Robert Miles
Encyclopedia
Robert Miles is an Italian
record producer
, composer
, musician
and DJ
in electronica
and alternative music
.
Antonietta Lauro and Albino Concina in Fleurier
, Switzerland
.
Miles became proficient at playing the piano
during his youth in Friuli
, Italy
, in the small town of Fagagna
, where his family moved when he was still a young boy, and has been in the music scene since 1984. He worked as a DJ in some Italian clubs
and private radio network
s and in 1990, he used his savings to establish his own recording studio
and a pirate radio station
.
In 1994, Miles wrote a house
/chill-out piece based on acoustic guitar
chords and soft synthesizer
effects, "Children
", which was later developed into a dream trance track featuring a piano theme on top. The single
picked up sales slowly, but within two weeks of its official release in 1995, it had sold more than 350,000 copies all over Europe
and topped the charts
in many countries. After occupying the Euro Top 100 chart number 1 spot for 13 consecutive weeks, by 1997, "Children" had sold more than 5 million copies worldwide. It earned Miles platinum records
in many countries, a Brit Award
(Robert Miles is, to date, the only Italian artist which has received the award) as Best International Male Newcomer 1997, a World Music Award as World's Best Selling Male Newcomer and various other awards.
Miles' next single was "Fable
". Part of this song was used in the theatrical trailer for the U.S. movie Ever After
starring Drew Barrymore
and Dougray Scott
. His debut album Dreamland
was released on June 7, 1996 in Europe, and released in the United States
about a month later, with a new track, "One and One". This new track became very popular (it reached number 1 in the Euro Top 100 Singles Chart during the Christmas period and remained in the top spot for 6 consecutive weeks) and was later released as a single in Europe and the U.S.
In November 1997, Miles released another track, "Freedom", which was one of the key tracks on his second album 23am
featuring vocals provided by Kathy Sledge
of Sister Sledge
. Containing a different feel from the previously more club-oriented Dreamland, 23am incorporated more lyrics-driven songs than its predecessor while maintaining Miles' trademark piano sound from the first album.
After splitting from BMG/Deconstruction
and his former management in London, he set up his own independent record label
S:alt Records
(with S:alt being short for suitably:alternative) in 2001 and released his third album, Organik
, featuring the new single "Paths" with vocals provided by Nina Miranda
of Smoke City
. Guests on the album included Trilok Gurtu, Bill Laswell
and Nitin Sawhney
. Music from Organik was used on various movie soundtracks
such as The Bourne Identity
, Derrida
, and City of Ghosts
. In 2002, an album containing mainly remix
es of songs found on Organik was released. The album, appropriately entitled Organik Remixes
, contained remixes by the winners of the remixing contest held on Robert Miles' website, as well as remixes from well known artists such as The Future Sound of London
, Riton, and Alexkid amongst others. The album also had one new track, "Bhairav", which featured the vocals of Amelia Cuni.
In 2004, Miles released Miles Gurtu
, his fourth album which was a collaboration with percussionist Trilok Gurtu and included jazz
and electronica
elements. Also guesting on the album were Nitin Sawhney
, Jon Thorne
, Mike Patto and Paul Falloon.
His fifth album entitled Th1rt3en was released worldwide on S:alt Records in February 2011, and featured guests such as Robert Fripp
, Dave Okumu, Jon Thorne
, Mike Patto and Davide Giovannini. For this album, Miles produced a blend of alternative and progressive rock
with ambient
and electronic soundscapes.
He is currently working on a soundtrack for the forthcoming movie documentary The Turn of this Century, directed by Peter Beyak and featuring the photography of Life Magazine.
Roberto Milani
Italian people
The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people...
record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and DJ
Disc jockey
A disc jockey, also known as DJ, is a person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience. Originally, "disc" referred to phonograph records, not the later Compact Discs. Today, the term includes all forms of music playback, no matter the medium.There are several types of disc jockeys...
in electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
and alternative music
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
.
Biography
Robert Miles was born to Italian immigrantsImmigration
Immigration is the act of foreigners passing or coming into a country for the purpose of permanent residence...
Antonietta Lauro and Albino Concina in Fleurier
Fleurier
Fleurier was a municipality in the district of Val-de-Travers in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. On 1 January 2009, the former municipalities of Boveresse, Buttes, Couvet, Fleurier, Les Bayards, Môtiers, Noiraigue, Saint-Sulpice and Travers merged to form Val-de-Travers.The Nobel...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Miles became proficient at playing the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
during his youth in Friuli
Friuli
Friuli is an area of northeastern Italy with its own particular cultural and historical identity. It comprises the major part of the autonomous region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, i.e. the province of Udine, Pordenone, Gorizia, excluding Trieste...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, in the small town of Fagagna
Fagagna
Fagagna is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 80 km northwest of Trieste and about 13 km northwest of Udine...
, where his family moved when he was still a young boy, and has been in the music scene since 1984. He worked as a DJ in some Italian clubs
Nightclub
A nightclub is an entertainment venue which usually operates late into the night...
and private radio network
Radio network
There are two types of radio networks currently in use around the world: the one-to-many broadcast type commonly used for public information and mass media entertainment; and the two-way type used more commonly for public safety and public services such as police, fire, taxicabs, and delivery...
s and in 1990, he used his savings to establish his own recording studio
Recording studio
A recording studio is a facility for sound recording and mixing. Ideally both the recording and monitoring spaces are specially designed by an acoustician to achieve optimum acoustic properties...
and a pirate radio station
Pirate radio
Pirate radio is illegal or unregulated radio transmission. The term is most commonly used to describe illegal broadcasting for entertainment or political purposes, but is also sometimes used for illegal two-way radio operation...
.
In 1994, Miles wrote a house
House music
House music is a genre of electronic dance music that originated in Chicago, Illinois, United States in the early 1980s. It was initially popularized in mid-1980s discothèques catering to the African-American, Latino American, and gay communities; first in Chicago circa 1984, then in other...
/chill-out piece based on acoustic guitar
Acoustic guitar
An acoustic guitar is a guitar that uses only an acoustic sound board. The air in this cavity resonates with the vibrational modes of the string and at low frequencies, which depend on the size of the box, the chamber acts like a Helmholtz resonator, increasing or decreasing the volume of the sound...
chords and soft synthesizer
Synthesizer
A synthesizer is an electronic instrument capable of producing sounds by generating electrical signals of different frequencies. These electrical signals are played through a loudspeaker or set of headphones...
effects, "Children
Children (song)
"Children" is a single by electronica composer Robert Miles from his album Dreamland. "Children" is Miles' most successful single, being certified Gold and Platinum in several countries and it reaching #1 in more than 12 countries...
", which was later developed into a dream trance track featuring a piano theme on top. The single
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
picked up sales slowly, but within two weeks of its official release in 1995, it had sold more than 350,000 copies all over Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and topped the charts
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
in many countries. After occupying the Euro Top 100 chart number 1 spot for 13 consecutive weeks, by 1997, "Children" had sold more than 5 million copies worldwide. It earned Miles platinum records
Music recording sales certification
Music recording sales certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped or sold a certain number of copies, where the threshold quantity varies by type and by nation or territory .Almost all countries follow variations of the RIAA certification categories,...
in many countries, a Brit Award
Brit Awards
The Brit Awards are the British Phonographic Industry's annual pop music awards. The name was originally a shortened form of "British", "Britain" or "Britannia", but subsequently became a backronym for British Record Industry Trust...
(Robert Miles is, to date, the only Italian artist which has received the award) as Best International Male Newcomer 1997, a World Music Award as World's Best Selling Male Newcomer and various other awards.
Miles' next single was "Fable
Fable (Robert Miles song)
"Fable" is a 1996 instrumental recorded by the Swiss-Italian musician Robert Miles. It was the second single from his album Dreamland.The music video for "Fable" was directed by Maria Mochnacz. In it, Robert Miles falls asleep on his sofa, in front of the television...
". Part of this song was used in the theatrical trailer for the U.S. movie Ever After
Ever After
Ever After: A Cinderella Story is a 1998 film inspired by the fairy tale Cinderella, directed by Andy Tennant and starring Drew Barrymore, Anjelica Huston and Dougray Scott. The screenplay is written by Tennant, Susannah Grant, and Rick Parks. The original music score is composed by George Fenton...
starring Drew Barrymore
Drew Barrymore
Drew Blyth Barrymore is an American actress, film director, screenwriter, producer and model. She is a member of the Barrymore family of American actors and granddaughter of John Barrymore. She first appeared in an advertisement when she was 11 months old. Barrymore made her film debut in Altered...
and Dougray Scott
Dougray Scott
-Early life:The son of Elma, a nurse, and Alan Scott, an actor and salesperson, Stephen Dougray Scott was born in Glenrothes, Fife and attended Auchmuty High School...
. His debut album Dreamland
Dreamland (Robert Miles album)
Dreamland is the debut album by Robert Miles. It was released on June 7, 1996 in Europe where it was a hit, and was also released in the U.S. about a month later, with a new track sung by Maria Nayler, "One and One". This new track became very popular and was later released as a single in the U.S....
was released on June 7, 1996 in Europe, and released in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
about a month later, with a new track, "One and One". This new track became very popular (it reached number 1 in the Euro Top 100 Singles Chart during the Christmas period and remained in the top spot for 6 consecutive weeks) and was later released as a single in Europe and the U.S.
In November 1997, Miles released another track, "Freedom", which was one of the key tracks on his second album 23am
23am
-External links:...
featuring vocals provided by Kathy Sledge
Kathy Sledge
Kathy Sledge , the youngest of five sisters, Carol,Debra,Joni and Kim. She is an American singer who has had several hits on the International Pop and Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, including "Take Me Back To Love Again," which hit #1 in 1992. She is the granddaughter of former opera singer...
of Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge
Sister Sledge is an American musical group from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, formed in 1972 and consisting of four sisters: Kim Sledge Debbie Sledge , Joni Sledge , and Kathy Sledge . They are granddaughters of the former opera singer Viola Williams. The sisters used to perform under the name of "Mrs...
. Containing a different feel from the previously more club-oriented Dreamland, 23am incorporated more lyrics-driven songs than its predecessor while maintaining Miles' trademark piano sound from the first album.
After splitting from BMG/Deconstruction
Deconstruction Records
Deconstruction Records is a record label founded in 1987 by Pete Hadfield and Keith Blackhurst in the United Kingdom. Distribution was via label deals with Parlophone Records, for acts such as K-Klass and Bassheads), and RCA Records for everybody else....
and his former management in London, he set up his own independent record label
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
S:alt Records
Salt Records
Salt Records is a UK based independent label/platform for eclectic music. Founded by Roberto Concina in 2000, it became the home for artists such as Robert Miles, Miles Gurtu and Blue Light Fever....
(with S:alt being short for suitably:alternative) in 2001 and released his third album, Organik
Organik
Organik is the third album by Robert Miles, released in 2001. The first he independently recorded and produced after quitting his record company, it marked a complete departure from the style of his first two albums.-Overview:...
, featuring the new single "Paths" with vocals provided by Nina Miranda
Nina Miranda
Nina Miranda is both a singer and songwriter who was part of the English group, Smoke City, and more recently, Shrift.Nina Miranda's father is Brazilian, her mother is English and she was born in Brazil, and educated in Brazil, England and France...
of Smoke City
Smoke City
Smoke City were an English band, who blended acid jazz and trip hop, borrowing from Brazilian styles such as samba and bossa nova. They are best known for their single "Underwater Love", which was a major hit in 1997, after being used in a Levi's television advertisement, "Mermaids" .In 1997, the...
. Guests on the album included Trilok Gurtu, Bill Laswell
Bill Laswell
Bill Laswell is an American bassist, producer and record label owner....
and Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...
. Music from Organik was used on various movie soundtracks
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
such as The Bourne Identity
The Bourne Identity (2002 film)
The Bourne Identity is a 2002 American spy film loosely based on Robert Ludlum's novel of the same name. It stars Matt Damon as Jason Bourne, an amnesiac attempting to discover his true identity amidst a clandestine conspiracy within the Central Intelligence Agency . The film also stars Franka...
, Derrida
Derrida (film)
Derrida is a 2002 American documentary film directed by Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering Kofman about the French philosopher Jacques Derrida. It premiered at the 2002 Sundance Film Festival before being released theatrically on October 23, 2002.-Synopsis:...
, and City of Ghosts
City of Ghosts
City of Ghosts is a 2002 drama film co-written, directed by and starring Matt Dillon, about a con artist who must go to Cambodia to collect his share in money collected from an insurance scam...
. In 2002, an album containing mainly remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
es of songs found on Organik was released. The album, appropriately entitled Organik Remixes
Organik Remixes
Organik Remixes is a 2002 guest remix album based on Robert Miles' 2001 album Organik.-Overview:Two of the remixers, Kuzu and Fissure, were chosen by Robert Miles from an online remix contest on his own website.-Track listing:CD 1...
, contained remixes by the winners of the remixing contest held on Robert Miles' website, as well as remixes from well known artists such as The Future Sound of London
The Future Sound of London
The Future Sound of London is a prolific British electronic music band composed of Garry Cobain and Brian Dougans. The duo are often credited with pushing the boundaries of electronic music experimentation and of pioneering a new era of dance music...
, Riton, and Alexkid amongst others. The album also had one new track, "Bhairav", which featured the vocals of Amelia Cuni.
In 2004, Miles released Miles Gurtu
Miles Gurtu
Miles_Gurtu is the fourth album by Robert Miles, the second he independently recorded and produced. Created with Indian jazz percussionist Trilok Gurtu, the result was a mix of their very disparate styles.-Overview:...
, his fourth album which was a collaboration with percussionist Trilok Gurtu and included jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
elements. Also guesting on the album were Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney
Nitin Sawhney is an Indian-British musician, producer and composer. His critically acclaimed work combines Asian and other worldwide influences with elements of jazz and electronica and often explores themes such as multiculturalism, politics and spirituality...
, Jon Thorne
Jon Thorne
Jon Thorne is an English double bassist.Born in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire he lived in Zimbabwe from the age of 6 to 11 and is now based in Whalley Range, Manchester. He is self taught and started playing in his early twenties...
, Mike Patto and Paul Falloon.
His fifth album entitled Th1rt3en was released worldwide on S:alt Records in February 2011, and featured guests such as Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp
Robert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique...
, Dave Okumu, Jon Thorne
Jon Thorne
Jon Thorne is an English double bassist.Born in Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire he lived in Zimbabwe from the age of 6 to 11 and is now based in Whalley Range, Manchester. He is self taught and started playing in his early twenties...
, Mike Patto and Davide Giovannini. For this album, Miles produced a blend of alternative and progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
with ambient
Ambient music
Ambient music is a musical genre that focuses largely on the timbral characteristics of sounds, often organized or performed to evoke an "atmospheric", "visual" or "unobtrusive" quality.- History :...
and electronic soundscapes.
He is currently working on a soundtrack for the forthcoming movie documentary The Turn of this Century, directed by Peter Beyak and featuring the photography of Life Magazine.
Studio albums
- 1996: DreamlandDreamland (Robert Miles album)Dreamland is the debut album by Robert Miles. It was released on June 7, 1996 in Europe where it was a hit, and was also released in the U.S. about a month later, with a new track sung by Maria Nayler, "One and One". This new track became very popular and was later released as a single in the U.S....
- 1997: 23am23am-External links:...
- 2001: OrganikOrganikOrganik is the third album by Robert Miles, released in 2001. The first he independently recorded and produced after quitting his record company, it marked a complete departure from the style of his first two albums.-Overview:...
- 2004: Miles GurtuMiles GurtuMiles_Gurtu is the fourth album by Robert Miles, the second he independently recorded and produced. Created with Indian jazz percussionist Trilok Gurtu, the result was a mix of their very disparate styles.-Overview:...
- 2011: Th1rt3en
Singles
Robert Miles- 1995: "Soundtracks EP"
- 1995: "Red Zone"
- 1995: "ChildrenChildren (song)"Children" is a single by electronica composer Robert Miles from his album Dreamland. "Children" is Miles' most successful single, being certified Gold and Platinum in several countries and it reaching #1 in more than 12 countries...
" (UK #2, US #21) - 1996: "FableFable (Robert Miles song)"Fable" is a 1996 instrumental recorded by the Swiss-Italian musician Robert Miles. It was the second single from his album Dreamland.The music video for "Fable" was directed by Maria Mochnacz. In it, Robert Miles falls asleep on his sofa, in front of the television...
" (with Fiorella Quinn) (UK #7) - 1996: "One and One" (with Maria NaylerMaria NaylerMaria Nayler is a British female singer. In the early 1990s, she was part of Ultraviolet who released two singles "Kites" and "I Wish That" . In 1995, she appeared as featured vocalist on Sasha's trance track "Be As One"...
) (UK #3, US #54) - 1997: "Freedom" (with Kathy SledgeKathy SledgeKathy Sledge , the youngest of five sisters, Carol,Debra,Joni and Kim. She is an American singer who has had several hits on the International Pop and Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, including "Take Me Back To Love Again," which hit #1 in 1992. She is the granddaughter of former opera singer...
) - 1998: "Full Moon"
- 1998: "Everyday Life"
- 2001: "Paths" (with Nina MirandaNina MirandaNina Miranda is both a singer and songwriter who was part of the English group, Smoke City, and more recently, Shrift.Nina Miranda's father is Brazilian, her mother is English and she was born in Brazil, and educated in Brazil, England and France...
) (UK #74) - 2002: "Improvisations: Part 2"
- 2002: "Connections/Separations"
- 2002: "Pour Te Parler (Remixes)"
- 2011: "Miniature World"
- 2011: "Voices from a submerged sea"
- 2011: "Orchid Miracle"
- 2011: "The Wolf"
Roberto Milani
- 1994: "Ghost"
- 1994: "Oxygen EP Vol. 1"
Remix albums
- 1997: In the Mix
- 1997: Renaissance Worldwide — London (with Dave SeamanDave SeamanDave Seaman is a British dance music DJ and record producer. He was formerly a member of the DMC Publishing, and editor of music magazine Mixmag. He formed one half of Brothers In Rhythm with Steve Anderson, doing production work for Pet Shop Boys and Kylie Minogue. He has since founded Audio...
) - 2002: Organik RemixesOrganik RemixesOrganik Remixes is a 2002 guest remix album based on Robert Miles' 2001 album Organik.-Overview:Two of the remixers, Kuzu and Fissure, were chosen by Robert Miles from an online remix contest on his own website.-Track listing:CD 1...
- 2011: Th1rt3en Remixes
See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart