Today we’d like to introduce you to Miles Newsom.
Miles, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I started playing saxophone in middle school. Soon, I was playing at a local blues bar and really fit in. I was a kid at the time so it was kind of a novelty to see such a young person on the stage with a bunch of adults. I knew pretty quickly that music was more than a hobby or a credit I needed to advance to the next grade.
What really grabbed me was the ability to express one’s self through music. Especially in the blues setting. These guys would be singing songs about being down or feeling lonely. And I’d hear them and feel their emotion through the words they sang. Then, I’d be given an improv solo and just sort of know what to do and what to play. Again, I had only been playing for like 2-3 years at this time in my life.
I kept playing saxophone through high school. Around that time, I picked up guitar and really liked it. I immediately enjoyed being able to play a song and sing at the same time.
As I’ve continued to play music, I’ve continually found enjoyment in singing and that’s where most of my current work lives.
Between those years and now, I’ve played in a few different cover bands. We played around town and had a lot of fun.
A little less than three years ago, I joined the metal band ‘The Valley Ritual’ as lead guitarist. We are a four piece ‘doom-metal’ band and are currently working an EP called ‘Luminara’.
After joining The Valley Ritual and getting more serious about original music, I decided to release some of my own recordings. In 2021, I released my first song ‘Second Place’ and then a few months later released another song called ‘Time’. I am currently working on releasing a third song. It is a privilege to live in a time where I can have my music heard all across the world. At this time, I feel like that is my biggest motivation to be a musician. I hope that the songs I write can positively impact the people who choose to listen to them.
Besides playing in The Valley Ritual, I play cover gigs in the greater Central Florida area.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve felt like putting music down at times throughout my life. The kicker is that it calls me back. So, even when I feel done with it, I know that I’ll likely get the urge to keep working at it in the future. I’ve decided that the best way to deal with this struggle is to keep working on the craft. Keep writing, try a different practice routine. Listen to some different music.
These things have helped keep it fresh.
Additionally, I don’t want to waste time doing nothing when I could be working on the thing I love most in life.
Effectively using social media has been one of the biggest hurdles I’ve personally worked to overcome. It is one of the best ways to reach fans and create new ones. For the longest time, I fought it and wondered why I wasn’t getting gigs. It was pretty simple. It’s taken me a long time to feel comfortable using social media and positioning myself to get new listeners and local gig work. Sticking it out and continuing at it has been the only way to grow and get better at it for me personally.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a singer and a songwriter. I find the most purpose and joy in this part of music. I suppose that I am most well-known as a singer. I am most proud of my second release ‘Time’. A close second is this upcoming release, it sounds amazing and has a different feel from my first two songs.
I believe that the lyrical content of my songs is what sets me apart and will continue to set me apart for other artists. There is a lot of meaning that gets put into those lines. Sometimes it’s really obvious, other times more subtle and requires the listener to go back and hear again. This repeatability is another thing I believe sets me apart from others.
What does success mean to you?
I define success as living in my purpose. Embracing who I am and striving to achieve past my previous best. I don’t see such as a goal or a place. Rather, it is the action taking me to new places that is “successful”.
Contact Info:
- Email: milesnewsommusic@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mrmilesnmusic/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mrmilesnmusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuoDzRyWg4EjHSjIsAk0DdQ
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-603849090
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6TSsNrdpbZRTA6Bi9fqQAT
