The musician, singer-songwriter, and recording engineer Colin Miller’s debut album was named after Haw Creek, a small area in Asheville, North Carolina that, over the past decade, has housed a vibrant music community whose creative output has resonated throughout the larger indie rock landscape. Miller's second album deals with the 2022 death of Gary King, who was the owner of the artist’s former home and studio in Haw Creek and a person that Miller formed a close relationship with over the years. (Even the most casual indie heads will be familiar with a few of the names that have done time at King’s spot, Karly Hartzman of Wednesday and MJ Lenderman among them. Miller performs in Lenderman’s live band.)
Featuring collaborations with his extended network of Asheville musicians, the record is both plaintive and charming, and a fitting tribute to a man who has made an impact on an important generation of North Carolina indie musicians. It serves as a document of a time and place and an entry into the larger Haw Creek canon. I sent some questions over to Miller; read his responses and listen to Losin’ below.
Could you talk a bit about Haw Creek? It seems like you have helped to incubate a really special creative environment there.
Colin Miller: Haw Creek was my home for 15 years. It’s a little community in East Asheville. I grew up there, I learned to make music there, and eventually I moved as many of my friends as I could into the houses that my landlords had on their property. I was pretty successful with that and ended up making a lot of music with my friends in a real beautiful place.
Can you remember the first time you met Gary? How did your relationship change over the years you knew him?
I was 15 years old when I met Gary and he scared the shit out of me. He was crazy, he was loud, his politics weren’t the best––he also revelled in giving you shit and getting under your skin. That’s a classic old-man thing to do but he had his own special way of messing with you that made you just want to kill him. Soon enough I realized he was actually extremely funny and had an enormous heart and I had judged him a bit harsh. After that we were as close as family. He and his wife Margaret had no kids or grandkids so I was about as close to someone like that as they ever had.
What is “Cadillac” about?
That song’s about a funeral and the days that came after it.
How did that music video come together? There’s some great special effects happening.
I asked my good friend Matthew Reed–– he goes by TV Beaches as his artist handle––to make something. He’s got such an incredible brain and he’s helped me a lot with putting together the visual aspect of this record. He did the album artwork. But, yeah, eventually he settled on an idea for the video and recruited me and my drummer Landon George (one of the best musicians I know). We got my other good friend Lewis Dahm, who I lived with for a long time at Haw Creek, to do the special effects of the Halo Needler and the deer. He’s done full music videos in that PS1-style of animation for Florry, Wednesday, and a bunch of other folks. I love how it turned out. I was glad it was goofy and easy to make.
It seems like you have a really tight-knit community of collaborators. What’s the best part about playing music with close friends? What's the worst part?
I do. It’s easy to make good music when you’re doing it with people that you love. I don’t think there is a worst part.
The final song on the record is called “Thunder Road” and has lyrics about singing karaoke to the Springsteen song of the same name. Are you a big Boss head? Favorite record?
I love Bruce. I’m working through his autobiography Born to Run right now. Tunnel of Love is my favorite record.
Put us on to some underrated North Carolina bands.
Walkhome, Space Heater, DISH, Hiding Places, Tombstone Poetry, Good Trauma, Idle County, Truth Club.
If you had to cover a contemporary country pop song, what would it be? And why?
Oh, I don’t know. “What Hurts The Most” by Rascal Flatts. That’s a perfect song.
You’ve done a lot of touring over the past few years. What’s the best meal you’ve eaten on the road?
Jim’s Tavern in Melbourne is the best Greek food you’ll have in Australia. Shinpachi Shokudo Shinjuku was my favorite breakfast in Tokyo. OWL Bakery is here in Asheville and it’s the best bakery in the world.
Photo Credit: Charlie Boss
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