Episode #75
Making Music on Your Terms: How Mark Miller Embraces the DIY Spirit
How do you start releasing music after writing privately for decades? Mark Miller shares how he began putting out songs in his mid‑fifties—learning Logic, recording with affordable gear, and finding a creative process that fits real life. This interview is for independent musicians, late‑starting songwriters, and home‑recording artists wondering if it’s ever “too late” to begin again. Mark, a songwriter from St. Louis, talks with Zak and Matt about bedroom recording, mixing in different environments, writing across decades, and keeping human roughness in the final production. He also explains why he makes music for fun rather than chasing touring or streaming numbers. We cover his latest release “The Girl Who Says No,” his upcoming track “Nobody,” his love of Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, the Descendents, Bob Dylan, and Dave Brubeck, plus his DIY builds—from a foot controller to a Raspberry Pi synth and cigar‑box guitars. A relaxed conversation about authenticity, creative confidence, and learning by doing. Mark’s story is a reminder that it’s never too late to return to an old passion. Key Takeaway - It is never too late to release music or return to an old creative passion. Chapters 00:00 – Intro 00:22 – Meet Mark Miller 05:10 – Why He Started Releasing Music Later 15:32 – Recording, Gear & Human Sound 25:52 – Songwriting & Staying Authentic 41:32 – Building Connections 49:36 – DIY Projects 56:13 – Soundtrack To My Life 01:00:18 – Rapid Fire 7 01:14:37 – Final Message Guest Links • Stream The Girl Who Said No : https://open.spotify.com/album/3YuGJdQYxzsnCw74ZfO2jM?si=E8PETZ6RR7u649nH_7Oiaw • Mark Miller on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1XCOGhNPRMIk4zmPnINeko?si=m0D6sEw8QkmzTJVvQgCsHg ️ About The ZHZ Podcast The ZHZ Podcast spotlights independent artists, producers, engineers, and creators—digging into songwriting, recording, mixing, live performance, music marketing, video creation, and the real work behind building a creative life. Watch & listen: https://zhzpodcast.riverside.com Z Frequency: https://zfrequency.com Be a guest: https://forms.office.com/r/WwF9RLGgg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zhzpodcast/ Start your podcast with Riverside: https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaign=campaign_5&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=rewardful&via=zak-davi Disclosure: We may receive a small commission if you sign up through our Riverside link. Curated playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/207DJA6ZPtbfNSrG8NKxlA?si=U88ZpKEWQB2LTiRF_4bwBw #ZHZPodcast #IndependentMusic #ArtistInterviews #Songwriter #HomeRecording
