metronome . Being on the same page regarding timing is really important to our dynamic . When we were younger , she used to listen to a metronome and would guide the entire band . Nowadays , because of our in-ear monitors , everyone is able to hear the click and can play along to it . Whenever I ’ m able to during a performance , I try to get as close to Eliza as I can so that I can watch her play , and this helps us lock into each other really well .
Miller : I haven ’ t really changed anything related to my playing since the pandemic has occurred . For a while I didn ’ t even have access to my bass ; I was living up in the country with my boyfriend and had no access to any instruments . The times when I find myself being the most experimental with my playing generally occur when I ’ m on stage performing with my band . Sometimes I ’ ll make a change on stage that ends up sounding more interesting than the part I play during a recording . I ’ m more spontaneous with my playing when I ’ m under pressure , I guess .
CM : Being the lead singer in addition to the bass player , how do you get your bass parts to be automatic to the point where your focus can be on your vocals in concert ? Or is the other way around ?
Miller : Easy , practice . All the bass parts that I write myself are pretty straightforward and simple , because I know I ’ m going to be singing . The bass parts that Leandra [ Earl , keyboardist and guitarist ], Kylie [ Miller , lead guitarist ], or one of our
other producers come up with , which tend to be more difficult and intricate , I practice over and over again until they become muscle memory , so that I can focus more on my singing .
CM : How do you find the right bass part for a song within Beaches ’ songwriting process ?
Miller : It ’ s different song to song . I ’ m not a very flashy player , so I consistently try to write parts that support the other instruments or elements in a song .
CM : You ’ ve been playing with Eliza Enman-McDaniel since high school . Have you had the chance to play with many other drummers ? What makes for an ideal rhythm section collaboration between a bassist and drummer ?
Miller : I ’ ve actually only ever played with Eliza . She and I have been playing together since we were 12 years old . I love working with her because she ’ s like a human
CM : You ’ re still young , but when you look back over your professional career so far , what ’ s the biggest change you see in your style or approach to bass between the early years of Beaches and now ?
Miller : I ’ ve become a more confident bass player over the years . When I first started playing the bass for our band , I didn ’ t like to write my own parts , I didn ’ t like to play anything that wasn ’ t just super simple , I hated soloing , etc . Now I like to try new stuff , and I ’ m pretty confident that I can play and sing anything as long as I have enough time to practice . Working with our last producer , [ Garret ] “ Jacknife ” Lee , was a particular challenge for me as a bass player . A lot of our new music is super dancey and has some crazy bass grooves ( particularly “ Want What You Got ”). Playing and really locking into these new grooves , I think , has made me a stronger bass player .
CM : Lastly for the gear heads , what is your ideal bass rig in the studio or live ?
Miller : I ’ m pretty happy with my live rig . For the studio , my ideal bass rig is just going clean through as good of a preamp as I can get . I don ’ t really like to play Rickenbackers — they hurt my boobs .
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