After moving to Aurora with her mother, Miller traded time between her new home and her grandmother's residence. She became an avid basketball player and took the sport seriously, but one of her family's traditions stuck with her on the court: music. "Music was always something that was just ingrained into my family life. My Nana [and] my mom loved singing," recalls Miller. "They were in church all the time [and] a lot of my singing started in church."
At church four times a week, Miller sang hymns with her family, and the tunes continued back home. Miller's grandmother, legendary Community College of Denver English professor Yvonne Frye, taught her about Denver's musical and Black history when she wasn't singing. From Ella Fitzgerald to Barney Ford, Miller learned about those who played a part in the Five Points neighborhood, once known as the "Harlem of the West."
Thanks to Frye, Miller honed her writing and eventually found her voice while at Hinkley High School in Aurora, where she continued to play basketball and sing with her family. "It was a way that we were able to soothe ourselves and give ourselves hope and peace," she says. "Through really horrible times in history, even in our personal lives, being able to sing and have that connection [is something] I'm grateful for."
After playing on Western Nebraska Community College's basketball team for two years, Miller transferred to the University of Denver to play on its team. She graduated from DU in 2009 with a degree in communication and media studies, then worked in the cannabis industry for two years before coaching basketball at Kent Denver School, a private college preparatory institution. After she became a PE teacher at Kent Denver, she continued to sing on the side as the lead vocalist of a genre-bending soul rock band, the Original iLLs.
But as her music career grew, Miller decided that education wasn't for her anymore. Students were "asking me advice about the future," recalls Miller. "I would encourage them to follow their dreams, but then I realized I'm not practicing what I'm preaching. Then, I started doing that."
She kicked off her solo career as Lady Los during the pandemic, founding Lady Los Productions LLC, a record label and sustainable fashion line that upcycles thrifted clothing and textiles into tie-dye clothing. Her first release, No Shadows, which dropped in September 2022, blended soulful storytelling with dreamy beats. Produced by Nick Moulds, or Deep Breath, the four-track mini tape established Miller as a unique and powerful voice in Denver's R&B scene.
Just two months later, her debut studio album, Choices Were Made, was released, with nine powerfully passionate songs melding soul, R&B and funk. "Choices Were Made is that declaration of literal choices made," says Miller. "All of the lessons that I've learned to now [becoming] a solo artist, choices were made."
These choices led to online performances, new sustainable pieces of clothing and a feature on rap-and-soul artist Vitorio's song "Around the Globe." Her latest track, "1991," dropped in March, merging '90s rock with soulful R&B vocals. And now Miller's about to take the stage at the Museum of Contemporary Art B-Side Music Friday's series on Friday, July 11.
Miller will be joined at the MCA by her band, the Moonbeams, which comprises guitarist Moulds, drummer Noah Alexxander and bassist Abdul Kareem Islam. Originally from Florida, Alexxander grew up playing drums and eventually moved to the Mile High City to kick off his career as a musician. While playing with Bright Future Media artists such as Ray Lyle and Lane-O, Alexxander played drums for hip-hop artist Nelo, who opened for Common at Levitt Pavilion in June last year. During rehearsals, Alexxander met Miller, who was singing for Nelo's set, and found her voice to be "incredible."
"She's like, 'I want to get a live band,' and me and some of the other people there were like, 'Okay, well, let's just do it," says Alexxander. "It's not hard. You just gotta ask us, we'll do it."
The band officially formed during Miller's set at last year's Underground Music Showcase. After performing together and realizing they all had "so much in common," Alexsander recalls, the musicians joined with Miller as the Dropouts.
Miller and the Dropouts will share the MCA stage with iies., a rap-jazz musical group and record label created by Craig Northrup, a Denver native. "I feel like iies. stands for perspective of everyone, the community in Denver and within the band," says Northup. "As it grows and becomes bigger, I want to be able to capture the light and help other musicians come out of the city."
Northup first became aware of Miller through the local music community and has become a fan of her music, which he says is "powerful and beautiful to have here in the city. I'm honored to be able to have a show with her." Although he hasn't yet had the chance to sit with Miller, he plans to "chop it up" with her at the museum.
After that, Miller will be featured at a July 19 Sofar Sounds matinee; the location will be revealed to ticketholders ahead of the performance. And on August 16, Los will be a part of "Music of Mycology," an event in which music, healing properties and food intersect for a unified community experience. Hosted by Tha Cvltvre, that showcase will offer infused mocktails and tapas that are tailored to each artist's performance. Sound healing, Reiki and yoga will intersect with the live performances, providing a true one-of-a-kind experience for those interested in music and wellness.
Miller's also been collaborating with jazz-meets-neo-soul band Jade Oracle on its upcoming album, Veiled Shadows. She's worked hard for this busy season; as a musician, she says, it's important to continue making your ideas a reality.
"Just do it, go for it, put it out there, complete it, you know?" she concludes. "Because if you don't complete it, then you'll never know. You've just got to do it, we aren't perfect."
iies. and Lady Los, 7 p.m. Friday, July 11, MCA Denver, 1485 Delgany Street; tickets are $22.28. Sofar Sounds Daytime Show, 1 p.m. Saturday, July 19, RiNo; the address will be revealed 36 hours before the show and tickets are $29.
