Bill Miller: Channeling the Spirit Wind

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Videos by American Songwriter

Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Bill Miller has used his heritage as inspiration since he was a teen.  Through the years, Miller’s quiet presence and simple songs have kept his audience captivated, whether on stage or disc. Miller recently released Spirit Wind -North, the first in a series of upcoming releases. American Songwriter recently spoke with the Nashville-based artist.

When did you start writing songs?

Oh, I started writing my first songs in high school and they were more poetry than they were songs, but they were my first songs. They were more about the land . Then I started writing songs that were reminiscent of what was coming out of Woodstock. I was writing stuff like Creedence and Sly and Family Stone and Santana and Joplin and Hendrix.

Who are some of your primary influences as a songwriter?

They changed over the years. More cinematic and image-conscious writers. At first it was the Beatles and they still influence me. And then, when I worked in a record store, a guy turned me on to Nick Drake, and he really influenced me because he portrayed a lot of artistic imagery. I know a lot of people are into him now, but I loved that discovery years ago. I am still constantly looking for new inspiration.

Are you bothered when people peg you as a Native American artist, or is it a term you embrace?

I am not bothered by it, but I don’t want to be limited by that. It is my starting point, but my parameters are bigger than that and stretch out to blues and rock. It is the root from where I am from.

You recently played Madison Square Garden in honor of Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday. What was that like, and how big an influence was Pete on your music?

It was a surreal experience to see so many people showing up for his 90th birthday and see a lot of old friends from the music business again. Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie influenced my acoustic side of music. I believe in story songs, and Pete is the major portrayer of American roots music.

You’re also an accomplished painter. To what degree has your painting informed your songwriting, and vice versa?

It works both ways. My music feeds my painting, and my painting opens that part of my mind to more visual and bigger palettes. It extends my songwriting and it adds to the way I look at writing a song, in painter sensibilities.

Your new album Spirit Wind – North pays tribute to the tribes of Turtle Island. Where is Turtle Island, and what drew you to that locale and its people?

Turtle Island is North America, and that is where I am from. I am honoring the tribes from north, south, east and west. It is a way to give back. I have been inspired by all of the tribes and how they have lived.

In March 2009 you toured Israel, an experience that you said changed your life. What was so special about it?

Israel was great! It was incredible to experience it in a real way, instead of through news clips and others’ view of what is going on there. To experience the people of Israel through my music was not only inspiring but life changing. It deepened my spiritual sensibilities, and it made me realize that my music can be a bridge –that encouraged me.

Any advice for aspiring songwriters?

They should take on songwriting as if they are a stenographer. Take notes on life. There is so much to write about –you should never suffer from writers block. Use all of your sensibilities to bring it to your songs. If you are writer, and you’re also a runner, you should be able to show up anywhere as a stenographer. There is plenty to take notes on.

3 Comments

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  1. Hallo Bill,

    I enjoyed your article and liked the views expressed, well most. One question: don’t you feel that the Palestinians are in the same position as the Native Americans were, suffering under “Manifest Destiny” as justification for occupation, ethnic cleansing and land theft?

    all the best,

    jo.

  2. I ENJOYED THE ARTICLE. YES ANYONE CAN WRITE SONGS, POEMS, AND PUT THEM TO MUSIC. IT IS A GIFT TO BE ABLE TO WRITE SONGS THAT PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR OVER AGAIN. PEACE, AND KEEP ON SHARING.

  3. I enjoyed the article. I agree, anyone can write songs. I believe it is a gift to be able to write songs people want to hear over again. Peace, keep on sharing.

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