JC Miller - Dead Horse Ranch
Seasoned country-rock artist JC Miller presents his new single 'Dead Horse Ranch', released with American indie imprint Tilt Records. A captivating tale, Miller takes us to an actual little-known point on the American map in Arizona - a place impressive enough to inspire this powerful new song.
This worthwhile journey follows those pursued on his latest singles 'Wayward Son' and 'Before Nightfall'. As ever, his music is intricately related to the American landscape, both geographically and socially, as reflected in his lyrics "Fall in Walnut Canyon / A forever formation / Something bigger than you / The force of nature breaks through / We’re all a small part of this place".
A Southern California-based Detroit-born guitarist and songwriter, JC Miller weaves stories through the prism of sonic archaeology, unearthing the spirit of Americana and giving it voice through resonant melodies and via geographic landmarks discovered on his own personal journeys.
A prolific artist, JC Miller's output is a product of his partnership and friendship with iconic musician-producer Marty Rifkin, known for his work with Tom Petty, Glen Campbell and Jewel, and also as a member of Bruce Springsteen's The Sessions Band on pedal steel guitar.
Offering a breath of fresh air amidst the overproduced world of country music, Miller crafts relatable songs brimming with infectious melodies and down-to-earth charm. His songs are rooted in the fabric of America, showcasing a true master, whose work is infused in deep affection for its Southern realms.
"I like to write about mountains and trees and places, and people you meet on the road… the musings of a nomadic life of a traveling musician -- a recording of things that becomes a kind of Atlas Obscura – the small stories, the real people, the defunct places ... Dead Horse Ranch is a place in Arizona that really sets the tone, an unlikely name for a sublime spot on earth … I am a Sun Belt lifer … Arizona, New Mexico, California, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida," says JC Miller.
"It is a search for authenticity and at the same time a journey of self-discovery. My father’s family is from all of these places, but mainly situated in the Bogalusa, Baton Rouge area in LA … I also love the desert and am especially inspired by the high desert."
Evoking a grounded sense of place through his music, Miller's sound has a Southern-fried edge and a transportive authenticity. He makes songs that feel at home in neon-lit diners, long highway drives, desert expanses, and sun-soaked small towns.
Creating music for wanderers, Miller pays homage to his guitar and songwriting heroes, inspired by timeless artists like Neil Young, Leon Russell and The Band as much as the unfussy yet potent prose of writers like Larry McMurtry, Ernest Hemingway and Cormac McCarthy.
“I’m not trying to hide my sources. I’m trying to add footnotes, carry on the southern and western, southwestern frame of mind. I feel like I am representing another generation of storytellers. I’m trying to paint a picture through music, where the lens is focused on the deeply personal, but it can also be universal," says JC Miller.
Music is a labor of love for JC Miller, having spent years as a sideman and composing for corporate titans like Coca-Cola and Nike. Now he's ditched the boardroom for the pleasure of creating his own music.
Imbued with an intentional sense of timelessness, JC Miller crafts anthems that resonate with the soul of America, inspired by the gradual rediscovery of history - of his own family’ and America at large. Tastefully blending classic Americana and rock echoes from history, woven through his masterful guitar work, each song is like a map, charting the path to self-discovery.
As of July 19, 'Dead Horse Ranch' is available everywhere online, including Spotify, Apple Music and elsewhere, where his latest series of stunning singles may also be found.
