Jake Miller‘s new album Silver Lining II is out today, and I had the chance to interview him about it. I dove a little bit deeper into the project with him, asked him about how the pandemic has impacted how he makes music, and what he’s been listening to and watching lately. Read our interview below…
Music News & Rumors: What made you want to do a sequel to Silver Lining rather than going with an entirely different title?
Jake Miller: Silver Lining was such a staple in my career and definitely a fan favorite album of mine. I figured I would continue the story. Plus, since these last few years have been so crazy, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to encourage people to focus on the silver linings rather than the dark clouds, figuratively speaking.
MNR: Obviously, we want everyone listening to this album top to bottom, but if they only have the chance to hear one song, or just a couple of songs, which would you want them to hear the most?
JM: The song I would want people to hear the most is track 4 called “Click”. It’s about that moment when all your blood, sweat, and tears finally pay off. I hope a lot of people can hear this song and feel inspired to keep going.
MNR: Your song “Ross and Rachel” has seen a bit of a resurgence since the “Friends” reunion special premiered last month. I mean, you did write a song based on their relationship, so were you one of those massive “Friends” fans?
JM: I won’t claim to be the BIGGEST Friends fan in the world, but definitely a big fan of the show. Even more so, I’m a bigger fan of the relationship Ross and Rachel have. It’s something I think everyone strives for.
MNR: You were already writing, recording, and producing songs on your own, so how would you say that the last year of COVID has impacted your creative process?
JM: This year was tough because my favorite way to write music is IN PERSON in the studio with other people. It’s very difficult to catch a vibe over a Zoom session. But I was definitely challenged in a good way, and it pushed me to get better as a musician. “Click” was actually written over a zoom session with my friend John from the band “Nightly”.
MNR: It’s no secret that you’re a huge John Mayer fan. What is it about him as an artist and his music that inspires you?
JM: His storytelling and lyrics have completely changed my life and the way I listen to music. Because of his music, whenever I listen to new music (no matter who it is), I have to pull up the lyrics and read them simultaneously as I’m listening to the song for the first time. The lyrics in a song are EVERYTHING to me, and JM definitely engraved that in my brain.
“Because of [John Mayer’s] music, whenever I listen to new music (no matter who it is), I have to pull up the lyrics and read them simultaneously as I’m listening to the song for the first time.”
— Jake Miller
MNR: Do you enjoy staying up to date on which new songs and albums are trending or selling really well? Or do you try to avoid that?
JM: Nowadays, I don’t really look at charts or stats. I really only pay attention to what my other music friends are doing/releasing. I love supporting friends with their music.
MNR: What songs or albums have you been loving the most lately?
JM: The dudes from Fly By Midnight have become my best friends in LA. Their music is incredible. Every song of theirs feels like a movie soundtrack. I’m bringing them on tour in September and can’t wait to watch their set every night.
MNR: Let’s switch lanes now, and let me ask you which shows/movies have you watched lately that really stood out to you?
JM: My favorite show right now is Handmaid’s Tale… it’s INTENSE. I also love Shark Tank, Impractical Jokers, and The Office.
“My favorite show right now is Handmaid’s Tale… it’s INTENSE. I also love Shark Tank, Impractical Jokers, and The Office.”
— Jake Miller
MNR: A lot of these songs are centered around love, so you must have found something special with your girlfriend Brandi. How does she feel having all these songs written about her released out into the world?
JM: She’s my biggest fan in the world. She knows every word to all 21 of these new songs. We’ll be driving in the car and she’ll ask to listen to me. It makes me feel like the luckiest person in the world. I can’t wait to write 1,000 more songs for her.
MNR: If 21 songs made the final cut, I can only imagine the stockpile of songs you had to choose from for this project. You might not even know the answer, but about how many songs did you finish on the way to Silver Lining II?
JM: In the past 2 years, I’ve probably written close to 100 songs. For every 10 songs I write, I usually keep 1 or 2.
MNR: At the beginning of “Simple Life,” what is that movie or show clip that you sample? What’s the significance behind that?
JM: That is an amazing question LOL I downloaded it off a copyright free website called Splice.
MNR: One of the more unexpected but welcome surprises from last year was your hilarious viral “Quarentunes” TikTok videos! Those TikTok videos were a full-on production! I had those songs stuck in my head for weeks. What was that like to have those songs blowing up during the peak quarantine lockdown?
JM: Those TikToks were SO much fun to make with my family. It was definitely an amazing way to pass the time, stay creative, and do something fun with my family. And watching them blow up was something I NEVER expected.
MNR: There had to be a lot of planning! From just writing and recording the song to setting up the shots to the video editing, about how long would you say those videos took you and your family to make?
JM: Those TikTok videos would take me about an hour to write/produce the song and another hour to shoot and edit the video. It was quick and easy.
MNR: Which song off this album are you most excited to play live for a sold out crowd?
JM: I think I’m most excited to play “Saved Me”. That song has been one of my favorite songs of mine ever since I wrote it, and I think it’ll translate perfectly live.
Silver Lining II is now available to buy and stream everywhere: https://orcd.co/silverliningii
Catch Jake Miller live in concert on his hi, i missed you. Tour this fall with special guests // Fly By Midnight and Just Seconds Apart. His headlining tour is set to kick off in September with shows scheduled until November.
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