American Idol Season 19 Alum Offers Up Ballads, Barn Burners And A Few Surprises
Billy Jam Records has set an April 29 release date for Alex Miller’s debut album, MILLER TIME. The Season 19 American Idol alum offers up a 10-track kick in the pants breath of fresh air with ballads, barn burners … and a few surprises. This well-paced project is helmed by award-winning songwriter and respected industry veteran Jerry Salley. It’s a party trick of an album – bold, occasionally irreverent and fun, mixed with moments of reflection and sadness – offered in Miller’s timeless and emotive voice. MILLER TIME is available for pre-order now.
The collection opens with a tale of the dead-broke and broken-hearted in “Breaking The Bank,” which is offered as a “grat track” with album pre-order. Miller then steals your breath away with the gently rolling ballad and current single, “Through With You,” deftly transitioning from heartache to acceptance to moving on in three minutes and thirty-seven seconds. Alex takes a turn to the lighter side with the hilarious Western Swing (and first single release) “Don’t Let The Barn Door Hit Ya,” and keeps the humor going with the twangy, toe-tappin’ fiddle and steel of “Girls Must Be Clumsy.” The achingly sweet, slow swinging “Kentucky’s Never Been This Far From Tennessee” offers a nice mood shift, but the attitude’s back with the sassy “I’m Over You, So Get Over Me.” Things gets serious with “Boys In Uniform,” a beautifully written and poignant patriotic ballad that offers an understated but powerful vocal performance. “I’m Done” is a mid-tempo story of determined walkin’ away, then the tempo moves into high gear with the amped-up, barn burning ode to the travellin’ kind that is “Freeborn Man.” The album closes with a rafter-raising rendition of Hank Williams’ Gospel song, “I’m Gonna Sing,” that finds Alex joined by the ever-amazing Oak Ridge Boys. Throughout, top-tier musicians bring their A-game. The project boasts Brent Mason on electric guitar, Mike Johnson on steel, Jason Roller on acoustic guitar and fiddle, Robb Tripp on drums, Kevin Grantt on bass and Dirk Johnson on keyboard.
“Going into this I wanted to make an album that showcased all the different sides of me – Swing, Bluegrass, Country and Gospel,” says Alex. “MILLER TIME gives me the chance to show folks all the music I love and enjoy.”
Track Listing
- Breaking The Bank (A. Miller / J. Salley)
- Through With You (A. Miller / J. Salley)
- Don’t Let The Barn Door Hit Ya (B. Whyte / P. Bogart / D. S. Wilson)
- Girls Must Be Clumsy (A. Miller / J. Salley)
- Kentucky’s Never Been This Far From Tennessee (J. Salley / C.A. Wilburn / K. Miller)
- I’m Over You, So Get Over Me (A. Miller)
- Boys In Uniform (J. McBride / M. Findley / D. Ruttan)
- I’m Done (A Miller. / J. Salley)
- Freeborn Man (M. Lindsay / K. Allison)
- I’m Gonna Sing (H. Williams)
Fresh from Country Radio Seminar and hosting duties for Country Fix, Alex is busy gearing up for the launch of MILLER TIME. His current single, “Through With You” dropped last month and is already generating positive feedback from fans, the media and radio programmers. For the 18-year-old, it sometimes still feels slightly surreal.
“I always knew making music was what I wanted,” Alex admits. “To actually be doing it is really me living the dream.” His days begin early: there are band rehearsals, interviews with outlets from around the world, songs to write, travel to gigs and performances. In between, Alex still manages to find time to curate his Weekly Wednesday Facebook Video, post on socials and, when he’s home – which is less and less often these days, he helps his Grandpa around the family cattle farm. “I do miss Lancaster sometimes,” Alex admits. “But this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance that I can’t ignore. I’m lovin’ it, I’m working hard … doing my part to make ‘em all proud of me.” MILLER TIME should do just that.
Fans can keep up with Alex on his website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
ABOUT ALEX MILLER
At 18, Miller might still be “a work in progress,” but what a piece of work he is. Standing 6’ 6” and engaging for one so young, Alex first found national fame as a competitor on American Idol Season 19. It was a massive change for this Kentucky-born singer/songwriter – who was still working on the family’s farm when he was accepted for the show. Alex is an outlier in other ways, too: he is a true, torch-carrying champion of traditional Country music and he is proud of it. His career began at the age of seven with shows in and around his hometown of Lancaster before moving on to larger venues, including the Dolby Theatre, Lucas Oil Stadium, Renfro Valley, and more. Since departing Idol, Alex has performed at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, five state Fairs (KY, MO, NY, WA, WI) and at additional venues around the country. He has headlined his own shows, and opened for Hank Williams, Jr., Josh Turner, Lee Brice, and more. In October of last year, Miller was named the Texas Roadhouse Artist of the Month and he performed a duet with Rhonda Vincent at the Lee Greenwood All-Star Salute the following month. MILLER TIME is his debut album.
