It might not be immediately obvious from the tender chords he strums or the mellow beats that stride through his folky songs, but Austin Miller, as a musician, is as spontaneous as they come. In many cases, spontaneity kills consistency and focus. But for Miller, his willingness to write and record and tour unconventionally—his deference to his own art—gives his music a genuineness that is not often expressed or recorded.

For one, Miller’s interest in music emerged seemingly out of nowhere. Not only was he a little too young—his parents struggled to secure a piano instructor willing to teach a three year old—but his inclination seemed contrary to his bloodline. Musical ability rarely shows up in his family tree, but along with his two brothers, the three are well-versed in a long list of instruments.

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