Music

‍ ‍’One of those rare songwriters you might rightfully call a poet.’ - Andrew Calhoun, Waterbug Records

‘incognito seething rocker.’ - expository magazine

‘ ...Miller at her best hauntingly channels Tracy Chapman.’ - Illinois Entertainer

A soulful, dynamic vocalist, award-winning songwriter and creative multi-instrumentalist, Shelley Miller is a musical triple threat. Whether playing solo, fronting a band or accompanying others behind the mic or the drum kit, playing folk or indie rock or punk or scoring an instrumental track for aerial performance, they bring a raw edge and an understated fearlessness to every musical project and performance.

‘A songwriter's songwriter...Miller inhabits her songs like a second skin...’ - Wildy's World

Their poetic, elliptical songwriting has earned them accolades from several national songwriting contests, including The Acorn Singer/Songwriter Awards (finalist), the Dave Carter Memorial Songwriting Contest (finalist), the Sandy Lee Songfest (grand prize), and the National Women’s Music Festival (Emerging Artist). They’ve released 6 albums of original music (4 solo and 2 with bands Soft Ledges and the BCC) and an instrumental EP. They also played drums/percussion and sang on 7 albums with alt-country band The Gold Harvest and played guitar with doom band Rosaries and queer surf band Crimson Wave. In 2025, they co-wrote and performed The Amazing Adventures of 2NBs, a queer musical circus show for kids. Other collaborations include feminist poetry/music collective She Laughs; Being Mad to Desperation (a live music shadow puppet show of murder ballads) and folk songwriter collective Mercy Driver.

‍ ‍’...like pulling up a pair of very, very soft faded jeans over bare skin.- les reynolds, indie-music.com

Shelley has shared the stage with Jill Sobule, Joe Pug, Allison Russell, and members of the Counting Crows. Performing highlights include the National Women’s Music Festival (MN), Midpoint Music Festival (OH), Chicago Country Music Festival, Square Roots Festival, Ladyfest (MI), ROCKRGRL Fest (WA), storied Chicago venues Metro, Double Door, Subterranean and Old Town School of Folk Music and various coffeehouses, bars and house concerts around the Midwest, East Coast, Southeast and California.

‍ ‍ ‘An immensely brave and honest record’ - Laundry Day Records

‘This is a spectacularly good debut album. In fact, it’s arguably better than some
albums seasoned performers put out long after they’ve made their appearance on the scene.’
- The Independent Spotlight

Full discography available for streaming/download
on Bandcamp:

shelleymillermusic.bandcamp.com
softledges.bandcamp.com
thegoldharvest.bandcamp.com

A non-binary guitarist with short green hair plays an acoustic guitar on stage in a dimly lit venue, smiling at the audience, with microphones and audio equipment visible.

A guitarist wearing a low-cut tank top and denim shorts plays a black electric guitar in a dimly lit room with pink lighting. They glisten with sweat.

A non-binary guitarist with short brown hair plays a low slung black electric guitar on stage, smiling and leaning back, with stage equipment and colorful lights in the background.

A vocalist sings passionately into a microphone on an outdoor stage, wearing a black dress with red polka dots, with short brown hair and pink flowers attached to the microphone stand. An orange banner for a folk music festival is behind them.

A drummer with brown and purple hair plays drums in the corner of a yellow room. They have a drumstick in their mouth and are playing with brushes. A guitarist stands to their left and there is a window behind them.

A non-binary person with green hair holds an acoustic guitar and leans towards a tabby cat sitting on a short red desk. A brick wall and plants are behind them.