Lisa Miller
Encyclopedia
Lisa Miller is an Australian singer/songwriter known for her clear, bitter-sweet voice and poignant semi-biographical songs.
suburb of Chadstone, the daughter of social realist painter Peter Miller. Her elder brother Lewis Miller, is also a painter, and won the 1998 Archibald Prize
.
She started writing songs at fourteen and has memories of being in a folk music
duo with a friend: "I played flute, she played guitar and sang, and we wore matching paisley dresses that went to the floor, and played at coffee houses where people drank hot chocolates with marshmallows."
Her first serious musical outing was as vocalist of the rock
group
The Hepeleptics in the 1980s, while working as a secondary school teacher. She then became vocalist and rhythm guitarist for The Whole Shebang. In 1989 she took an extended trip to the U.S.
to see friends and hear as much music as possible in legendary locations (Memphis
, Nashville
, Austin
, New Orleans, San Francisco). She returned to Melbourne and formed her own roots rock
band, The Trailblazers (later known as Truckasaurus) with Mark Ferrie (ex-Models
and Sacred Cowboys
). They favoured original material by Miller or Ferrie. She also sang in the trio The Everlovin' O'Sheas. Of these early ventures only The Whole Shebang and Truckasaurus issued any recordings.
In 1995 Miller released two EPs on the In'Law label as a solo artist: Do That For You and All Worked Out. Her debut album, Quiet Girl with a Credit Card
, followed in 1996 on the W.Minc label. It was also issued in the U.K. on Demon Records, to date her only release outside of Australia. It was three years until her second album, As Far as a Life Goes, which also appeared on the W.Minc label but released by the now defunct Festival Mushroom Records. She was nominated that year for the Best Female Artist ARIA Award - a notable achievement for an artist with no commercial radio airplay.
After sorting out troubles with her record companies, Miller released an album of cover version
s in 2002 for the fledgling Melbourne label Raoul Records (run by her husband Ben Lempriere). The album, Car Tape
, found Miller in a country-soul
vein and was a critical success. As on earlier recordings, Miller's choice of cover songs leant heavily towards cult U.S. male singer/songwriters such as Doug Sahm
and Townes Van Zandt
. Miller's profile - while still small outside Melbourne's inner-city suburbs - began to grow. A new backing band contained seasoned session musician
s, she received multiple ARIA
nominations, and Car Tape went on to be one of the best-selling Australian independent releases of 2002.
In 2003 she released her fourth album, Version Originale
, a CD of original compositions, that was also warmly received by critics.
With her band (featuring guitarist and producer Shane O'Mara
), Miller has been a sporadic live performer in and around Melbourne, with forays up the east coast of Australia, including the Byron Bay Blues Festival
. She has played with Billy Bragg
and toured Australia with Neil Young
and Nick Cave
. She has also appeared on recordings by Australian musicians David McComb
, Tim Rogers
, Tex Perkins
, Andy Baylor, Barb Waters, Doug Mansfield, Amanda Brown (of The Go-Betweens
) and David Chesworth
. At one time she was managed by the late Mick Geyer (close associate of Nick Cave
), but is now self-managed.
In 2004 Miller released the EP, Pushover
, which features five songs recorded live on the 2003 Neil Young
tour. She was again nominated in the Best Female Artist category at the 2004 ARIA Awards, at which - once again - she was beaten by Kasey Chambers
.
Miller collaborated with composer Amanda Brown on a number of songs for the award winning film Look Both Ways
but only one song (entitled "Eleven") made the final selection.
In 2005 she recorded a version of the Split Enz
song "I Hope I Never" for She Will Have Her Way
, a tribute album
of female Australian and New Zealand
artists performing the works of Tim
and Neil Finn
. This album was nominated for an 2006 ARIA award under "Best Adult Contemporary Artist".
Her fifth album Morning in the Bowl of Night
was released in March 2007, many of the songs focussing around the death of Miller's mother. In early 2008 Morning in the Bowl of Night was shortlisted for the prestigious Australian Music Prize
.
Biography
Miller grew up in the MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
suburb of Chadstone, the daughter of social realist painter Peter Miller. Her elder brother Lewis Miller, is also a painter, and won the 1998 Archibald Prize
Archibald Prize
The Archibald Prize is regarded as the most important portraiture prize in Australia. It was first awarded in 1921 after a bequest from J. F. Archibald, the editor of The Bulletin who died in 1919...
.
She started writing songs at fourteen and has memories of being in a folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
duo with a friend: "I played flute, she played guitar and sang, and we wore matching paisley dresses that went to the floor, and played at coffee houses where people drank hot chocolates with marshmallows."
Her first serious musical outing was as vocalist of the rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
group
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
The Hepeleptics in the 1980s, while working as a secondary school teacher. She then became vocalist and rhythm guitarist for The Whole Shebang. In 1989 she took an extended trip to the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to see friends and hear as much music as possible in legendary locations (Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, New Orleans, San Francisco). She returned to Melbourne and formed her own roots rock
Roots rock
Roots rock is a term now used to describe rock music that looks back to rock's origins in folk, blues and country music. It is particularly associated with the creation of hybrid sub-genres from the later 1960s including country rock and Southern rock, which have been seen as responses to the...
band, The Trailblazers (later known as Truckasaurus) with Mark Ferrie (ex-Models
Models (band)
Models were an alternative rock group formed in Melbourne, Australia, in August 1978 and went into hiatus in 1988. They are often incorrectly referred to as The Models. They re-formed in 2000, 2006 and 2008 to perform reunion concerts. "Out of Mind, Out of Sight", their only No. 1 hit,...
and Sacred Cowboys
Sacred Cowboys
Sacred Cowboys are an Australian post-punk rock band based in Melbourne and active in 1982-85, 1987-97 and since 2006.The band's lead singer and lyricist is Garry Gray. The current line-up includes: Spencer P. Jones ; Penny Ikinger ; Nick Rischbieth and; Stephan Fiddock . A special guest for shows...
). They favoured original material by Miller or Ferrie. She also sang in the trio The Everlovin' O'Sheas. Of these early ventures only The Whole Shebang and Truckasaurus issued any recordings.
In 1995 Miller released two EPs on the In'Law label as a solo artist: Do That For You and All Worked Out. Her debut album, Quiet Girl with a Credit Card
Quiet Girl with a Credit Card
Quiet Girl With A Credit Card is the debut album from Australian singer-songwriter Lisa Miller. It was released in Australia in 1996 on the W.Minc label and licensed for release in Europe by Demon Records...
, followed in 1996 on the W.Minc label. It was also issued in the U.K. on Demon Records, to date her only release outside of Australia. It was three years until her second album, As Far as a Life Goes, which also appeared on the W.Minc label but released by the now defunct Festival Mushroom Records. She was nominated that year for the Best Female Artist ARIA Award - a notable achievement for an artist with no commercial radio airplay.
After sorting out troubles with her record companies, Miller released an album of cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s in 2002 for the fledgling Melbourne label Raoul Records (run by her husband Ben Lempriere). The album, Car Tape
Car Tape
Car Tape is the third album by Melbourne singer-songwriter Lisa Miller. It is an album of covers and was released in Australia in 2002 on Raoul Records.Miller's most highly acclaimed album, it was nominated for the following 2002 ARIA Awards:...
, found Miller in a country-soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
vein and was a critical success. As on earlier recordings, Miller's choice of cover songs leant heavily towards cult U.S. male singer/songwriters such as Doug Sahm
Doug Sahm
Douglas Wayne Sahm , was an American musician from Texas. Born in San Antonio, Texas, he was a child prodigy in country music, but became a significant figure in blues rock and other genres. Today Sahm is considered one of the most important figures in what is identified as Tejano music...
and Townes Van Zandt
Townes Van Zandt
John Townes Van Zandt , best known as Townes Van Zandt, was an American Texas Country-folk music singer-songwriter, performer, and poet...
. Miller's profile - while still small outside Melbourne's inner-city suburbs - began to grow. A new backing band contained seasoned session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
s, she received multiple ARIA
Australian Recording Industry Association
The Australian Recording Industry Association is a trade group representing the Australian recording industry which was established in 1983 by six major record companies, EMI, Festival, CBS, RCA, WEA and Universal replacing the Association of Australian Record Manufacturers which was formed in 1956...
nominations, and Car Tape went on to be one of the best-selling Australian independent releases of 2002.
In 2003 she released her fourth album, Version Originale
Version Originale
For the usage in cinema, see Versional originale Version Originale is the fourth album by Melbourne singer-songwriter Lisa Miller. It is an album of original material which followed up her previous album, Car Tape, a collection of cover versions...
, a CD of original compositions, that was also warmly received by critics.
With her band (featuring guitarist and producer Shane O'Mara
Shane O'Mara
Shane Francis Seamus O'Mara is an American rower. He was educated at The Gunnery , Northeastern University and Hughes Hall, Cambridge...
), Miller has been a sporadic live performer in and around Melbourne, with forays up the east coast of Australia, including the Byron Bay Blues Festival
East Coast Blues & Roots Music Festival
The East Coast International Blues & Roots Music Festival, also known as Byron Bay Bluesfest, is an annual music festival held for five days over the Easter long weekend at Byron Bay, New South Wales, Australia...
. She has played with Billy Bragg
Billy Bragg
Stephen William Bragg , better known as Billy Bragg, is an English alternative rock musician and left-wing activist. His music blends elements of folk music, punk rock and protest songs, and his lyrics mostly deal with political or romantic themes...
and toured Australia with Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
and Nick Cave
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
. She has also appeared on recordings by Australian musicians David McComb
David McComb
David Richard McComb was an Australian rock musician. He was the singer-songwriter of the Australian band, The Triffids.-Early years in Perth:...
, Tim Rogers
Tim Rogers
Tim Rogers is the frontman of Australian rock band You Am I. He is also a solo artist, as well as having fronted and released albums with bands The Twin Set and The Temperance Union.-History:...
, Tex Perkins
Tex Perkins
Tex Perkins is an Australian singer-songwriter, who is widely known for fronting the popular Australian rock-band The Cruel Sea, but has also performed with the Beasts of Bourbon, Thug, James Baker Experience, The Butcher Shop, Salamander Jim, and Tex, Don and Charlie. He has also released many...
, Andy Baylor, Barb Waters, Doug Mansfield, Amanda Brown (of The Go-Betweens
The Go-Betweens
The Go-Betweens were an indie rock band formed in Brisbane, Australia in 1977 by singer-songwriters and guitarists, Robert Forster and Grant McLennan. They were later joined by Lindy Morrison on drums, Robert Vickers on bass guitar and Amanda Brown on violin, oboe, guitar, and backing vocals,...
) and David Chesworth
David Chesworth
David Chesworth is an award-winning Australian-based composer and installation artist. Known for his experimental, and at times minimalist music, he has worked in rock groups, classical ensembles, theatre, opera...
. At one time she was managed by the late Mick Geyer (close associate of Nick Cave
Nick Cave
Nicholas Edward "Nick" Cave is an Australian musician, songwriter, author, screenwriter, and occasional film actor.He is best known for his work as a frontman of the critically acclaimed rock band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, established in 1984, a group known for its eclectic influences and...
), but is now self-managed.
In 2004 Miller released the EP, Pushover
Pushover EP
The Pushover EP is an EP/Mini-Album from Australian singer-songwriter Lisa Miller. It was released in Australia in 2004 and features five live performances from the artist's Australian tour in support of Neil Young in 2003.-Track listing:#"Pushover"...
, which features five songs recorded live on the 2003 Neil Young
Neil Young
Neil Percival Young, OC, OM is a Canadian singer-songwriter who is widely regarded as one of the most influential musicians of his generation...
tour. She was again nominated in the Best Female Artist category at the 2004 ARIA Awards, at which - once again - she was beaten by Kasey Chambers
Kasey Chambers
Kasey Chambers is an Australian country singer-songwriter. She is the daughter of steel guitar player Bill Chambers, and the sister of musician and producer Nash Chambers.-Solo success:...
.
Miller collaborated with composer Amanda Brown on a number of songs for the award winning film Look Both Ways
Look Both Ways
Look Both Ways is a 2005 Australian independent film, written and directed by Sarah Watt, starring an ensemble cast, which was released on 18 August 2005. The film was supported by the Adelaide Film Festival fund and opened the 2005 festival. It won four AFI Awards, including Best Film and Best...
but only one song (entitled "Eleven") made the final selection.
In 2005 she recorded a version of the Split Enz
Split Enz
Split Enz were a New Zealand band of the 1970s and early 1980s featuring Phil Judd and brothers Tim Finn and Neil Finn. They achieved chart success in New Zealand, Australia, and Canada during the early 1980s ‒ most notably with the single "I Got You", and built a cult following elsewhere...
song "I Hope I Never" for She Will Have Her Way
She Will Have Her Way
She Will Have Her Way is a compilation album featuring female Australian and New Zealand musicians performing songs written by Neil Finn and Tim Finn , members of Split Enz and Crowded House...
, a tribute album
Tribute album
A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of songs or instrumental compositions. Its concept may be either various artists making a tribute to a single artist, a single artist making a tribute to various artists, or a single artist making a tribute to another single artist.There...
of female Australian and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
artists performing the works of Tim
Tim Finn
Brian Timothy "Tim" Finn, OBE is a New Zealand singer and musician. Finn is most known for his music with New Zealand 1970s and 1980s rock group Split Enz, and later for his solo work, a temporary membership in his brother Neil's band Crowded House and his joint efforts with Neil Finn as the Finn...
and Neil Finn
Neil Finn
Neil Mullane Finn, OBE is a New Zealand Pop recording artist. Along with his brother Tim Finn, he was the co-frontman for Split Enz and is now frontman for Crowded House...
. This album was nominated for an 2006 ARIA award under "Best Adult Contemporary Artist".
Her fifth album Morning in the Bowl of Night
Morning in the Bowl of Night
Morning in the Bowl of Night is the fifth album by Melbourne singer-songwriter Lisa Miller. All songs were composed by Miller.It was released in Australia on 21 April 2007, and was nominated in the 2007 ARIA Awards for "Best Adult Contemporary Album"....
was released in March 2007, many of the songs focussing around the death of Miller's mother. In early 2008 Morning in the Bowl of Night was shortlisted for the prestigious Australian Music Prize
Australian Music Prize
The Australian Music Prize is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The award made by Australian Music Prize Ltd, a sole-purpose entity sponsored by a variety of music industry figures and...
.
Personnel
As of 2006 Miller's band consists of:- Lisa Miller - vocals, rhythm guitar
- Shane O'Mara - lead guitar
- Peter JonesPeter Jones (drummer)Peter Jones is a Liverpool-born Australian session drummer, who replaced Paul Hester in Crowded House. After the band split up, he played in Deadstar with Caroline Kennedy and Nick Seymour. Other bands he has been in are, Harem Scarem, Stove Top and is currently the durmmer for the Melbourne rock...
- drums - Bill McDonald - electric bass
Albums
- Quiet Girl with a Credit CardQuiet Girl with a Credit CardQuiet Girl With A Credit Card is the debut album from Australian singer-songwriter Lisa Miller. It was released in Australia in 1996 on the W.Minc label and licensed for release in Europe by Demon Records...
- 1996 - As Far as a Life Goes - 1999
- Car TapeCar TapeCar Tape is the third album by Melbourne singer-songwriter Lisa Miller. It is an album of covers and was released in Australia in 2002 on Raoul Records.Miller's most highly acclaimed album, it was nominated for the following 2002 ARIA Awards:...
- 2002 - Version OriginaleVersion OriginaleFor the usage in cinema, see Versional originale Version Originale is the fourth album by Melbourne singer-songwriter Lisa Miller. It is an album of original material which followed up her previous album, Car Tape, a collection of cover versions...
- 2003 - Morning in the Bowl of NightMorning in the Bowl of NightMorning in the Bowl of Night is the fifth album by Melbourne singer-songwriter Lisa Miller. All songs were composed by Miller.It was released in Australia on 21 April 2007, and was nominated in the 2007 ARIA Awards for "Best Adult Contemporary Album"....
- 2007 - Car Tape 2Car Tape 2Car Tape 2 is a 2010 album by Australian singer-songwriter Lisa Miller. It is the follow-up to 2002's Car Tape. It was released in Australia on 24 April 2010 by Raoul Records and Other Tongues. Care Tape 2 was, like Miller's three previous albums, nominated in the ARIA Awards for "Best Adult...
- 2010
EPs and Singles
- "Truckasaurus", EP - 1993 (performing as Truckasaurus)
- "Do That for You", EP - 1995
- "All Worked Out", EP - 1995
- "Hang My Head", single - 1996
- "Wipe the Floor", single - 1999
- "Pushover EPPushover EPThe Pushover EP is an EP/Mini-Album from Australian singer-songwriter Lisa Miller. It was released in Australia in 2004 and features five live performances from the artist's Australian tour in support of Neil Young in 2003.-Track listing:#"Pushover"...
" - 2004 - "If You Need Me", single - 2007 (sold through RACV shops as a tie-in to TV commercial)
Compilations
- The Preston Story, Vol. 1 - as The Whole Shebang: "Funnel of Love", "Another Sunday Morning" - recorded 1987, released 1995
- Recovery: Hits From The Back Door - "Hang Your Head" (live) - 1997
- To Hal and BacharachTo Hal and BacharachThis 1998 tribute album features songs written by Hal David & Burt Bacharach. The idea, developed by Kurt Lathy, Christa Mitchell and Melissa Whebell, was to have a number of Australian performers cover various David/Bacharach tunes, among them: Regurgitator, Rebecca's Empire, The Whitlams, Tex...
- "The Look of LoveThe Look of Love (1967 song)"The Look of Love" is a popular song composed by Burt Bacharach and Hal David and sung by Dusty Springfield, which appeared in the 1967 spoof James Bond film Casino Royale.-Songwriters:...
" - 1998 (duet with Tex PerkinsTex PerkinsTex Perkins is an Australian singer-songwriter, who is widely known for fronting the popular Australian rock-band The Cruel Sea, but has also performed with the Beasts of Bourbon, Thug, James Baker Experience, The Butcher Shop, Salamander Jim, and Tex, Don and Charlie. He has also released many...
) - RRRewind In The Chapel - "Are You The One That I’ve Been Waiting For" (live), "It’s A Long Way To The Top" (live) - 1998
- Highlights from Studio 22 - "Trade" (live) - 2002
- You Can't Hide Your Love Forever – A Tribute To Gene ClarkGene ClarkGene Clark, born Harold Eugene Clark was an American singer-songwriter, and one of the founding members of the folk-rock group The Byrds....
- "Why Not Your Baby" (live) - 2002 - The DIG Australian Blues Project - "Red Cross Store Blues" (live) - 2005
- She Will Have Her WayShe Will Have Her WayShe Will Have Her Way is a compilation album featuring female Australian and New Zealand musicians performing songs written by Neil Finn and Tim Finn , members of Split Enz and Crowded House...
- "I Hope I Never" - 2005
Film Soundtracks
- MulletMullet (film)Mullet is an Australian film released in 2001, written and directed by David Caesar, and starring Ben Mendelsohn, Susie Porter and Andrew Gilbert.-Plot summary:...
- Various Artists - 2000 - Dirty DeedsDirty Deeds (2002 film)Dirty Deeds is a 2002 film shot in Australia. It was directed by noted fringe director David Caesar and stars Bryan Brown, Toni Collette, Sam Neill, Sam Worthington and John Goodman and produced by Nine Films and Television, the film and television production arm of the Nine Network, owned by PBL...
- Various Artists - 2002 - Look Both WaysLook Both WaysLook Both Ways is a 2005 Australian independent film, written and directed by Sarah Watt, starring an ensemble cast, which was released on 18 August 2005. The film was supported by the Adelaide Film Festival fund and opened the 2005 festival. It won four AFI Awards, including Best Film and Best...
- Various Artists - 2005
Awards and nominations
- 1999 Nominated for ARIA Award: Best Female Artist (As Far as a Life Goes)
- 2002 Nominated for ARIA Awards: Best Female Artist (Car Tape); Best Independent Release (Car Tape); Best Adult Contemporary Album (Car Tape); Best Original Soundtrack Album (Dirty Deeds)
- 2004 Nominated for ARIA Awards: Best Female Artist (Version Originale); Best Adult Contemporary Album (Version Originale)
- 2006 Nominated for ARIA Award: Best Adult Contemporary Album (Various Artists: She Will Have Her Way)
- 2007 Nominated for ARIA Award: Best Adult Contemporary Album (Morning in the Bowl of Night)
- 2008 Shortlisted for the Australian Music PrizeAustralian Music PrizeThe Australian Music Prize is an annual award of $30,000 given to an Australian band or solo artist in recognition of the merit of an album released during the year of award. The award made by Australian Music Prize Ltd, a sole-purpose entity sponsored by a variety of music industry figures and...
(Morning in the Bowl of Night)
- 2010 Nominated for ARIA Award: Best Adult Contemporary Album (Car Tape 2)
External links
- Lisa Miller Official Website
- Lisa Miller Official Myspace page
- Lisa Miller discography at the Australian Rock DatabaseAustralian Rock DatabaseAustralian Rock Database is a website with a searchable online database that lists details of Australian rock music artists, albums, bands, producers and record labels. It was established in 2000 by Swedish national, Magnus Holmgren, who had developed an interest in Australian music when visiting...
by Magnus Holmgren.