Scott Miller's year of transition prompts change in perspective, style

A singer-songwriter Scott Miller crafts new songs to reflect recent changes in his point of view, he aims to give them the heart they'll need for him to play them with conviction night after night.

KNOXVILLE — Is singer-songwriter Scott Miller growing up?

"I think I am," the 42-year-old Knoxville resident deadpans during a phone interview, "and I'm sort of ready ... I'm not a child anymore."

Part of it is Miller noticing life around him. "People are starting to get old around me. People started losing their jobs. I thought, '(Shoot), somebody's going to have to take responsibility around here."

The past 12 months have certainly seen Miller's life in transition. His wife was laid off from her job. He's noticed the aging of his parents, and felt a bit of his own mortality through that. On the career front, Miller has started his own label, giving himself more creative freedom.

In more ways than one, 2010 has been a year of change for Miller.

"I just spent the last four years on a plateau," he says of his career. "It was not a bad plateau. It was the top of the middle, a place where a lot of artists would like to be.

"You like to see changes. You like to grow, and I feel like things are changing."

Nonetheless, he's a guy who likes to look back.

"I like dates and anniversaries and that kind of thing," says Miller, whose New Year's Eve shows around here are a local tradition.

"I like starting things off with a clean slate. It generally does me good to take stock of the year."

Working this kind of growth into songs he can perform repeatedly proves to be challenging.

"Because of the level I am at, I have to go out and do these songs every night," he says. "So I have to go out and find my smile in them every night."

He sees himself in the middle of change. Seems like 2011 will be the year in which Miller will experiment with something new. "I'm sort of excited about it," Miller says. "I wonder (about) what I am going to do next. I hate to think it might be more mature.

"But I don't want to be one of those guys who hang out in the business too long. I've been really lucky, and I have worked hard, too."

If Miller is indeed maturing, he's ready to do it in the best way possible. He looks to influences like Will Rogers for inspiration on how to grow old gracefully.

"How did Will Rogers maintain his perspective? Will Rogers was able to keep his perspective while still poking fun. I want to learn how to do that."

In 2011, Miller will work on his next album. He already has a writing spot picked out in Fountain City, where he can go and be alone with his thoughts.

He wants to show off a slightly different sound. This new CD may be more "ethereal" with "a lot of reverb," Miller says.

"It's very different," he says, "and (with a) very - may I say it - mature sound that I want to try."

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