Garrett Miller of Huntington Beach on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Garrett Miller. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Garrett, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: When was the last time you felt true joy?
Joy should be experienced a lot more often than I allow. However, the last time I felt true Joy was back in February when a music video submitted to a film festival was shown at the Chinese Theater in Los Angeles.
I’d only seen the video for “White Knight” on my ipad and was so grateful when the word came it would be included for their Best Music Video Category.
Nothing could have prepared me for sitting in the back row, the lights dimmed and the music and video played. For all of the “no’s” which are often received, getting a Big Fat Yes felt really incredible. The standing ovation at the end was icing on the cake.
Definitely my spirit was overflowing on that night.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Garrett Miller and I record music under my artist name “Blond Jesus.” My recording journey began about 10 years ago when I was looking to sing a theme song for a podcast soon to be launched. With zero experience, I sought out a vocal coach and producer who would take me under their wing.
My first EP “Eyes Wide” sold well enough to recover all of my investment and even made a slight profit. “Not bad,” I thought, “for someone who has no singing experience or following.”
From there I found joy in writing songs that spoke to me, that I’d love to listen in the car or while working out. I quickly realized fame and fortune are a wonderful thing for people, but for the other 99.999999% of artists out there, you do it because you must. Your stories need to be shared.
I’m enjoying the recent successes on Spotify and YouTube for the 5th album, “Fringe of Fame” which has some great 80’s rock tracks and a couple of ballads that are deeply personal to me.
Hopefully people like what I do and follow, like and share with their friends, too.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Growing up I always believed in a fairy tale ending. There might be rough spots, high spots, but in the end you got through things together.
Divorce was something “other parents did.” Yet, when my parents announced on a Christmas morning they were separating and getting divorced, that rocked my world. Still in high school and sure I would be outcast for the drama, I went inward and stayed there for a while.
The primary thought which repeated for a long time was, “Great. Now I’m a child of divorce.” I wasn’t focused on how either of my parents were coping, what my sister was going through. Nope, just that I would be a statistic.
Years later when I was in my own long-term relationship which had run its course, before ending things I seriously kept saying, “I should want to make this work. I don’t want to go through what my parents went through.”
But in the end, it was healthier to accept the circumstances, make the decision to be happy and move on with life.
I don’t think people go into relationships thinking they’ll break up. What’s the fun in that? But when real life starts happening and you have to work on the relationship – there’s no owner manual for that. At least, not for me.
Today, I love seeing people happy and in love and doing things they enjoy together. That makes my heart sing.
But that’s not me, at least not today.

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
Don’t drink. Do cardio. 6-pack abs aren’t in your future. Accept these facts and your life will be immeasurably happier.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
Focusing on the music I create, the entire entertainment industry has a mysterious power of illusion fooling everyone who dreams of stardom.
I’m honest about my age, my talent (or lack-thereof) and willingness to sacrifice to headline an upcoming Superbowl half-time show. Statistically, it’s not good you’ll see me performing next year.
I accept that, and continue to create because it makes me happy.
However, the number of multi-talented artists and creatives in my world are plentiful. Many have won awards. Many have been in tv, the movies, or made great music. Yet, most scrape by on their industry earnings. There is an elusive Golden Ticket out there where nobody knows where it is, how to get it or who to trust on the path.
For everyone who’s tried out for a reality singing show, auditioned an acting gig – is it possible? Perhaps with the right backing, management, promotion, budget and boatloads of cash. You gotta have boatloads of cash for studio time, wardrobe, paying “your team” and every other hand that’s expecting something.
But for the average super talent out there, get a day job. You’ll be able to pay your rent and eat in the same month. If you are able to make something on the side which takes – off, you are literally the one in a million.
Keep dreaming with one eye open. The other on the road ahead.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When the day comes and I’m taking a dirt nap, the evolution of where I came from as a young adult until now has changed with time.
If I died today, my hope is people will have enjoyed my humor, the storytelling through the songs I write and sing, and the unwavering love I’ve had for the dogs I’ve raised from puppies, cared for and ultimately buried.
While relationships, professional and personal, have come and gone, the years spent with all of the dogs I’ve raised has given me the most joy, heartbreak and every other roller coaster of emotion that goes along. I wouldn’t trade that for anything. These were the most important relationships of my life.
An often sarcastic sense of humor developed over time has not only protected the walls I’ve built, but hopefully lifted others and perhaps given a hearty chuckle more than once.
And most of all, that at the end of the day I didn’t take myself too seriously – I saw me for who I really was – someone who wanted to do well for himself, by others and make the world better even if for just a blip in time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.blondjesus.com
• Instagram: blondjesusofficial
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@blondjesusofficial