Blueburst is the brainchild of Craig Douglas Miller, who is releasing his debut album at age 50, reviving a music career Miller had once written off. After major label interest for his 90’s band The Reach never quite panned out, Miller entered a 20-year musical hibernation, the result of untreated depression, writer’s block, and “a few too many gin & tonics” as Miller puts it. After connecting with guitarist Marty Willson-Piper (The Church, Noctorum), Miller found what he’d sorely needed: a trusted mentor and collaborator. Miller dug in and recorded an album’s worth of original songs, with contributions from Willson-Piper, drummer Michael Jerome (Better than Ezra, Richard Thompson), and bassist Ryan Kelly (Dayroom) among others.
On his new single “Senseless,” an ethereal guitar jangles in the midst of tasteful keyboard twinklings as Miller croons with palpable experience and yearning for permission to transcend. “Senseless” is a politely epic unveiling of balanced indie rock, sewn together with poignant lyrical wit and a well-deserving hook, a highlight track from the forthcoming LP, Significance.
While speaking on his upcoming record, Miller had this to say: “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 [on Significance].”
