Dave Miller
location . Perth, AU
Personal website . Thebodyraft.com
Hailing from Perth, Western Australia, the physical seclusion of living in the most isolated city in the world has inspired Dave Miller to create truly modern forms of electronic music. As a representation of his cities multicultural population, Dave’s music incorporates all facets of his favourite styles of music from which he builds something entirely new.
In the mid-late 90’s, before he was legal-age, weekends saw him sneaking into bars that were playing everything from deep Chicago house to Detroit techno, while the weekdays saw him listening to early IDM-influenced electronica.
After working odd-jobs while still he was still in school Dave finally saved up enough money to buy a sampler and this gave him the impetus for his new venture into electronic music production. After a quick tutorial on how to actually use his newly bought gear, demos of his first tracks were handed to local radio stations where they were played for months on end. A handful of live sets followed, but it wasn’t until Dave supported German ~scape artist Jan Jelinek that the move from local upstart to internationally released artist began. Handing demos to Jan, the tracks were eventually passed on to Andy Vaz, Background Records label boss when at age 20 he was instantly signed.
Incorporating elements of his early influences – the warmth and funk of Detroit house combined with the innovation and experimentation of electronica, his first releases on the label were deep, emotive and personal. Aiming to move the mind, body and heart at once, EP’s were suited in equal parts to the club or the lounge.
In live performances Dave is adaptable as both a solo artist and in collaboration; He has shared stages with artists such as Prefuse 73, Manitoba, Jamie Lidell, Greg Davis, Funkstorung, Four Tet, Portable, Andrew Pekler, Sutekh, Machine Drum and Farben. Improvised collaborative performances with jazz musicians, pianists and fellow electronic music producers has helped keep his live shows fresh and dynamic.
2005 saw the release of his debut album 'Mitchells Raccolta' on Background Records, and a tour of Europe to support it. Reviews of the album were universally positive -
Cyclic Defrost : "Miller may hail from the relatively isolated locale of Perth, Australia but there’s nothing myopic about his album’s delectable multi-stylistic fusion."
The Wire : "Dave Miller puts a new spin on the virtual reality of sample-based composition, fusing snippets of jazz, minimal Techno's clicks and thumps, and sourceless hum into a quiet din that explodes like a chorus of lock grooves."
First Past The Post : "It’s a long-playing debut that’s long-awaited and well-and-truly worth the wait."
2006 sees the release of 'Modern Romance' by Miller & Fiam, a forthcoming album with Harry Hohnen aka Victor Bermon/Fiam (Traum/Hefty) on UK Expanding Records, a collectable set of remixes by Perth artists on 3” CD called Regional Raccolta Remakes on Australian label Meupe, and an album in collaboration with percussionist Laurence Pike of Triosk (Leaf/~scape) and trumpeter Phil Slater as ‘Look The Trick’ to be released on German ~scape.
Discography
* Grey Summer EP (12") Background 2001
* Jigsaw Music EP (12") Background 2002
* Mitchells Raccolta (CD) Background 2005
* Mitchells Raccolta (LP) Background 2005
* Regional Raccolta Remakes (CD3") Meupe 2006
Remixes
* Drive In / Drive Out (Remixes) (12") "Who Carez (Eve Millard..." A Touch Of Class (Germany) 2003
* Soundvariation Remixes (2x12") "Untitled" Soundvariation 2003
* Building On The Edge Of The Sky (CD) "So Tense (Dave Miller ..." Karmic Hit 2004
Tracks Appear On
* Futuristic Experiments #006 (CD) "Hue Hip Shizo Censor" Background 2003
* Futuristic Experiments #006 (2xLP) "Hue Hup Shizo Censor" Background 2003
* Psychoacoustics (CD) "Unfortunate Interrupti..." Aphrodisio 2004
* Minimarista (Background Records Compilation) (CD) "Cigarettes & Coffee" Ward Records 2005
* Tea For Two (CD) "Summer To Winter" Meupe 2005
» Read more at Background-records.de
