A Chat with Walter Miller (07.01.26)
Walter Miller is an emerging pop-rock powerhouse. His latest single, ‘Basic Instinct’, captures his signature blend of bold theatricality and classic rock bravado, bridging the golden age of ‘70s and ‘80s arena rock with the pulse and polish of modern pop.
OSR: Your new single, ‘Basic Instinct’, centres on freedom and fluid masculinity. How did embracing that idea change the way you write and perform?
Miller: I feel like in the past I’ve written as the person I felt I currently was at the moment, and this go-round I decided I’d write as the person and performer I’d like to grow into and become. I’d love to be the confident, secure persona I project on stage whenever the show ends as well, and I think it’s starting to have that positive effect, thankfully.
OSR: You sing with a sense of emotional clarity that feels unfiltered. Was that vulnerability intentional, or did it emerge naturally during the process?
Miller: I got into songwriting as a means of helping myself make sense of my life and feelings, but because a lot of that was so serious, I was nervous that some of my personality and sense of humor was getting lost in the process. So while the vulnerability was certainly difficult at times to be so open, I feel like it was remembering to infuse my new material with the rest of myself too and was more of the conscious decision I had to make.
OSR: The track captures the feeling of no longer dimming your light. What moments in your life led you to stop toning yourself down?
Miller: I remember an audition I went for literally at age nine. I went into the audition room and was pretty soft-spoken because I was honestly kind of shy as a kid. I sang the song beautifully, but didn’t get the job, and my mom said I sounded great but looked terrified. She told me that I had to recognize the talent I had and own it, and that as long as I never let that morph into vanity, I’d be set. You can be confident in yourself without ever having to put anyone else down. The next year, I went into that audition room with a big smile on my face, I sang the song the exact same, and I got the job. From then on, I’ve always tried to not tone anything down. As I got older, I’d watch videos of Freddie Mercury, Jon Bon Jovi, Prince, and Lady Gaga and I admired how they were so confident in themselves and their artistry. I knew from a young age that’s how I wanted to be on and for the stage. And my friends always give me a confidence boost when I need one.
OSR: You worked with Collin Hanley and Zack Page to bring ‘Basic Instinct’ to life. What made this team the right fit for such a defining track?
Miller: Zack was one of the first people I met moving to Nashville, and he’s hands down one of the best musicians working in the industry right now. And Collin I met while mixing one of my songs, ‘X’, because we needed a fresh set of ears that hadn’t heard the track to give their feedback. We clicked immediately and I’ve worked with him on pretty much everything since. I’d move mountains to work with both of those guys. Their talent is unreal and they’re both incredible people too. They genuinely care about an artist’s vision, and their own instincts are top-tier too. I wouldn’t wanna make this music with anyone else.
OSR: Chris Brush’s live drumming has an explosive presence. How did the energy of the drums influence the final direction of the song?
Miller: We had a demo of the song done, and started performing tracks off the album this past summer for some festival dates to kind of test the waters with them. The crowds reacted great, but one of the main takeaways to help bring stadium rock into the modern era was that we needed to add some live drums to the track to give it the right energy. Collin made the connection to get Chris on the song, and he knocked it out of the park. One of my buddies also had done a pass that was very helpful in me determining what I did and didn’t want on the song.
OSR: Brenna Wheeler’s violin adds a cinematic layer. Did you always envision strings, or did that idea develop later in production?
Miller: While we had strings always, they were programmed at first like a lot of music is nowadays. Most of my older stuff has programmed strings too. Once we got the live drums, we thought we should really just go for it and get some live strings. I was on a call with Brenna while she was in the studio with Collin in Nashville, and I was in my NYCA apartment. I was floored by how amazing a musician she is, and how quickly she would pick up on new ideas we pitched.
OSR: The song blends rock, pop, and film-like instrumentation. How did you balance those genres without losing the raw emotional core?
Miller: I wrote the song in the summer of 2024, did a rough demo in January, and we’ve slowly been retooling it since until we thought the product was perfect. Collin, Zack, Kory, and everyone I was lucky enough to have on this song were very tapped into the vision and the final result I imagined, and their feedback was critical in finding that balance.
OSR: Kory Shore’s additional vocal production gives your performance both roughness and polish. What qualities were you hoping to highlight in your voice?
Miller: I wanted the production to be exciting, and Kory taught me a while ago how backing vocals are just as important as the lead vocals. It was important for me to keep the song moving as much as possible to where it felt like a thrill ride. Kory came into the studio with Collin and I one day, and we just had a party coming up with these parts. Collin and I both couldn’t stop talking about how cool it is to see Kory in work mode. He’s lethal with vocal parts.
OSR: Sam Moses handled the mastering. How important was the final sonic texture in shaping this confident, forward-leaning sound?
Miller: Incredibly important, and Sam was so unbelievably patient with me as I made final decisions in what I wanted from the master. He’s an absolute professional and one of the nicest, most hardworking people I’ve met in this industry. His master is a big part of why this song is my favorite release of mine yet.
OSR: As the lead single from your upcoming album, why was ‘Basic Instinct’ the right introduction to this new era?
Miller: It feels so gloves off to me. Like, if I’m going to finally show my fun side on these tracks, and if I’m going to finally make the move with my original music into the rock I’ve been singing for years in cover bands, why not go all out, you know? So I tried to make each melody an irresistible hook, the lyrics tongue-in-cheek, and my vocals unbridled. I had a completely different album I was about to drop, then rerouted and decided to lean into my rock bag first, locking in on making this album this past January. So this entire album cycle and life recently in general has been all about following my Basic Instinct. And I’m so glad I have!
Many thanks to Walter Miller for speaking with us. Find out more about Walter Miller on his Instagram, TikTok, and Spotify.
