Photo courtesy of Walter Miller
Twenty-one-year-old Lafayette-raised singer-songwriter Walter Miller’s debut album Dark Clouds Over Suburbia packs a powerful emotional and sonic punch that conjures the angst and vulnerability of a high school heartbreak, because that’s what inspired him to write it. Miller’s vocals and lyrics are standout; braced by strength, bravery, and vulnerability—qualities one must possess in abundance both to release a pop record, and to come out as a young person in the South; both of which Miller has accomplished.
Suburbia is reminiscent both in emotion and structure to a soundtrack or musical cast recording with a stripped-down “Intro,” “Interlude,” and “Outro” honing in on Miller’s crystal-clear vocals and piano accompaniment. The tracks in between depict the entire rollercoaster experience of the breakup that inspired the record: moving from attempted reconnection, to bitterness, to acceptance. The emotional variety of Miller’s songs is far from the only factor contributing to the album's dynamism. The record swings between textural peaks and valleys much like a teenager’s mood, volleying with ease between intimate, stark moments and full, bursting pop tracks.
Songs like “One More Try” and “Into the Night” showcase pop sensibility with synth blasts and uptempo melodies that might verge on bubblegum if not so powerfully melancholy—these are tracks you could dance to or cry to, or both simultaneously. True to its name, “Darker” brings bass effects reminiscent of pop-punk—another staple genre of teenage breakups. “Love No More (Scorned)” perhaps best showcases the diversity in production as well as composition, shifting abruptly into blues meter and juxtaposing dark and angsty lyrics with the uplifting sound of major pentatonic scale. Suburbia’s home-base is atmospheric and dream-like; highlighting silky-smooth vocals laced with the crinkle of hard feelings and amplified in emotional and auditory resonance by fairly heavy-handed reverb.
Needless to say, Dark Clouds Over Suburbia is an ambitious record on several levels, particularly for a first release. Miller did not shy from the challenge, however, and clearly poured an abundance of heart, tears, high notes, and songwriting chops into the endeavor. I’d be willing to wager most of us don’t have something as impressive to show for our first big teenage heartbreak. I recently asked Miller to tell me about the breakup that inspired the album, what it was like collaborating with Dore at Wave Theory Studios, what the response has been like, and what advice he has for other young artists considering a first release.
Courtesy of Walter Miller
Album art for Dark Clouds Over Suburbia
From the very beginning of the first song "Intro", this album is very powerful and raw emotionally. Could you give us some insight into what you were going through personally that inspired those feelings, and their progression throughout the album?
Of course! So at the time, I was not only closeted but also in a relationship where I was being continually abused. I felt as though I had no way of communicating to those around me about the trauma I was enduring other than through songwriting, mainly because I hadn’t come out yet. I was trapped in a personal hell with a shiny, dollhouse exterior, and nobody had any idea what was happening to me behind closed doors. I wrote the lyrics of the "Intro" to introduce these themes of darkness yet perseverance that the album delves into. I also chose that production with the piano to give it an ominous and foreboding feel, while I did my best to deliver my vocals with as much warning as well as resilience in my tone as possible.
How did you get connected with Wave Theory Studios and your co-producer Austin Dore? How did you know Dore was the right person to co-produce it?
Austin is the best! I actually met him because my former guitar teacher, Tim Benson, got me into the studio in the first place after I brought my song “Downfall” to one of our lessons to put chords to it. From there he introduced me to Austin, and I was just blown away by his talent. I had these fully formed songs in my head, but always struggled with getting others to hear what I wanted or to see what I envisioned. With Austin though, it’s like he has earphones that connect to what I hear in my brain. He just gets it! He also brings the best ideas to the table too. I didn’t set out to make this an album, and at first it was really just Austin and I making songs together. Once I realized I was going to release all of these tracks as a full project to tell my story, I had basically made all of the songs with him, so he just stumbled into that role. I couldn’t have found a better fit though!
When did you start work writing the songs on the album? How long was the writing process and what was it like, from inception to moving into the studio?
The first song I wrote that wound up being on the album was “Nightmare” and I was fourteen. I started writing more frequently throughout high school, envisioning different imaginary albums each of these songs could go on. I sat down before my senior year and decided the reality was I actually want to release these songs all on one project so that it could tell my story and maybe inspire others to overcome obstacles in their own lives. I finished every song except the "Outro" within high school or the summer before college. I purposefully saved the "Outro" for last so I could reflect on everything I learned and write about where I thought my life was headed. I wrote that last song for the album in December of 2017 when I was eighteen. So every word you hear on the album are the authentic words of a teenager chronicling his high school experience. I was sixteen or seventeen when I first started recording songs specifically for the project and would record songs as I’d finish writing them. So I was in the studio recording vocals as I was coming up with new songs. We finished my vocals in August of 2018 and the mixing was done by like May of 2019 with the lead single “Downfall” being released that same month.
When did you know you were ready to move into the studio to record?
I’m not sure if there was ever a point where I decided I was ready, because I just kind of went in the studio on a whim to see how it’d work out, and before I knew it, I had a bunch of songs recorded. By the time I decided I was going to release them as an album, [Austin’s and my] process of creating these songs had become somewhat of a well-oiled machine, which I guess was really beneficial for the both of us.
Can you share a bit about what the recording and mastering processes were like from your perspective?
It’s weird, because I’ve never done something that was so stressful yet therapeutic. It almost feels like an oxymoron to say that. But I guess I feel that way because even though the process was intense with some setbacks to get past, it felt so great to finally get the words I had in me for so long out there. I built the songs and instrumentals with Austin, would go to record my vocals at a different studio courtesy of my amazing former voice coach Katie Crist, and would finish the mixing with Austin. Due to some management issues (we’ll call them) where some people were trying to rewrite song lyrics to keep me in the closet to the public, or someone I worked with not giving back songs I recorded because of their creative differences, it was a lot of pressure on me, especially with me being only eighteen and nineteen. Once Austin and I got the songs back, we worked super long days, but were very efficient in finishing the project. We’d get mixes of every song done, I’d take a break to get fresh ears, listen to everything we did, and come back with a bunch of notes on what to fix. We’d repeat this process until each song was perfect. So even though the process took forever and there were some bumps in the road, I focus on the fact that the album eventually did come out, my story finally got out there, and listeners seemed to really resonate with it which is all I cared about in the end!
Photo courtesy of Walter Miller
A first full-length album is a huge accomplishment. How did it feel to release it?
Thank you so much! And to be completely honest, it was some type of amazing feeling I never had felt before. I think just because I went through so much at such a young age not only professionally but also in my personal life, so to get that album out and have people respond the way they did with reaching out to congratulate me or say how great it was, it’s just been so incredible. I still to this day don’t think I can emphasize enough to those that have supported the album and me in general how much it means to me. Especially since there was a time where I didn’t even know if my music or voice would be heard.
What has the reception been like?
My friends have obviously been just amazing and probably do a better job at promoting my music than I do sometimes! We got together (pre-COVID), had an album listening party Taylor Swift style, and just had the best time. It was super fun, emotional, and just the best night possible! I’ve had some strangers reach out to me too through Instagram DMs to say they heard a song or watched the "Downfall" music video and would tell me congrats. Some even shared their own struggles, which meant everything because that was the whole point of me releasing the album, so that others wouldn’t feel alone in facing challenges in their life as I had when I wrote these songs. My family members that have listened to it have been super complimentary too, so that’s always good!
Do you have any advice for other young musicians who might be considering putting an album out?
Ohhh, I feel like I’m hit or miss with words of wisdom, but I’m sure that’s the case with most twenty one year olds and not just me, haha. But I guess I’d say try not to put all of your focus on the end result or the big picture when you’re in the midst of putting everything together. Focus on one thing at a time, and before you know it, you’re finishing up. Also there really doesn’t have to be some big, climactic moment where you decide you want to put an album together or release music you’ve created. If that’s something you want, don’t wait for a sign, just go for it! And be sure to look around you and ask around for help. You’ll always be surprised by those that are great resources that you had no idea are just as interested in your passion as you are in it!
