During his high school, he started a pop punk band. From there, Miller started to develop singing and writing songs. He started to play piano after his parents set up a lesson with a piano teacher who he said was, 'a laid-back New Jersey wedding singer'. 'Ziggy Stardust, Elton John’s Greatest Hits, and Rumours by Fleetwood Mac, so I just listened to those non-stop, back and forth, all the time.' To counter the boredom during the long drive, Miller's mother gave him albums to listen during the commute, including David Bowie, Elton John and Fleetwood Mac, which sparked his interest in music. He and I are looking forward to the release of Tor’s debut album “American English”.Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Miller moved with his mother to New Jersey after a brief separation of his parents, although his school was still located in the city. The world of song writing and music has that lovely symmetry to it. It’s interesting that as he was influenced in his Mother’s car, my songwriter son lists Tor as a major influence after hearing him in my car. I really believe Tor is going places and will look forward to seeing him play next time he is back in England. Tor Miller is a guy to watch and I would recommend you capture him in an intimate venue when his piano accompanied vocals perfectly capture his lovelorn lyrics. It doesn’t hurt that Tor has a little of the young Elvis about him. He delighted some Swedish fans when he understood their compliments (his Mum has Swedish roots) and remained cool when girls waved mobile phones virtually under his nose capturing his every move. Tor is building a loyal fan base and when he sings “Midnight” and starts into: “Jeff Buckley’s Grace was playing loud as hell in the back of an old dive bar” the crowd not only enjoy these opening lyrics but sing them back at him with gusto.

The new single has a more upbeat backbeat when compared to other tracks and it was nice to be reminded that the track was probably born in the same way as Tor’s other songs. He performed a fantastic stripped back version with his trusty keyboard which worked really well. The new song is a nod to the way he and his recent girlfriend used to sign off letters to each other as well, as an obvious allusion to Johnny and June. Photo Credit: Steve HolleyĪt the Courtyard, Tor sang through his current tracks with confidence, including fan favourites ‘Midnight’, ‘Always’, ‘Headlights’, and new single ‘Carter and Cash’. Now, back in the States, Tor is balancing performances in the UK in London and Manchester with gigs Stateside through March and April before hitting the festival season. Off the back of this, Tor was snapped up by his record company Glassnote, who already boast Mumford & Sons and Chvrches, and he moved to London for a short time around the time he was 19 to promote his music. He uploaded it to the internet where it garnered interest before it was spotted by Radio One’s Zane Lowe and played on his show. Tor Miller recorded his first song ‘Hold The Phone’ on his iPhone when he was seventeen, attending NYU and getting a little depressed. But it’s more the influences of Ray Charles and Otis Redding that infuse his music these days, with a gospel quality which complement the undertones of Johnny Cash’s story telling. His influences had been the music he would listen to in his mother’s car on the way to school which included David Bowie, Elton John and Fleetwood Mac. His music was well received and he suddenly realised he was getting a whole lot more attention, especially from girls. By his own admission, Tor describes himself as a bit of an outcast in his school years whilst he channelled his energies into writing his music before he decided to sing at an eighth grade talent show, when he was fourteen. Tor is a native New Yorker, born to lawyer parents who were supportive of his musical interests but probably never thought it would be a career and were keen for Tor to be well educated. In fact, on taking the stage at The Courtyard on Thursday evening, Tor took a few seconds to take a look at the capacity crowd in this delightful venue in Hoxton, before launching into the first of his songs and in so doing exuded a growing confidence. Photo Credit: Steve Holley This is the third time I have seen this outstanding young performer on a London stage and he keeps getting better, not in performance of his songs as this has always been at a very high standard, but in stage presence.

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