Bea Miller: A Journey Through Sound and Color

Out of all the young musicians taking over the pop world, Bea Miller is without a doubt one of the most exciting. The 18 year old songstress and former Beyond the Stage covergirl got her big break when she appeared on the second season of The X Factor USA, where she competed alongside the likes of Emblem3 and Fifth Harmony. She was mentored by Britney Spears in the “teen” category, and went on to place 9th overall in the season. After the show, she signed to Hollywood Records, and was named Elvis Duran’s “Artist of the Month” and Radio Disney’s “Next Big Thing”. She later released her debut album, “Not an Apology”, in July of 2015, and embarked as an opening act for Fifth Harmony on their Reflection Tour. The following year, she went on tour again, but this time as an opener for Selena Gomez on her Revival Tour.

 

After touring, the young singer hit the studio, and began preparing new music for her legions of diehard fans. This new music came at the beginning of 2017, in what was to become the first of three short EPs, each containing three songs. Each released a few months apart, the series of EPs each references a different color, which Miller associates with certain feelings and emotions. She even revealed that she has Synesthesia, a phenomenon which affects how your brain experiences certain sensory things, such as music, and relates it to another sensory experience. In Miller’s case, she says that her brain relates sounds to colors. With the series of EPs, she hoped to take listener on a trip through her emotional journey, and tell a story on the way.

 

The first installment is titled “Chapter One: Blue”, and deals with sadness. The EP is much darker and more melancholic than her previous works, both lyrically and sonically. The music videos for “Song Like You” and “Burning Bridges” feature Miller appearing emotionally vulnerable, in a simple house with washed out colors. However, there are some jarring pops of blue present, that perfectly echo Miller’s pained and expressive vocal delivery, as well as pay homage to the title of the project. The last song on the EP, called “I Can’t Breathe” is a haunting ballad, with Miller bearing her soul, crying out that she wants to go back to another time, and that her body and mind don’t feel connected. It’s a powerful song that closes out a powerful project.

 

 

The second installment is titled “Chapter Two: Red”, and deals with anger and passion. It is a rather shocking change in pace coming from her previous EP, as Miller now sounds as though she is fighting through her sadness with a newfound sense of energy and anger. She has traded in the blue melancholy of before, for fiery red passion. The production has more of a kick, with the first single “Buy Me Diamonds”, having something of a house breakdown, and “Warmer” having some clear trap influences. The lyrical sentiments range from getting stronger when she is wronged, to wanting diamonds because they won’t lie to her and leave her. Whatever sadness she was feeling, she seems more than ready to fight her way through it, and be better on the other side.

 

 

The third and final installment is titled “Chapter Two: Yellow”, and deals with hopefulness. The dark melancholy and passionate aggression from before are gone, with Miller appearing free spirited and inspired. This feeling is reflected in the instrumentation, with “Repercussions” having a soft and bouncy chorus, and “S.L.U.T.” (which stands for sweet little unforgettable thing) having an upbeat horn section anchoring the verses. Her free spirited attitude is reflected in the lyrics as well, with Miller singing about sticking together, loving your “color, gender, or whatever”, and wanting to rock the boat. Miller had to fight through the sadness, release the anger, and now, at the end of this journey, she has found the light at the end of the tunnel. Listen to all the songs from her EPs below!