"Shelley Miller binds her ragged tales of urban life in lines of unflinching truth. She's one of those rare songwriters you might rightfully call a poet."
--Andrew Calhoun, Waterbug Records
"Listening to her is like pulling up a pair of very,
very soft faded jeans over bare skin."
--Les Reynolds, indie-music.com
Shelley Miller is a hopeful caterpillar on a shaky branch of life. Equal parts condemned building, strawberry shortcake and high lonesome cowgirl, Shelley writes to document the hidden bits of everyday existence. Blending genres as seamlessly as her voice bends notes, Shelley writes in the margins between Americana, folk, pop and blues-rock.
A tireless performer, Shelley has won over audiences in both intimate coffeehouses and large festivals. Her encore performance at the 2004 Midwest Music Summit (with Dave Golden and Jeremiah Birnbaum) was lauded as "a highlight and perfect ending to an amazing weekend of music" by Mary Lee Pappas of NUVO. Other standout performances include the Rockrgrl Music Conference (Seattle), Estrojam, Millenium Park, The Chicago Folk and Roots Festival, Ladyfest Lansing, Nashville New Music Conference, MidPoint Music Festival (Cincinnati) and the Queer is Folk Festival (Chicago).
Shelley's songs have been honored by several national songwriting contests including: A Call to Arts Song and Music Contest (First Place, 2004), the Mid-Atlantic Songwriting Contest (2nd Place, Folk, 2004), the VH1-sposored Song of the Year Contest (Finalist, 2004) and the Great American Song Contest (Honor Award, 2004). Her music has appeared on compliations released by Waterbug Records, SBS Records, and Bannon Productions.
Shelley released her second CD, Morning Somewhere, in October 2006. Produced and arranged by Tommi Zender, this twelve song disc features the talents of Greg Schultz (Lush Budgett, Lure), Ellen O'Hara (Scotland Yard Gospel Choir), Kara Kulpa, Anthony Whitaker and Tommi Zender, Her first CD, Tear Me Down, was released in 2002.
A firm believer in the power of community, Shelley has organized showcases and two midwest tours for Indiegrrl. Shelley has performed with the improvisational ensemble She Laughs, folk/poetry duo Moon Lodge and goth-metal band Urn, and has lent her voice to recordings by Tommi Zender, Amanda Sena, Kara Kulpa and Anthony Whitaker. In addition to her solo work, Shelley plays with Anthony Whitaker, Kara Kulpa and Jeremiah Birnbaum and Dave Golden. She teaches guitar and songwriting at the Old Town School of Folk Music. When not playing music, Shelley can often be found careening her bicycle through the streets of Chicago...singing
