This week’s NY Entertainer of the Week is country artist Carolyn Miller. Since Carolyn was a young child she knew she wanted to be a performer. She graduated from Boston Conservatory at Berklee College of Music and is a veteran member of SAG/AFTRA/AEA. We got to chat with Carolyn about music, her EP Unbreakable, her NYC favorites, and what major country artist she will be opening for in April!

upfrontNY: Can you tell me about when you knew you wanted to pursue music?

Carolyn Miller:  I have been singing since before I understood what singing was. My parents always say that when I was 3 weeks old they would be trying to rock me to sleep I’d be like “bla bla bla bla”. They’d always joke “this kid is going to be a singer when she grows up”. That proved true from an early age. I remember going to church and I’d run on to the altar and my parents had to pull me off because to me it was a “stage”!

I have always loved music and live performances. I started working very early as a professional from the time I was 8 years old — I grew up doing film, television, theatre, commercials and voice-overs. I went to college at The Boston Conservatory and got a bachelor of fine arts degree. I always knew what I wanted to do.

 

upfrontNY: When were you introduced to country music?

Carolyn Miller: I grew up on Long Island, New York. I didn’t have country music on the radio the way so many people and my peers in the industry did.

My real introduction to country music came when Carrie Underwood entered the scene on American Idol…I remember being like 14 years old and absolutely enamored by her. She was really the first true country singer that I fell in love with. So many songs that she sang on the show introduced me to the genre. When she sang “Bless The Broken Road”, that’s when I discovered the Rascal Flatts and I started listening to all of their songs, and I was hooked. I give it to Carrie Underwood and American Idol for introducing country music to me!

 

upfrontNY: Have you noticed a big change from when you were a child on Long Island without country on the radio to the current exposure to country music?

Carolyn Miller: Absolutely. On Long Island, we now have Nash FM 94.7 and MyCountry 96.1 on the air. It is amazing to see all the new stations here in NY now — country music has just become such a cool thing to listen to and the concerts have become such a huge thing to do now. My friends and I go to them all the time. Everyone tailgates before hand, hangs in the parking lots, everyone is wearing plaid shirts and their boots and American flag bandanas are everywhere. It’s such a good time – I love that country concerts have become such an “event” and that the genre is finally breaking through up here. I think that the country lines have blurred a bit and it is not all banjos and fiddles anymore. A lot of it has crossed over with pop, hip hop, and even some EDM production elements depending on what artist you are listening to. I think that a lot more people can relate to the sounds and it has been able to seamlessly transition into more mainstream radio.

 

upfrontNY: How does country music make you feel?

Carolyn Miller: I love it. For me, it is the purest genre of music that exists. It is all about the music, lyrics, and the storytelling and the vulnerability, authenticity, and the truths of the artist.

I think that people are able to relate to it so much because of the weight the melodies and the lyrics carry. It can really touch your heart. So many songs have made an impact on my life. “Bless The Broken Road” for example has become a song that is so special to me and my new husband. We met through the death of a mutual friend and we always thought that was our song because we met along the broken road that led us to each other. Even when he proposed at Central Park, he had that song playing in the park. When we got married at my childhood church, when we left the recessional song was “Bless The Broken Road”. That is a song that every time it comes on the radio I cry because of what it means to me. I think that unlike other genres, country can really just touch you in a way that other genres can’t as easily.

 

upfrontNY: Before you released your EP Unbreakable, you spent a lot of time in Nashville researching. Can you tell us about that?

Carolyn Miller: I knew that if I wanted to be taken seriously in this industry that I had a lot to learn and a lot of catching up to do. I didn’t grow up with country music and I wanted to educate myself as much as possible. I try to visit every couple weeks and see as many shows as I can, educate myself on the business, network, and learn more about the genre. When I drive around, sometimes I’ll listen to the classic country radio stations so I’ll get to know some of these amazing legendary country artists that everyone speaks about. I am getting an education even in the car on the go.

Also, almost all big country artists who become the national acts we all know and love come out of Nashville. It’s the hub for country music and where 99.9% of the labels, managers, agents, publishers, etc are based. Having these relationships in this community is really important in order to grow outside of your hometown and grab the attention of the industry. I have met so many wonderful people down here over the last year who have become really great friends of mine and who have championed my work. I love the Nashville music community so much and get inspired by these individuals daily!

 

upfrontNY: When you are in Nashville do you have a go to place either for dinner or a night out or a place that inspires you?

Carolyn Miller: Oooh I love to eat at Bartaco!  It is one of my favorite spots and a must-do every trip. Portland Brew on 12 South is one of my favorite places to work.

My favorite place to get inspired would be The Listening Room Cafe. It is an incredible venue and they get mega talented people from emerging artists to huge massive number one hit songwriters. They all play their songs and tell the stories of how they wrote it.  You get to hear them in this acoustic stripped down setting where it’s just the writer and a guitar. You not only get to learn the back story of a song, but you get to hear it in its purest form and how it was originally conceived. That to me is so cool.

Also, I saw a show at the Opry for the first time a few months back and it was Darius Rucker’s 5th anniversary of his induction. I just remember sitting there and being so inspired by all the artists who performed that night as well as the monumental occasion that was being celebrated. Before I walked out that night, I was already humming new melodies and coming up with lyrics because of how inspired I was. There is so much magic around you in that building. Fun fact, I met Darius last week when I was in Nashville and we had a nice little convo…he is one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met!!!

 

upfrontNY: Can you tell us about your EP Unbreakable and what it was like working on it?

Carolyn Miller: Working on the EP was really exciting. It was a combination of being recorded in both New York and Nashville. The vocals, drums, bass, and guitars were New York, but the pedal steel, dobro, and fiddle were down in Nashville by Garth and Reba’s players…incredible musicians. It was a true hybrid collaboration and I love that because it speaks to who I am as an artist. I am not all Nashville, but I am not all New York. I’m proud to be that in-between, crossover sound. We recorded it and held onto it for a while. I didn’t want to just throw it up on iTunes and hope it would get discovered. I wanted to be strategic about it and do it when I thought I was ready and had people to listen to it.

During pre-order, it debuted at number 7 on the iTunes country charts, which was wild. It has had radio plays all over the northeast and some great things have come from it. I think patience and strategy is key.

 

upfrontNY: Do you have a favorite song from Unbreakable?

Carolyn Miller: It is like your babies, you love them all! Depending on what mood I am in, one song will speak to me more than the others. I would say that my favorite one to play live is Unbreakable just because that is the one that people in the audience know the words to the most. Whenever I sing it, they are always singing along and singing it back to me and that is a moment that you can’t put a price tag on. It is the first song I ever had on the radio, it is the name of the EP, and it is the first song that I decided to cut for the EP…so for me it is the song that started it all and it will always hold a very special place in my heart!

 

upfrontNY: Speaking of performing, you recently performed at the City Winery. What was that experience like?

Carolyn Miller: It was a blast. I played the Loft at City Winery, which is an amazing music space up on the second floor and we completely sold out. I also did VIP meet and greet packages for the first time. That too sold out and I had fans showing up wearing my t-shirts with my face on it! I even got to do an Instagram takeover with Hollywood Life.  It was a really fun and exciting big event.  I had Joe Bastianich from MasterChef open for me, who is a good friend of mine — we all had a blast. The whole night was an incredible experience!

 

upfrontNY: You are going back to Newport, RI for Country Fest Newport. What has that festival been like and what are you most looking forward to?

Carolyn Miller: I love the tri-state area, that is my home base, but it is really fun to start taking my music outside of that area and getting on the road and playing some cities and states I have never played before. I went to college up in New England, so New England has a special place in my heart. The first time I ever played the festival was my first time in Newport and the crowds, audiences, and community are such nice, wonderful people. They are so excited to have us in town and are so supportive. They are thrilled to have artists from New York and Nashville come up and play for them and they are so welcoming from the second we arrive. I would say my favorite part about it from playing the festival there is that I have connected with some amazing new fans.  I am most excited to get up there and see them again and share some new songs and stories!

 

upfrontNY: Do you have a dream venue, city, or country that you’d like to place?

Carolyn Miller: Madison Square Garden and the Nikon Jones Beach Theatre on Long Island. Those are the two venues that I grew up going to concerts at and to play them would be the ultimate dream.  Hopefully that is on the horizon!

 

upfrontNY: What does 2019 look like for you?

Carolyn Miller: A goal of mine for this year was to open for some big major label artists and I am so excited to share that I am going to be opening for Chase Rice at the Starland Ballroom on April 25th! That is a great big milestone for me. This time last year I saw Chase Rice at the Paramount Theatre on Long Island and I remember thinking “I’m going to play a show with him one day.”  I have been dying to play Starland Ballroom and getting to open for someone like Chase is very exciting. Adam Doleac is also on the bill that evening. I’m ironically friends with some of his bandmates, as well as Chase’s guys, so it’ll be a super fun night all around…can’t wait!

As for music, I have been recording and hopefully I’ll have a brand new single out in April. My goal for this year is to get a bunch of singles out during the year as well as get on the road and play some big shows with major label artists!

 

NYC FAVORITES

Favorite thing about NYC: My NY friends and family will make fun of me, but my most favorite “New York” thing to do is stand in the middle of Times Square. It is one of the most iconic locations in the world. It is filled with so much history, so much excitement, so much buzz, so much culture, so much community, and so many children and people seeing the city for the first time. To stand there and soak in all these electric billboards and soak in being in the Theatre District…there is nothing like Times Square.

Favorite NYC music venue: I love the Cutting Room. It is one of the coolest spots and I have seen some amazing artists and shows there. Met so many wonderful people through that venue. I also had my EP release show there! The vibe, food, lights, sound system – all phenomenal. Can’t wait to go back again soon!

Favorite NYC Restaurant: VinoTapa is one of my absolute favorite places. It has amazing wines, amazing cocktails, and amazing tapas/apps…to die for so good! That is in the Murray Hill area. Highly recommend!

My favorite Mexican place is Sinigual. That is the most delicious Mexican food I think you can find in the city! Jalepeno Margarita and Lobster Enchiladas – personal fav!

Favorite season in NYC: My favorite season in general is Summer because I love being able to run outside in my flip-flops, shorts and a t-shirt and not bundle up. I love walking in NYC and it is enjoyable to walk on a nice sunny day. That is hard to do when its 20 degrees and windy! Also, all the amazing rooftop bars around the city are so fun to explore when it’s nice out. Million dollar views with your favorite drink in hand – what could be better?!

Although I am partial to Summer, I think that the city is so magical during December with the magic of the holidays in the air. Lights in the streets, decorated windows, Santas on the corners shaking the bells, Christmas music everywhere, Central Park and Time Square are filled with all these beautiful families who have come from all over the world, etc. There’s nothing like it! It’s a great time to visit.

Follow Carolyn Miller and get your tickets to see her open for

Chase Rice on April 25th at Starland Barroom!

Facebook:@CarolynMillerMusic

Instagram:@CarolynMillerMusic

Youtube: Carolyn Miller Music