Diandra Interviews Miles Morrison: The Truth Behind Hollywoodland
Miles Morrison is 100% deranged, but that is part of his charm: both musically and personally. He feels like Don Quijote; seeing giants where everyone sees windmills. Hence, while we see Hollywood as a place of “glam,” Miles Morrison sees it as a world of inspiration: filled with people that are crazy, needy, petty, fun, fabulous, dreamy, and living life on a edge that includes IG filters and a dating world dependent on your home address. In our interview discussing his new EP, Hollywoodland, we laughed at it all as Miles spoke to me like a man carrying revelations, and I, definitely, was happy to hear them.
Diandra: If Hollywoodland were a theme park, what would people find there?
Miles: Interesting question! S**t! I would want a lot of like 3D rides and incorporate some of my favorite films. I would want to sell all the stuff that you see in the gift shops walking down Hollywood Boulevard. It would be like that old school, Hollywood vibe. Selling merch of Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and Elvis Presley. Sprinkle in a little of Universal Studios. I’m a big coaster guy, being from Michigan, so there would be coasters.
Miles Morrison – Off White (Official Music Video)
Diandra: What did you feel was the biggest difference, at least in perception, from the Midwest to LA?
Miles: The biggest difference, besides the weather, is the people. Its a different mindset, which is good and bad. Definitely, out here, in LA, there is that mindset of going after something. Every waiter is a struggling actor or rapper. Even if you are doing a 9 to 5, you still are trying to chase something else. While back home, where I am from, it is a lot more like, the ambitions are really more realistic. I was always the oddball because I always said I would be the most famous kid in Hollywood, which is not something you talk about. You know! You go to school, get a job, get married, and have a kid. Anything outside of that is extraordinary. So, once I moved to LA, and saw a bunch of kids like me, entrepreneurs, it was great. With that comes a bunch of shady characters, but I love the shade.
Diandra: When you go back home, they say you have gone “Hollywood?”
Miles: Of course! I got guys in camo-hats telling me, “You goin all California on us with the long hair!” You know, I get if from my dad, but they are really supportive. My mom and dad have always been like, “Go for it! You can be who you want to be!” They visit once or twice a year, and my mom would live in California if she could. So that is on my list; being able to buy her a home here.
Diandra: What is one moment that stands out to you in Hollywood life?
Miles: The very first time I ever rapped in Hollywood was on Arglye Street, and five years later I move to that street. It is a really weird circle of moments like just meeting my team and connecting with people like me. I knew good things would happen to me when I moved to Hollywood, but it is crazy to see how it is happening. The way thing connect and come full circle. I live under the Hollywood sign, and everyday I wake up and am reminded of what I am trying to do. I’ve been through a lot in my life, and I try to find the best in everything. The power of positive attraction and the universe. Trust in that s**t!
Miles Morrison – Bad For My Health (Official Music Video)
Diandra: What has your EP helped you heal or overcome about your journey?
Miles: Relationships! Women! Women! Women! I went through a break-up years ago and I wrote this song “Jack And Coke.” I just broke up with this girl, and I always decide to put my all in a song, but walking out of a break-up into a studio was like “Wow!” It was so raw. In Hollywoodland, the ldating scene is crazy out here. You know! You try to be with a girl and she is chasing her own ambitions and you are chasing yours. It really is hard to lock love down, but I can’t stop chasing it. I love it.
Diandra: Was there a moment, when you knew Hollywood was the way to go?
Miles: It was my sophomore year in college. I was frustrated creatively and it was my second time taking shrooms. I was staring at a wall, and, next thing I know, I see Jim Morrison: The Lizard King himself. He said, “You are the Lizard Prince! You got to get out of here!” The next day I dropped out of school and my parents called me to curse at me. And here I am!
Diandra: Has your music shown you anything about how your work or who you are in relationships?
Miles: I feel like the music has shown me that I am lover, but I’m holding back. You know! Like I don’t trust anybody, but once you are in my heart, you are in there. I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I’m all over the place, but I love powerfully. The music makes my relationships more 3 dimensional to me like, I see the changes and the things I did and have gone through.
Miles Morrison – Take Me Away (Official Music Video)
Diandra: Your Stanley Kubrick fan, which film do you see yourself or your music to be like?
Miles: Eyes Wide Shut! It is temptation, seduction, and drugs. It is scientology and crazy s**t like that. Hollywood is so intriguing to me because you are surrounded by the pinnacles of society, You have celebrities who are so regarded and you go to the best houses and go to these parties, and beneath all that is this dark layer of truth. People are very insecure and their habits are bad and there is this sadness and addiction and disloyalty and greed. There is so much s**t. These are real people going through this, and I always assumed, when I got to Hollywood, everyone is rich and the Hollywood sign is gold. But, you get here and the Hollywood sign is rust. Like its great, but you get here and you see it may like shiny from afar but its dirtier up close.
Diandra: So Hollywood is so glam but so dark?
Miles: Yes! It is totally true to the point that you are fascinated by this s**t! It’s wild. I’m from a “small town” with dreams to just take care of his mom and dad. So you come here and your chain-smoking with everyone outside the bar and “this person” did this and “that person” knows this person. It’s crazy.
Diandra: What is a story of Hollywood you want to write?
Miles: What I am about to write about is my closest, Hollywood friends are gearing up for the sickest, biggest house, and, the way these guys do their s**t, women are falling from the sky! Everything is free! Unlimited Everything! Like I had to learn like but the parties and the stories are not in the clubs or bar-crawling through The Hills. It is in the houses. Like you walk out the club, you meet the girls, and they want to know your address, and its because where you live shows your status like the amount of power a street name can have! Women will judge you off the street you live on. So like any street name with a “bird” on it like, “Blue Jay Way,” is going to be lit. Like I thought life was about going out and, if you like someone, seeing where it goes, but here it is about whether you are rich and famous and who do you know? It is like a big, little fashion show until 1:45 with the club being a buffer for after where the real s**t goes down.
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