Winston-Salem’s Sonny Miles has a seemingly effortless ability to blend and mix musics. In a way that harkens back to greats like Stevie Wonder and to contemporaries like Frank Ocean, Miles beautifully weds genres (R&B, hip-hop, jazz and soul to name a few), production styles (lo-, mid- and hi-fidelity, analog and digital), and instrumentation (drum machines and acoustic guitars, live vocals and samples). The ease with which Miles recombines familiar past modes with new sonic textures and rhythms made him an obvious choice for COME HEAR NC presents SHAPED BY SOUND, and he brings his chameleonic vibe to tonight’s (March 6th) show at 9:30 PM on PBS NC. To elucidate the delights of Miles’ genuine crossover appeal, we’ve written a deep dive into five of Sonny Miles’ greatest songs. All five can be found on our SHAPED BY SOUND: SONNY MILES playlist (along with mixes for each of the featured artists of previous episodes).
"Bedroom Hollywood”
Along with “Raleighwood Hills,” which Barack Obama put on his playlist of favorite tracks of 2019, “Bedroom Hollywood” was an early breakthrough for Miles. It’s easy to see why: before the intro’s even finished, its stuttering drum-machine-and-bell beat and angelic, dreamy harmonies have already set an unbeatable vibe. Then Miles’ vocals begin in earnest, delivering a soulful, syncopated meditation on fantasy versus reality in the music industry. Rather than preach against the empty fakery of industry plants and social media fluff, Miles lets his song’s glory speak as a living counter-example to sonic vacuity.
“Over & Over”
A stand-out single from 2023’s Everything, “Over & Over” is a meditation on seeking romantic connection in the social media and dating app era. The object of Miles’ affection in the song obsesses him – in this era of flighty connection, the singer finds an all-consuming passion. Over a minimal rhythm track, Miles croons of his powerlessness to “pick a lane” and think rationally while in a swoon.
“Powerdivine”
A lo-fi (perhaps recorded on a 4-track) tribute to the inspirational power of love, the amazing thing about “Powerdivine” is its tossed-off quality. It’s the opposite of sweaty and overwrought – if you told us the whole thing came together in an hour, we’d believe you. Miles’ compositional flair and naturally compelling voice make even this improvised work essential listening, with a charming fly-on-the-wall feel.
“Red Light Fantasy”
A collaboration with Be My Fiasco (Durham’s Bianca Rodriguez) on her fine 2024 LP Pretty Little Love, “Red Light Fantasy” promises to become a classic duet. As the title hints, this is not a love-and-marriage song, but a tribute to something more ephemeral. Miles presumably provided much of the backing track, as it bears his signature pairing of boom-bap drums with dreamy guitars. Miles and Rodriguez trade verses, but express a shared desire, providing complementary variations on the subject of a fleeting-but-intense romantic entanglement.
“Money”
With just his acoustic guitar and voice, Miles turns 2019’s “Money” into a stunner. The downhome, low-key feel of the song suits its theme: the rapid cycling of emotions that comes with having less money than you need. On this brief track, Miles packs it all in – the waves of worry and freedom from worry, the paroxysms of problem-solving and paralysis we tend to oscillate through as we work on paying the bills.