Jason Charles Miller – Better Late Than Never

By starrymag | February 2, 2021

By: Robert Warren

 

 

Q) How would you describe yourself as an artist?

 

A) To people learning about me for the first time, I describe myself as southern rock. If there’s a little more time to go into detail about who my influences are: Lynyrd Skynyrd, Fleetwood Mac, The Cure, ZZ Top, Black Crowes, Deep Purple, Johnny Cash, Allman Brothers Band, Nick Cave – I’m all over the place!

 

Q) With your new single “Better Late Than Never,” you decided to premiere it on Twitch, why made you want to premiere it that way to your fans?

 

A) Well, ever since all touring was cancelled, performing concerts on my Twitch channel has been really cathartic for me and has been a way for me to keep in touch with my fans and friends and continue to premiere new songs and keep in touch with everyone.

 

Q) How did you begin creating your new single?

 

A) Jonathan Tyler and I had met in Hollywood while he was living in Los Angeles for a short time. We jammed together at the club Loaded and hit it off as friends. We decided to get together and write and I had this phrase “Better late than never” written down for the longest time.  Once we started jamming the song, that phrase just jumped out as the chorus and the rest of the song just sort of built itself around that.

 

Q) What was it like in the recording studio when you were recording?

 

A) Recording is always great fun! I remember working on that one with my co-producer Stewart Cararas and kind of building the song over a longer period of time because I really wanted my friend Adam Shoenfeld to play lead guitar on it and I needed to wait for him to come to town while he was on the road with Tim McGraw. I grabbed him one morning while he was here, put a guitar in his hand and the rest was magic! We did a similar thing with Cowboy Eddie Long, as he was on tour with Jamey Johnson at the time.  He had a few hours before soundcheck, so I took full advantage and his solo on that song is blazing hot!

 

Q) Why do you say, “It’s been a long, long time but it’s better late than never,” repeatedly in your lyric?  Is there some significance to that statement that sticks with you?

 

A) Well, the song is basically about being ghosted. Someone leaves your life without warning and all you want is an answer. It doesn’t matter how long it’s been; you just want to know why.

 

Q) What has been the most exciting part of working on this track?

 

A) The collaboration between so many great musicians! Hearing how each musician puts their own take on the song really brings it to life. When Alexander Burke comes in on piano in the second verse it really takes it to another level!

 

Q) What instruments did you use to create the sounds in this song? (Guitar and drums for sure?)

 

A) Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, bass guitar, pedal steel guitar, piano and drums!

 

Q) What was the most difficult aspect to the arrangement of “Better Late Than Never?”

 

A) I’m not sure if there was one. It’s a pretty straight forward three chord song, which is kind of rare for me, so maybe giving in to the simplicity of it was the biggest challenge!

 

Q) What do you hope people take away from this song when they listen to it?

 

A) A rockin’ good time! Despite the darker subject matter, the upbeat aspect of the music should hopefully get all toes tapping!

 

Q) This song is gonna be your first track on your album, From the Wreckage – Part One, due out March 26th. What can you tell us about the album? What are some themes you will explore?

 

A) These are songs I’ve always fiercely believed in (Part 2 will be like that as well), that perhaps didn’t see the light of day because of other gatekeepers stopping them from coming out. Now that I’ve launched my own label (Haunted Mill Music), I’m my own boss! These are songs I’ve always wanted people who like my music to hear, and now they will!

 

Q) What do you miss most about touring and being on stage?

 

A) Um…everything? But probably the immediate and primal feedback from the crowd. There is nothing like that in the world.

 

Q) What would you like to say to your fans and supporters?

 

A) Thank you for sticking with me and continuing to support me during this crazy time we are all living through!