recorded some guitars and vocals to flesh out the songs. While I was there, Les got a track to Willie Nelson through one of the grounds keepers, Ed Russell. That led to Willie singing on ‘Damned If You Do’.
I had to wait for about a year for the studio to be completed so I would occasionally look at the tracks at home on my Protools system and would try different things. When Jukasa Studios was complete, I threw myself into the new space and experimented with every pre amp, compressor and microphone combo I could.
Along the way, I met a musician/amp builder Wayne Macpherson, who let me use some of his guitar amps. He calls his company Dartmouth Amplifiers. I proceeded to build some speaker cabinets with him and he helped me shape some of the guitar sounds on the album.
I was working with Sean Gugula at Jukasa for most of the overdubs and then we brought in Nick Blagona to mix who later took over as Chief Engineer at the studio.
I learned a ton and would recommend any artist to try and see all aspects of shaping your sonic universe!
“Derek Miller With Double Trouble”
We wanted to do something that showcased the emotional content of the song, but also to produce a narrative that could help propel visual references to help relate the audience to the music.
APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network), a national television network in Canada funds Native artists for their music video show called ‘First Tracks’. They contracted Big Soul Productions to produce these videos and we scheduled a meeting to discuss concepts and logistics.
My first meeting with PJ Thornton (Producer) and James Kinistino (Director/Director Of Photography) of Big Soul Productions about the music video was at the golf course. We were also being followed by a documentary film crew from Make Believe Media from Vancouver who were shooting what the hell goes on in my days… but more on that in a bit… www.makebelievemedia.com
We first discussed a ‘vampire concept’ in Cuba, but that was quickly scrapped by the 5th hole because shooting would coincide with hurricane season. Then I thought, since I name drop San Francisco in the song, that we should go there and shoot something. We finished the game and I kept thinking muscle cars, women and rock and roll.
I’m always using Steve McQueen as a verb… ‘Steve McQueen’ the situation. Don’t let it get you heated. Stuff like that… keep your cool!
My second meeting with James Kinistino was funny. I suggested we go to San Francisco and recreate some of the elements in the movie ‘Bullitt’ with a different story to fit the song and to do a car chase. After they said that I was ‘off the reservation’ crazy, we checked out some clips online and started to map out a budget.
We scheduled a third meeting and would find that we wouldn’t have the budget to do what we wanted but thankfully the label Jukasa Studios could contribute some marketing money and we were able to do a ‘Bullitt’ themed music video in San Francisco!
With everything in place the only wild card was the color of the Dodge Challenger that we were using as the contemporary car to the 1968 440 Dodge Charger in the film. Turns out I couldn’t get a black one anywhere? We got a blue one though and it worked out for the best.
We found a fellow named Andrew Forgy who was willing to rent his 2009 Bullitt Mustang to us for a couple days though… thanks to you and your crew!
I also need to thank the following people for their help in the making of the video:
Laura Milliken, James Kinistino, PJ Thornton, Nyla Innuksuk and all at Big Soul Productions, Ken Hill and all at Jukasa Studios for letting us film the performance part there, Peter Moody, San Fran crew – Jason, John, Dan, Andrea, G and her helper (makeup and hair), the kids on the street who had a coffee stand set up… The 2 cops who helped with traffic…
The whole thing was a cool experience. There’s a whole behind the scenes video being shot by Big Soul as well. It will air in Canada for sure and hopefully it will air on all music channels globally at some point.
I can’t wait for ya’ll to see it… Give me a couple weeks… it’ll be on the YouTube soon i reckon! Stay tuned.
Update: 04.01.10
The music video is now online via YouTube:
www.youtube.com/bigsoulproductions99
www.youtube.com/derekmillerlive
Toronto (ON), July 17, 2010 – Derek Miller rocks Dundas Square during iNative Fest – a contemporary music festival created to promote World Indigenous and Aboriginal artists and connect them to the mainstream music industry.
]]>I know people are wondering what took me so long but I’ve been really busy trying to make a few things work as I waited for the new studio in Six Nations to be built.
Let’s start with the studio. It is located on 6th Line and Cayuga Rd. on the North East side of The Six Nations Of The Grand River. It has a SSL mixing console that has roots in Abbey Road Studios in London, England. It also boasts a finely tuned acoustically critical listening environment that allows artists to hear exactly what they are creating.
It also comes fully equipped with every microphone, compressor, pre amp, eq, or effect known to man that any future genius may need to realize his/her vision.And it’s got apartments so you can stay there and keep working when you wake up.
Aside from recording my new album, I have been working with some artists from Six Nations collaborating on music and hoping to develop a sound that can showcase some of the talent from the region.
I have also started a TV acting career with the next season of ‘Cashing In‘ airing Tuesdays on APTN. Check your local listings for times.
I have also started working on films in different capacities. I do the scores and I also act a bit. I like acting. It’s quite funny.
I’ve also attempted to strengthen my online internet presence and hopefully people will visit these sites and use these outlets to help any forward momentum in all creative mediums.
I hope to develop some movies and comedy television shows. These are just at their infancy but I do believe it is time to humanize our journey for a wider audience to consume.
Please leave comments on anything or anyone as I hope to create a guilt free zone in cyberspace.
Enjoy your time on planet earth.
]]>One of the greatest gifts the First People of North America gave the world is that we believe there was good in all Creators creatures. We ALL need to be reminded of this. Fundamentalism is dangerous no matter what form it comes in.
The human spirit transcends race and religon and our collective experience as a whole is astounding. As Mother Earth continues to find a balance in the wake of human influence, we must turn our focus on preserving what we can.
Live and dream. Chase your passion. Love. Cry. Rejoice. Take it all as a mystical journey you are privileged to be a part of.
So as we build new relationships and as we strengthen old ones, let’s reflect at where we came from and look to a future of sharing laughter, music and love and hopefully a little tolerance.
]]>Career-wise, the past few years have been almost ludicrously busy. He followed up the 1999 Sketches EP with 2002’s soulful Music is the Medicine and in 2006 released the smoking hot Dirty Looks. Miller has also crisscrossed North America and Europe playing everything from bar gigs to festivals and even performing at the 2010 Winter Olympics during the closing ceremonies.
Along the countless road trips he has picked up several awards, accolades and well deserved nods and kudos. To add the cherry to his ice cream, he found time to head to Austin Texas to record his latest CD with the legendary Double Trouble not to mention have one of his songs feature the old outlaw himself, Willie Nelson.
To look down at his journey as the crow flies, Miller seems a charmed soul walking down streets paved in gold CDs. But Miller’s road has been anything but straight and narrow. He’s had to climb a desert mountain filled with the landmines and personal demons of failed relationships, drugs and alcohol. “I did the whole rock star lifestyle long before I was a rock star” he jokes. But in a serious tone he adds “Damn I’m glad I don’t do that anymore.”
Derek has been clean for four years now and is more creative, productive and passionate than ever. Leaving his self destructive chains at the cross roads, he can move freely with open eyes and a light spirit. The road ahead is long but clear, the sky is bright and the sun is shining on this humble and larger than life guitar man. Derek Miller can now truly appreciate the journey.
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Toronto (ON), November 29, 2008 – Derek Miller performs at the Unity Festival, harmonic fusion with Derek Miller and Friends in support of the Canadian Aboriginal Festival at The Sound Academy.
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