Name: Xoë Miles
Birthplace: Montgomery, Texas
Current Residence: Nashville, Tennessee
Music Style: Alt Pop
Website/Social Media Links: https://www.xoemiles.com (shows, socials, music)

Please introduce yourself.

I’m Xoë Miles; I’m an alt pop music artist who grew up in Texas, playing acoustic shows while I also focused on songwriting and releasing music. I’ve performed acoustic shows in festivals, fundraisers, and music conferences across the U.S. I’m now living in Nashville and loving it! Most of my songwriting in Texas was solo, but I’m loving it in Nashville because I get to co-write often. I also love playing out at the writers rounds here. Nashville offers so many chances to meet new people to connect with and learn and grow as an artist.I’m producing my own music these days. For the most part, I’ve also mixed and mastered my own music before releasing it.Since being in Nashville, I’ve been keeping really busy. I’ve been doing a lot of co-writing, I’ve worked with others on projects, I’ve done some top lining, I’ve produced demos for other artists, and I’m finally back to working on my own project. I have lots of new music to share which will be all self-produced. Some are written solely by me, and some I co-wrote with friends. I can’t wait to start sharing these!Tell us about your newest project. What was the inspiration behind it and where can we check it out?It’s been a little while, BUT I do have lots of new music coming. My last single I released is “Miss Me.” It was a co-write with my good friends Olivia Gunn and Joey DePrizio, and it’s one of my favorites! It’s a collaboration from the start to the finish. “Miss Me” has received some fun accolades! It’s my highest streamed single to date! It’s been featured on the Nashville Sign Billboard, has placed as a Semi-Finalist in the InternationalSongwriting Competition, and it is a John Lennon Songwriting Contest Winner which is being recognized as a Finalist and allowing me to receive some really cool prizes!

How would you describe your music? 

I’d have to probably say if Billie Eilish and Tate McRae were combined, with a sprinkle of Halsey and EDM production influences. There’s also a French pop artist named Eugénie, as well as an artist called Lilyisthatyou, and I feel like my music style is similar to them as well! Absolutely love them.

How did you get started?

I was 12 when I attended my first songwriting summer camp in Magnolia, Texas. Before this camp, I did some drill team dancing, and I did all the sports offered by the YMCA. I actually thought I was going to be a volleyball player, and even try to go to college for that, but once I took on songwriting, I was hooked. I couldn’t wait for summer to get here so I could do another camp. That continued for a couple more summers. During the 2nd camp, I noticed most of the other kids played an instrument, so I talked my parents into getting me a guitar, and I taught myself how to play by watching YouTube. My parents weren’t actually sure how serious I’d take it, so we looked online for a guitar and found a small, plastic, purple one on eBay. When it came in, I remember grabbing it, running upstairs, and I later went back downstairs to show my parents what I had learned. I played them a handful of songs they actually recognized, and I just continued to teach myself new songs on guitar, as well as writing to the chords I was learning.

Who are your biggest musical influences?

I mentioned a couple of these names in an earlier question, but my main influences who are recent are Billie Eilish, Tate McRae, and Amelia Moore, and I also pull vocally from 2000’s Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus! They’re all so talented and I definitely feel like I’m kind of a combo of a little bit of each of them.

If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be?

I’d probably have to say the way social media numbers play into everything, especially as an independent artist. The algorithms on social media are so confusing and changing all the time; it’s pretty exhausting trying to keep up with it. I just want to try and get my music in front of as many people as possible, in hopes some will relate to it and love it and share with their friends.

What sets you apart from other artists in your genre?

I feel each songwriter is somewhat unique in our own way, because most of us write about things we feel or know about. Not only do I write, but I also love to sing and want to sing my songs. I also produce and engineer my own music I release. I love having my home studio because I can easily sit down and create anytime I feel inspired.

What is it about music that makes you feel passionate?

Music is definitely a form of therapy for me. It helps me release any and all emotions and thoughts, even some that I wouldn’t have realized I’ve suppressed for many years; sometimes I write a song, and half way through I’m like oh.. didn’t realize I’d held onto that!

What’s next for you?

When I first moved to Nashville, I had lots of plans to attend writers rounds, network, co-write, and release my music. I had at least an EP that was on its way to being fully written, produced, and recorded. But,I got sidetracked with some other endeavors I had taken on and kind of put that on the back burner for a little bit. Now, I’m excited to be back to working on my own project and getting it finalized. I am producing the entire project and had planned to mix and master it myself. But, after moving to Nashville, I started collaborating with a very talented engineer (who I mentioned earlier) named Joey (he also worked on Miss Me), and I’ve decided to let him mix and master my project. He’s amazing, and I’m so excited to get these songs out into the world!What are your career goals in the next five years?Obviously, the big goals are to play stadiums and get major streams and everything, but I definitely just want to get out there more and reach as many people as possible and hope that, somewhere, people can relate to my music and lyrics and maybe feel less alone.