The Art of Being Transparent
- Marcel Courteau
- Aug 3, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 7, 2024
The shape of the heart d’une belle aime sans regrets.
Dominic Miller was born on March 21, 1960, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, to an American father and an Irish mother. His father worked for Johnson Wax, headquartered in Racine, Wisconsin, USA. This company is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of household and pest control products. The family settled in Hurlingham, a residential municipality northwest of Buenos Aires, known for its excellent schools and love of rugby.
Dominic lived there until he was ten years old, during a period when Argentina still enjoyed a robust economy thanks to its agro-export model, with a highly literate population, a high level of education, and a thriving industrial sector.
However, the 1960s and 1970s were marked by political instability, with the emergence of guerrillas among various ideological sectors and two coups d'état: one in 1962 against President Frondizi and another in 1966 against President Arturo Illia, culminating at the end of the decade with a de facto government led by military officer Juan Carlos Onganía.
Amidst this tumultuous climate, his father was repatriated to the company’s headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin, where Dominic continued his studies.
At the age of fifteen, he joined a soul group.
What Was Your First Concert?
DM: "I was 15, in Racine, Wisconsin, with a group called The Love Expressions, a soul band I had joined in high school. We played in a club, and I was the only white person, not just in the band but in the entire concert hall. It was nothing more than a cover band, but it was a great experience and I really enjoyed it."
Dominic then pursued his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. Later, his parents joined him there as his father was transferred to the UK branch of Johnson Wax.
DM: "I worked on a ferry in Surrey, England, opening locks and selling postcards to retirees. I loved that job. I also worked in a paint factory in Argentina, which was very hard but fun work.
At nineteen, I worked as a chauffeur for the Argentine consulate in London. The problem was, I didn’t know my way around the city, and neither did they. Later, I would show up at my gigs in restaurants at night, still in my chauffeur's uniform. That was the last regular job I had."
DM: "At 19, I went to Brazil to study with Sebastião Tapajos, an excellent Brazilian guitarist trained in Lisbon and Madrid. My father gave me a plane ticket and $500 to go. I arrived in Rio, partied like crazy, spent the money, but couldn’t find Tapajos. They told me he lived in São Paulo, so I went there, found his address, and knocked on his door. When he answered, I said:
'Hi, I’m Dominic, I’m here to study with you...' He replied, 'Are you crazy? I’m not a teacher; I don’t teach anyone...' Still, he found me a cheap hotel. I stayed to learn from Tapajos for 15 days and had the chance to play a few gigs in São Paulo. Then I returned to London."
Later, Dominic took a summer course at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.
DM: "Yes, I studied at Berklee, and it was a life-changing experience. That’s when I knew I would be a musician forever."
From Session Musician to Sideman
It’s not that I sing because I’m happy. I’m happy because I sing.
Set a Goal or Let Life Take Its Course?
Who hasn’t faced this dilemma?
The problem is that we sometimes get confused, thinking we have to do what others expect of us or what we believe they expect of us.
Everything becomes clear when you know what you’re made for. From there, it makes sense to follow the path life sets for you.
A studio musician can work either as an independent artist or exclusively for recording studios, sometimes for a single studio or a record label.
The working hours of studio musicians often depend on the conditions set by unions. Employment can be as short as a single day, in the case of recording a song, or as long as several weeks, when recording an album or film score.
DM: "The songs are written and the artist has the contract. As instrumentalists, we make significant contributions to the songs and sometimes find a 'hook' that can really make a difference. Everything we do is to make the song and the artists shine. That’s what we do, and that’s why we get paid."
A Sideman is a professional musician hired to play on stage with a solo artist or a band he’s not a regular member of.
An Unexpected Turn of Events
In 1991, as Sting was preparing the album "Soul Cages," he called for an audition to recruit a guitarist.
At that time, Dominic Miller was doing numerous studio sessions in London. He had just come off the biggest album he had played on: "Another Day In Paradise" by Phil Collins. Then he went to New York.
Sting: "I heard he had a good reputation in London."
Dominic was in the studio, struggling to get a good sound from his amp, checking the tubes and everything. Sting recalls: "He spent a lot of time without getting it right, and it was frustrating. So I took the volume knob on his guitar and turned it up. Everything was fixed." Miller was mortified.
DM: "At that moment, I thought: 'Okay, now tell me to go to hell and I’ll be fine with that. I got to make this trip to New York, and I’ll just enjoy going out and eating something,'" adds Miller.
DM: "But then we played… we explored many different styles. Nothing was really a problem because I’m a session musician. At that point, I wasn’t very nervous because I thought I’d lost my job."
DM: "But we kept playing, on and on. After about three hours, I was ready to go home. I spent the day with Sting; we played, and it was great."
And then Sting said, "I want to talk to you." He asked:
"What are you doing in the next few months?"
and I replied, "What do you mean?"
…… Almost 30 years of collaboration… Miller has become his right-hand man.
This is how Dominic explains how to carve out a place in the world for what many of us perceive as finding value in the "useless.".
DM: "It entirely depends on your level of commitment.
If I were you, I’d ask myself these two questions before making a decision:
Are you ready to embark on a journey with no return, without knowing where you’re going?
Are you prepared to accept that you might never make it and that you could fail?
If the answer to these questions is yes, then I think it’s worth it.
Otherwise, don’t risk losing your job."
The Perfect Pairing
Pairing is "the union, analogy, or conformity with which certain things are linked or correspond to one another." In other words, this activity aims to find the perfect match between wine and food. The goal is to discover the combination of flavors and aromas that mutually enhance each other.
Dominic has always expressed himself musically by adding a personal touch that elevates the original work. This vision and attitude, both as a session musician and as an artist, have given him a unique credibility.
DM: "When I go into a studio, I have no rules. It’s about listening and staying open. It’s about opening your soul and refining your taste. I have no preconceived ideas. The best way to know what to play is to do nothing. Listen to the music without your guitar. Open your heart and learn what you can do to improve the song.
Unless the artist asks you to play a specific melody, there’s already a defined task. Sometimes, it’s just a chord.
A good example of this is Phil Collins on 'Another Day in Paradise.'
I played a very simple arpeggio. And Phil and the producer said that’s exactly what they wanted.
I replied, 'Are you kidding me? I have more to offer than that… I’m just warming up my fingers…'
But they insisted, 'We don’t want anything more; it’s perfect.'
That’s when I learned a great lesson.
It’s not about you. It’s about setting your ego aside.
Be transparent for the music.
If you draw attention to yourself, you’re doing it wrong.
It’s just the music.
The song is queen."
“He deals the cards as a meditation”.
Success is not final. Failure is not fatal.
What truly matters is the courage to continue. - W. Churchill
DM: "What motivates me is the quest to learn as much as possible, a quest that never ends. Learning a new Bach piece, discovering a new album, finding new ideas—these are some of the things that drive me.
Working on sound is my number one philosophy.
I learn a lot from classical musicians about sound…
The problem is, they don’t have groove.
For a guitarist, sound is fundamental.
Sound is king. If I don’t have a good sound, I can’t do anything.
Every note is important.
And I would say that sound doesn’t come from your fingers… for me, it comes from your ears…
It’s about you, not the instrument.
If you give Nadal any racket… he’ll still beat you.
And if you give me a great racket… do you think I’ll play like Nadal?"
Our steps reveal the secrets of the soul. - WSS..
Dominic Miller was born in Argentina. He has lived in the United States and England, and he is now based in France.
DM: "If I live in France, it’s because I love the countryside and also because my wife is French. We have two children who are half French, half English, and I love the French way of life. I love the people, the language, and the art. I appreciate the emphasis on the arts and the fact that they are always very supported and respected. As an artist and musician, I feel like I’m in a place where being an artist means something.
In other countries, you don’t feel that way.
I drive a Peugeot 206. I’ve never liked luxury cars, but I enjoy driving."
He holds a British passport thanks to his Irish mother, as well as an Argentine passport. Although he doesn’t really feel a strong connection to any one place, he supports Argentina during the World Cup and England during the Rugby World Cup.
Dominic has always had the intuition and clarity needed to find his place. He has shown us that success does not lie in the spotlight, but in the ability to give your best. He places great importance on his role and his contribution to collective work.
In a world surrounded by egos, he has managed to find and offer a balance, always striving to generate synergy and a confluence of efforts that result in exceptional contributions, thus enhancing the value of the work. Dominic is someone whose success has not isolated him and who remains constantly connected.
The point here is that Dominic has already walked this path. He is an expert in this field.
A master who clearly conveys that nothing is magical, that everything is built on serious commitment, with effort, method, and discipline. With courage and taking risks.
With dreams, but also with the awareness that you might fail… and that’s okay… Breathe and keep believing.
That’s why he is sought after and recognized. Everyone knows he is the perfect travel companion. A journey where you might know where you’re starting from and have a vague idea of where you want to go.
But that doesn’t matter. The most exciting part is enjoying every step of an unforgettable journey. It’s the experience that counts.
As he says, to keep it simple, he was lucky enough to discover what he wanted to do at 13 or 14 years old: music. That’s what he has been doing ever since. It was a long time ago. He says his oxygen is playing music with other musicians.
He’s just someone who has fun doing what he loves.
In the end, it’s the shape of the heart d’une belle âme sans regrets.
Nice story!