Make Way for Miles

by Eva Levin
August 2019

Recording seems like a simple thing. The musician walks into the booth, pulls out their instrument, and begins to play. For sophomore Miles Platt, the process is slightly more complex.

Music is not just a hobby for Platt. “I've always been into music,” Platt said. “My parents would always be playing anything from Simon & Garfunkel to Bon Jovi when I was a baby, so I'd always be listening to something. Music has kinda just always been there for me.” In addition to singing, Platt can play tons of different instruments. “I play guitar, drums, piano, ukulele, and a little bit of bass. I'm trying to get better at that last one,” he said.

Since he grew up around music, the obvious choice was to create some for himself. “[Music] feels like what I’m supposed to do,” Platt said. “It just feels natural.” 

This summer, Platt released a song under the stage name Smilley. “I think going by my actual name for releasing music would be lame,” he said. Platt commented that he wanted to create an “experience” for his listeners, and felt that an alias would help. 

His stage name has a personal meaning as well. “My nickname from my Dad since I was little has been “Smileyboy,” which means a lot to me,” Platt said. “I felt that something in that vein was appropriate for my music alias.” 

While the alias may have been thought-out and contemplated, the unique spelling was completely coincidental. Platt made a profile on Bandcamp, a website that allows musicians to share their music. “The name ‘Smiley’ was already taken, so I added an extra ‘L,’ Platt said.

“When I did that, I realized the two L’s could make a little smiley face if you add a smile under them, which has sorta become my logo.”

Platt pulls from his childhood to make his name and his life to write his music. “If I'm ever in my feelings, I tend to be more creative and write more, only because that's how I get my feelings out,” he said. Platt described the writing process as “therapeutic” for him.

The song he released over the summer, “The Siren Song,” is no exception. “I wrote it after a breakup. The song is about constantly coming back to the thought of someone and trying to get over them after you separate,” Platt said.

Writing about how you feel is one thing, but broadcasting it to the world is completely different. Platt recognizes this. “I was really nervous about how people would take it,” he said.

However, he soon realized he had no reason to be worried. Platt first debuted his song at the VMP Coffeehouse fundraiser last school year, where it was met with “a lot of support” from friends and family. 

Even though he got positive reviews on his song, he was still hesitant to record his work. “I always put off recording because I'm a perfectionist and I didn't want to mess it up,” Platt said.

He was finally convinced to put “The Siren Song” out in the open when his friend came over and pushed him to record it.

“I told her I wanted to [record the song] and started to backtrack into why I kept putting it off and she cut me off and was like ‘Great, we're doing this right now,’” he said. Platt recorded a few takes, found one he was proud of, and released it later that week.

Platt’s “perfectionism” is a constant in his music life. “I have a few songs I've been laying low on for a while with the intention of releasing them. I just gotta get over my perfectionistic side and record them,” he said.

Despite his first song containing some dark and somber overtones, Platt says his mission with music is overall positive. “My goal is to make people happy with the music I make,” he said. “What I write about is always a mirror of how I'm feeling or what I'm going through, so if people relate or they just like the melody, I'll feel I did what I wanted to do.”

Expect to hear more from Platt soon. He is currently writing more songs, though they are not necessarily “in his feels,” as he said. 

He hopes to continue to make more music, and even pursue it professionally.

“I'd love to make a living off of what I love doing,” Platt said. “I'll be doing music until I die anyway, so it would be nice to make some money doing it if I can.”