Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Jake Miller

Singer-songwriter, rapper, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Jake Miller is an artist who enjoys the grind. He sees each new day as an opportunity to grow and hone his craft. In the last two years, he’s not only picked up the piano, but he’s also learned to produce his own music.

With two successful albums under his belt, countless hit singles, and praise from publications such as Billboard, The Los Angeles Times, and Entertainment Weekly Jake is hungrier than ever, and embarking on the next chapter in his career. This year, he’s releasing a brand new EP and hitting the road on the Wait For You Tour.

We caught up with Jake to chat about all his exciting new projects.

PC: You have a new single out, “Wait For You”. What’s the inspiration behind the song?
Jake: The song was actually written for one of my friends who came to me for advice. Everybody thinks it’s about me, but it’s actually not—it’s about somebody who wants to remain nameless. So, this person came to me for advice because they wanted to be in a relationship with this other person, but that other person wasn’t ready. Maybe they just got out of a previous relationship and they were scared to jump back into another one, but my advice to them was if that person is right—and you’re willing to wait for them—then you’ll wait for them no matter what. Let them go through whatever they need to go through, and when they’re ready you’ll be waiting for them. That is what the song is about, and it was a lot of fun writing it. It took me a few days to write and then I produced it as well. I’m very proud of how it came out.

PC: It’s your first single with Sony. Prior to that, you were releasing music as an independent artist. Can you talk to us about this partnership and how you knew it was the right fit?
Jake: Yeah, I’ve been independent for two years now. Before that, I had a few different record deals. I’ve been through enough in this industry now where I know exactly what I want. I’m at the point where I know that I’m a good artist, and I know how to craft music the way I want. I also know enough about how this industry works. I knew in the past two years being independent that if I were to ever sign again, it would have to be the perfect deal.

Now, I know how to structure my record deals where I have 100% of the creative rights. In the past, it wasn’t like that. I knew that if anybody was going to come along and sign me, they would have to make sure they gave me all the creative freedom. That’s what Sony did. They pretty much trust me completely with the music, the creative, and the visuals. They’re putting all their resources behind me. It’s really cool, and they’re just a really great team. Most of all, they trust me, and they love what I’m doing. They’re not trying to change me. That’s what every artist dreams for in a record deal.

PC: You just announced your tour. What can you tell us about it? What can fans expect when they head to a Jake Miller show?
Jake: The tour’s going to be awesome! I’ll have a whole new EP out a few weeks before the tour starts so there will be new music that will be played on the tour, which is the most exciting part to me. Going out on the road is always really fun because I get to see all the fans and be face-to-face with all the people who let me do this for a living. It’s very important for me to see them face-to-face and meet as many people as possible.
 My shows are a lot of fun. I really pride myself on the energy at a Jake Miller show. Between me and my band, the music, and the fans’ energy, it’s just an amazing environment with a great vibe. It’s a very cool place to escape the world for an hour and a half and just focus on the music and the positivity—and that’s what music’s all about.

PC: As you’re putting together the set list, how challenging is it for you to decide what makes the cut? I’m sure as an artist you want to play all your new music, but you also have a dedicated fan base that’s been there since the very beginning.
Jake: Yeah, it’s really tough, especially as I make more albums and EPs. My catalog is huge at this point: I probably have 200 songs out between YouTube, iTunes, covers, and originals. It’s really tough to choose, but, as you said, I always have to balance between what I want to play and what I know the fans want to hear. Coming from a music listener in general, I know that when I go to see some of my favorite bands, I get the most pumped when they play their old stuff. I always make sure at least half the set is old stuff and then the other half is relatively new.

PC: What can you tell us about the new EP? How is it different than the other records that you’ve put out?
Jake: It’s really cool. It definitely has a more mature vibe. I have something for everyone on there: I have a choir singing on one of the songs; I have a lot of electric guitar; I have “Wait For You,” which is very ’90s; and, I also have another song called “Nikes” where the drums are a little ’80s. I’m trying to blend different parts of music like ’80s drums and Blink-182 type electric guitars with modern pop. It’s turning out amazing. I’m pretty much done at this point.

PC: You’re one of the hardest-working musicians in the industry. Who or what has kind of instilled that work ethic in you?
Jake: I appreciate that, thank you. I think my parents instilled that work ethic in me. Ever since I was fifteen, I wanted to work and make my own money and just kind of grind the day I turned fifteen, I got my first job at a grocery store bagging groceries. After that, I had five jobs. I worked at a golf course; I worked at Cold Stone; I worked at a hospital.

I worked a lot because I really loved the idea of grinding and making my own money. Obviously, I don’t make music to make money—it’s because I genuinely connect with music—but working hard is just something that my parents taught me and is just honestly in my blood. It doesn’t really seem like work at all when I’m making music, to be honest, just because this is my passion. It’s really cool that I’ve been able to find something that I can consider work and my job, but it’s really all fun. I think that’s really the whole point of life: to be able to find something like that.

PC: You’ve had tons of milestones in your career. Is there one particular one that sticks out to you?
Jake: That’s a tough one—great question. Honestly, I think it’s not as much in the statistics or awards or plaques. It’s more that I know in my heart that I’ve become a really amazing producer—which isn’t something I could have said to you two years ago because I didn’t know the first thing about producing. I went and bought a piano. I had never touched a piano before in my life, and now I feel like Beethoven. I went and bought all this equipment, and I really put in my 10,000 hours. My dad always said if you put in 10,000 hours you’ll be a pro, and I really think that I can walk into a studio session with any top writer and any top producer and hold my own. I’m only 1% there. I think there’s an infinite amount of knowledge when it comes to music, technology, sound, and stuff like that. I’m always learning, but I definitely think that was a milestone—learning how to produce my own stuff.

PC: As you look ahead, what are some of the career aspirations that you hope to accomplish in the next couple of years?
Jake: I want that one song to just blow up and have that one song that everybody hears on the radio so much that they get sick of it—that’s my goal. Obviously not for them to get sick of it, but for it to just be on the radio so much. That’s the one thing on my agenda that I haven’t been able to cross off yet. Maybe it’s just timing and maybe the universe was waiting for me to become the artist I am today or team up with a label like Sony. It’s only a matter of time; I know that for a fact. I’m just gearing up and preparing for when that time comes.

PC: What’s been the most surprising part about your journey, and the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
Jake: The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to take matters into my own hands, learn how to do everything myself, and not rely on others. You can learn anything on YouTube, if you’re motivated!
 The most surprising part is when I first started making music, I didn’t really make it because I was trying to positively affect peoples’ lives; I did it because it was fun, and it was a hobby.

As I put out music, put myself into these songs and lyrics, and wrote about anti-bullying, suicide, depression, and all these things I’ve really noticed how much music can have a positive effect on people. I’ve had people pull me aside at meet-and-greets, hysterically crying and telling me that this song got them through this experience. I never really even thought of that when I first started making music. That’s been so rewarding. I get to do what I love, make music, tour with my best friends, and, at the same time, really help people whether it’s through chemotherapy, depression, or whatever it may be. To be able to make songs that make people feel better…that’s pretty much the greatest job in the world.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure TV show?
Jake: I watch The Office all the time.

PC: Guilty pleasure movie?
Jake: The movie I watch the most—and it’s such a stupid movie, but it’s probably my favorite—is Step Brothers.

PC: Favorite book?
Jake: That’s a good question! Probably The Secret.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Jake: The Book of Mormon


PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Jake: Jimmy Buffet

PC: First album you bought?
Jake: Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard

PC: First concert you attended?
Jake: N*SYNC

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Jake: Probably Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles. It’s a compilation of all his greatest hits. I have that album on vinyl. It’s really just all of his best songs compiled into one album. I’ve made so many memories to his music, and he brings me back to the good ole days of high school. His lyrics really just make me kind of stop and appreciate what I have and appreciate my life.

PC: A must-have on tour?
Jake: My friends

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Jake: Madison Square Garden

Keep up with Jake by following him on Twitter and Instagram, and get your tickets to the Wait For You tour on February 1st.

Photo Credit: Derrick Fresek