The internationally renowned guitarist and composer, Sting’s close collaborator and co-creator for three decades, talks about music, life, freedom and creation.
Curiosity may be the word that runs through his thinking most. He has spent much of his life on tour, has worked with some of the biggest names on the international scene and, since 1991, has been a long-time collaborator of Sting. For a musician like that, the need to discover something new remains a prerequisite. That drive keeps him constantly on the move, whether he is writing music or picking up the guitar to take on its limitless possibilities once more.
Ahead of his appearance with his band in Nicosia, Dominic Miller talks about travel, music as an endless field of exploration and the birth of the legendary “Shape of My Heart”. He also admits that he is still learning and does not consider that he has arrived anywhere for good.
What keeps you curious about life?
I love making new discoveries, be they music, art, food, books etc. I also love meeting new people. This is what keeps me inspired and drives me towards hopefully making small improvements every day.
How differently does a person see the world after spending much of his life travelling?
I am fascinated by different histories and cultures around the world. I take something from every country I visit, especially musically where harmonic, melodic and rhythmical styles vary so much. The advantage is I feel very open to learning from the way people interact and create, especially in the arts.
What did you want to explore musically with “Vagabond”?
Vagabond was written during lock down and I think it’s fair to say it might have a more introspective angle than my other records. This wasn’t intentional but as I have some distance from the album I believe this to be so. I think of it as a meditation.
What would you still like to discover through music?
I wish I could understand and then play flamenco and Indian music where they both have such interesting and complex rhythms.
You are one of the most recognisable guitarists, yet you never seem to seek the spotlight. Is this discretion a conscious artistic choice, or an instinctive and idiosyncratic way of thinking about music?
I feel very fortunate to have worked with so many people, many of them very famous. I’m not a singer or a pop star, and see myself more as an accompanist to stars. When I’m with my band I have to carry the responsibility more but as I’m older now I don’t really seek the limelight and prefer for the music to be the star. If I get any notoriety from it I don’t complain but that’s not what I seek, nor my intention.
What has living and working alongside musicians such as Phil Collins, Peter Gabriel, Tina Turner, Paul Simon and Katie Melua taught you?
I could write a whole thesis on this subject, but one thing most of these artists have in common is they are all very well balanced people and it’s no accident that they are successful. They also share a prowess in the art of simplicity which is one of the hardest disciplines in music.
Your journey with Sting has lasted more than three decades and includes countless concerts, as well as songs that have become part of the global musical canon. How far can a creative relationship evolve when it lasts for so long?
One of the secrets to our long standing relationship is we both share a similar sense of curiosity. For example, with a song like “Every Breath You Take”, which we’ve played together thousands of times, we are always looking for newer and fresher ways of interpreting it. As long as we continue to share this I think we will continue because we are not done with each other yet and feel there’s more to discover about one another.
In the case of “Shape of My Heart”, one of your guitar ideas became the starting point for a Sting song. What do you remember about the moment it was born?
I remember coming up with that tune kind of as an exercise, experimenting with Chopin style chords (major and minor 6ths). It felt like a good movement. Then as I was practicing it Sting heard it and immediately imagined it as a song. Of course I didn’t complain. This song is a perfect example of what good collaboration is: a guitarist’s idea mixed with a songwriter’s imagination.
How has your relationship with the guitar changed over the years? What still surprises you about the instrument?
It’s a never ending voyage of discovery. As with chess there are infinite possibilities. My main focus is in improving my sound which I think is the most important aspect to guitar playing because this is your voice. I’m still learning and hopefully improving.
What is it that still drives you to pick up a guitar and start all over again?
Mostly learning and arranging new tunes, like with the Beatles book I did recently. I’m currently doing the same with Stevie Wonder’s material for solo guitar. I love trying to figure out the best way to play these and any tunes and this is what always keeps me enthused and busy.
What does the guitar offer you that no other instrument can?
A guitar is a very portable instrument you can take anywhere, on your back, to the beach, on the street and anywhere you want. You can’t say that about a piano. I also see a guitar as the ultimate storyteller’s instrument which is almost like a small orchestra.
What has changed most in the way you write music over the years?
I don’t think we change as composers but I do believe we become better arrangers. Inspiration is a luxury but how you organise these gems is what matters. I’ve got better at constructing pieces in a clearer way, but I don’t think it’s necessarily better compositionally.
What does freedom mean to you today?
Great question. Freedom is being able to decide how you lead your life.
What interests you most about people these days?
Hmm… I love meeting people who don’t say much at first because it makes me more interested in them or what they are thinking. I also like people who aren’t afraid of silence.
What do you fear humanity may lose in the future?
Deep question! I fear we may lose the capacity to communicate on a soul level. There are so many distractions, making us lose touch with each other. I think what I’m trying to say is everybody should at least try and get off their phones for a bit, look at each other and communicate either with words or silence.
-INFO Dominic Miller and his quartet perform on Thursday, September 24 at Archontiko Axiothea in Nicosia, 8.30pm. Tel: 22894531 (29th University of Cyprus Cultural Festival)
