NY-based singer-songwriter Miles East has released his debut album Ghosts of Hope on ECR Music Group.
With three of the ten tracks available for immediate download: “The Hard Part,” “Saltwater Breeze” and his rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “That’s the Way.” Miles East is the moniker for multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Jonathan Ellinghaus, who has spent over a decade as one of New York City’s A-list studio musicians and elite drummers. With songwriting among his many musical talents, Ellinghaus now brings his singer-songwriter persona to the foreground with his debut album, Ghosts of Hope.
In this interview, we chat with Miles about influences, his newest project, and more.
Full Q&A, links, and streams below.
https://soundcloud.com/ecrmusicgroup/sets/miles-east-ghosts-of-hope
Let’s dive a little deeper into You, the artist and your music. What attracted you to this genre(s) or style(s)?
Sutton’s law, really. It’s where I think you find the best songs – both melodically and lyrically and the marriage between the two. A song in this genre has got serious work to do. It has an obligation to try its best to leave its subtle but indelible mark on the listener that potentially changes them forever. Every song that’s ever done that for me whether it’s been from this genre or not has been born out of that approach but the lion’s share seem to me to come from this genre.
How long have you been creating and sharing your music with the public?
Ever since I started writing songs. For most of that time though, it took a back seat to my main musical focus as a session/touring drummer. I was always writing during that time though and I played out when the opportunity presented itself. Recording and releasing Ghosts Of Hope represents the true turning point for me where the drums take the backseat and I’m now at the wheel as a singer/songwriter.
Who or what influences your playing and/or writing? Also, what motivates you to keep going?
I grew up in a house full of older brothers and sisters and spent my childhood immersed in an eclectic stew of music – rock in its many forms, jazz, folk, country, R&B, classical. It was all there. But I always gravitated towards really good songs regardless of the genre. This grew into an absolute love affair with them. A song can change you. It can find a place in your soul and grow roots, forever altering your perception. We adopt them. We say things like “That’s my song!” and what we mean is “That song is me.” What other art form can you really say that about? It’s Alchemy. Whenever I’m feeling stuck, I revisit any one of the songs that has done that for me and I’m up and running again.
Were you trying to accomplish anything specific on this new project? Creatively or otherwise?
I just wanted to be as true to who I am, as an artist, as I could be. That might seem a little “well, duh!” but it’s actually the hardest thing to do and anyone who’s tried would agree. A big part of achieving that is in the hands of your producer, though. I really lucked out with Blake Morgan because he’s all about bringing the artist completely into focus.
What was the last song you listened to?
“Now That It’s Too Late, Maria” by Dawes.
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
Vinyl. Nothing sounds better. It’s richer, more organic.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
All streaming services are fraught with issues that don’t bode well for artists. That said, I’d have to go with Apple Music. They seem to be the least dirty dish in the sink, if you will, and their pay model seems to be the best chance of getting artists paid better.
Other than the digital era overwhelming us with access to an abundance of music, what are one or two of the biggest challenges you face when trying to attract listeners to your music?
It comes down to the age old dilemma: Do I write what I think people will like or do I write what’s true to me? I’ve found that staying true to oneself will always lead to a better chance at finding an audience, and will never leave you feeling empty.
Do you gig, tour or perform? Do you ever live stream? Where can music lovers see you live?
Yeah, I just did a handful of shows this summer in NYC around the release of the record. Then there’ll be a string of dates up and down the East Coast this fall. And, I’ve got a live video shoot next week in fact…look for that to be released soon as well.
Where is the best place to connect with you online? Discover more of your music?
Ghosts Of Hope is now available everywhere music is sold and streamed, and you can also find me at facebook.com/MilesEastMusic and twitter.com/MilesEastMusic, and at my label’s site for me: www.mileseast.com.
Any last thoughts? Shout outs? Words of wisdom?
Well I’ve got to give a shout out to a couple of my other label mates because I feel really privileged to be included in the roster along side them. Full disclosure – I did the drum tracks for both these records but that’s beside the point. I’m a serious fan. For examples of the kind of songwriting that fires me up check out Didn’t You, My Dear by Janita, and Diamonds In The Dark by Blake Morgan.
