In the vast landscape of the music industry, it’s not often that we encounter a story as inspiring and compelling as that of Blueburst and their single “Senseless.” Lensed through themes of regret, joy, and heartache, the song encapsulates the journey of its creator, guitarist/vocalist Craig Douglas Miller, as he rediscovers his passion for music and leaves an indelible mark on the world.
Blueburst isn’t your typical band of starry-eyed twenty-somethings seeking their first break in the music scene. Instead, it’s the brainchild of an unlikely “new” artist: Craig Douglas Miller, a musician who had almost given up on his dream. The story of Blueburst begins with Miller’s earlier band, The Reach, which garnered major label interest in the 1990s. However, despite the potential for success, circumstances prevented them from reaching the heights they aspired to achieve.
After the setback with The Reach, Miller found himself in a prolonged period of musical hibernation. Clinical depression, writer’s block, and personal challenges led him to put aside his music career for over two decades. Miller candidly acknowledges that “a few too many gin and tonics” contributed to this hiatus. It seemed as though his musical aspirations had withered away, fading into the background of a life he once envisioned.
But life has a way of surprising us, and fate intervened in the form of a fortuitous meeting with legendary guitarist Marty Willson–Piper. Known for his work with The Church, Noctorum, and All About Eve, Willson-Piper became Miller’s trusted mentor and collaborator. This partnership became the missing piece in Miller’s musical puzzle, reigniting the flame of creativity and passion within him.
With guidance from Willson–Piper and a newfound purpose, Miller resurrected his home studio during the pandemic and immersed himself in the creative process. Drawing from a deep well of inspiration, he composed an entire album’s worth of original songs, giving birth to the band Blueburst, aptly named after the finish on his favorite guitar.
Blueburst’s music features a lush, guitar-based sound, a blend of ’80s alternative and post-punk with a contemporary and timeless feel. Embracing their retro influences without reservation, the band proudly wears its oldwave inspirations on its sleeve, eschewing the overproduced slickness that dominates the modern music landscape. For Miller, authenticity is the key to resonating with listeners, capturing the rawness and honesty that defined the music of his youth.
“Senseless,” the single from Blueburst, delves into the zeitgeist, reflecting the tumultuous events of recent years through the lens of Miller’s rejuvenated spirit. At the age of 50, rather than succumbing to a mid-life crisis, he defies the constraints of age and embraces a newfound zest for life and music. The song speaks of seizing life’s fleeting moments and striving to make a lasting impact on the world, inviting listeners to find their cathartic release within its melodic embrace.
Blueburst’s journey serves as a testament to the power of perseverance, resilience, and the belief that it’s never too late to pursue one’s passion. Through the prism of “Senseless,” the band invites us to share in their transformative experience, reminding us that even in our darkest hours, the light of creativity can lead us back to the path of self-discovery and purpose.
In a world where music often serves as a means of escape and connection, Blueburst’s “Senseless” not only offers a captivating sonic experience but also a heartfelt narrative of hope and renewal. As we listen to the evocative melodies and cathartic lyrics, we become witnesses to a remarkable journey of self-redemption and artistic revival, one that will undoubtedly resonate with audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
ABOUT THE BAND:
Blueburst isn’t your typical band of starry-eyed twenty-somethings making their debut. Instead, it’s the brainchild of an unlikely “new” artist: guitarist/vocalist Craig Douglas Miller. At the age of 50, Miller is breathing life back into a music career, he’d once written off, defying the notion that it’s ever too late to pursue one’s passion.
After major label interest for his 1990s band, The Reach, never quite panned out, Miller entered a 20-plus-year period of musical hibernation, the result of untreated clinical depression, writer’s block, and “perhaps a few too many gin and tonics” as Miller succinctly puts it.
However, a fortuitous meeting with legendary guitarist Marty Willson-Piper (The Church, Noctorum, All About Eve) changed everything. Miller finally found the missing piece of his musical puzzle: a trusted mentor and collaborator. Inspired by Willson-Piper’s guidance and with time on his hands during the pandemic, Miller resurrected his home studio, delving deep into his creative well to complete an album’s worth of original songs. Thus, the birth of Blueburst— named after the finish on his favorite guitar.
Together, Miller and Willson-Piper deliver a lush, guitar-based sound, firmly rooted in the legacy of ’80s alternative and post-punk, but with a modern and timeless feel that transcends eras. In a musical landscape often dominated by overproduced slickness, Blueburst fearlessly embraces its retro influences, proudly wearing its oldwave inspirations on its sleeve. “Most of my friends, and a lot of younger people as well, are still listening to the albums we grew up with because there’s a rawness and honesty in that music,” says Miller. “That authenticity is what we’ve aspired to capture here.”
Lyrically, Miller dives headfirst into the zeitgeist, reflecting the angst and turmoil of recent years through the prism of his rejuvenated spirit. At the age of 50, he has defied the constraints of a mid-life crisis, embracing a newfound zest for life and music. Themes of seizing life’s fleeting moments and striving to leave a mark on the world permeate the fabric of Blueburst’s sonic tapestry, resonating with listeners seeking a cathartic release.
Miller’s collaborators boast impressive professional pedigrees: including drummers Michael Jerome (Better Than Ezra, Richard Thompson) and Brian Platt (The Cads), bassist Ryan Kelly (Dayroom), and vocalist Riley Schatz. Add in Willson-Piper sprinkling his inimitable brand of creative guitar work over top of Miller’s songs, and the result is dynamic intelligent music that alternately crunches, chimes, jangles and pounds.
Blueburst unveiled their debut single, “Vanish,” in March, with new singles arriving monthly throughout the summer. The highly anticipated full album, entitled “Significance”, is set to grace our ears in October 2023, solidifying Blueburst’s place in the musical landscape.
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