Robert Miles

Roberto Concina (3 November 1969 – 9 May 2017), known professionally as Robert Miles, was a Swiss-born Italian record producer, composer, musician and DJ.[1] His 1995 composition "Children" sold more than 5 million copies and topped the charts in many countries.[2]

For other people named Robert Miles, see Robert Miles (disambiguation).

Robert Miles
Miles in 2014
Background information
Birth nameRoberto Concina
Also known as
  • Robert Miles
  • Roberto Milani
Born(1969-11-03)3 November 1969
Fleurier, Switzerland
OriginFagagna, Friuli, Italy
Died9 May 2017(2017-05-09) (aged 47)
Ibiza, Spain
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Record producer
  • composer
  • musician
  • innovator/pioneer in his field
  • DJ
Years active1984–2017
Labels

Early life

Robert Miles was born in Fleurier, Switzerland.[3]

Miles became proficient at playing the piano during his youth in Friuli, Italy, in the small town of Fagagna, where his family moved when he was young, and had been in the music scene since 1984. He worked as a DJ in some Italian clubs and private radio networks and in 1990, he used his savings to establish his own recording studio and a pirate radio station.[4][5]

Music career

1994–1997: Breakthrough and Dreamland
External video
"Robert Miles - 'Children' (Dream Version)" on YouTube

In 1994, Miles wrote a trance and chill-out piece based on acoustic guitar chords and soft synthesizer effects, "Children", which was later developed into a dream house song featuring a piano theme on top. The single picked up sales slowly, but within two weeks of its official release in 1995, it had sold more than 350,000 copies all over Europe and topped the charts in many countries. The single received an unprecedented "Essential Tune of The Week", three weeks in a row on Pete Tong's show causing a furious bidding war. It was then signed to Deconstruction Records in the UK by Giles Goodman of Dynamik Music (who represented Platipus Records the initial UK licensee). After occupying the Euro Top 100 chart number 1 spot for thirteen consecutive weeks (see European Hot 100 Singles), by 1997, "Children" had sold more than 5 million copies worldwide. It earned Miles platinum records[6][7] in many countries, a Brit Award (Robert Miles is, to date, the only Italian artist who has received the award) as Best International Male Newcomer 1997,[8] a World Music Award as World's Best Selling Male Newcomer and various other awards.

Miles' next single was "Fable". Part of this song was used in the theatrical trailer for the U.S. movie Ever After (see Ever After § Trailer) starring Drew Barrymore and Dougray Scott. His debut album Dreamland was released on 7 June 1996 in Europe, and released in the United States about a month later, with covering "One and One" of Polish pop diva Edyta Górniak. This cover became very popular (it reached number 1 in the Euro Top 100 Singles Chart during the Christmas period and remained in the top spot for six consecutive weeks)[9] and was later released as a single in Europe and the U.S.

1997–1998: 23am

In November 1997, Miles released another track, "Freedom", which was one of the key tracks on his second album 23am featuring vocals provided by Kathy Sledge of Sister Sledge. Containing a different feel from the previously more club-oriented Dreamland, 23am incorporated more lyrics-driven songs than its predecessor while maintaining Miles' trademark piano sound from the first album.

1998–2002: Departure from label and Organik

After splitting from Deconstruction, BMG and his former management in London, he set up his own independent record label Salt Records (stylised as S:alt Records, with S:alt being short for suitably:alternative) in 2001 and released his third album, Organik,[10] featuring the new single "Paths" with vocals provided by Nina Miranda of Smoke City. Guests on the album included Trilok Gurtu, Bill Laswell and Nitin Sawhney. Music from Organik was used on various movie soundtracks such as The Bourne Identity, Derrida, and City of Ghosts. It was licensed to Narada Productions' Shakti Records label in the USA. In 2002, an album containing mainly remixes of songs found on Organik was released. The album, appropriately entitled Organik Remixes,[11] contained remixes by the winners of the remixing contest held on Robert Miles's Web site, as well as remixes from well-known artists such as Future Sound of London, Riton, and Alexkid among others. The album also had one new track, "Bhairav", which featured the vocals of Amelia Cuni.

2004–2005: Miles_Gurtu

In 2004, Miles released Miles Gurtu,[12] his fourth album, which was a collaboration with percussionist Trilok Gurtu and included jazz and electronica elements. Also guesting on the album were Nitin Sawhney, Jon Thorne, Mike Patto and Paul Falloon.

2011–2012: Thirteen

His fifth album entitled Thirteen[13] was released worldwide on Salt Records in February 2011. For this album, Miles produced a blend of alternative and progressive rock with ambient and electronic soundscapes.

In 2012 Miles finished working on the soundtrack for the movie documentary The Turn of THIS Century, directed by Peter Beyak and featuring the photography of Life Magazine. He founded a new FM and online alternative radio station, Open Lab, broadcasting from Ibiza, a project bringing together culture, arts, media, technology and innovation.[14]

Death

Miles died of pancreatic cancer in Ibiza, Spain, on 9 May 2017 at the age of 47.[15][3]

Miles’ Open Lab station was taken off-air shortly afterwards, pending discussions on the future of the station. After receiving many messages from people expressing dismay at the station's suspension, it was announced that the station would be returning soon in 2019 starting with a live radio stream in January 2019 followed by a reboot to radio on 106.4 FM in Ibiza in April 2019.[16]

Discography
Main article: Robert Miles discography

Studio albums

See also

References
  1. "Robert Miles Biography". IMO Records. Archived from the original on 4 August 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  2. Unterberger, Andrew (10 May 2017). "Robert Miles' 'Children' Was a Time-Blurring, Brain-Sticking Classic". billboard.com. Retrieved 19 May 2017.
  3. "Robert Miles: DJ known for 1990s hit Children dies aged 47". BBC News. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  4. Candy, Darren (23 March 2013). "Robert Miles Speaks To Addicted To Ibiza". Addicted to ibiza. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  5. "R.I.P. Robert Miles (1969-2017)". STACK | JB Hi-Fi. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
  6. "IFPI Awards 1997". ifpi.org. Archived from the original on 14 August 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  7. "BPI Awards 1997". bpi.co.uk. 17 January 2010. Archived from the original on 17 January 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  8. "The BRITs 1997". brits.co.uk. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  9. "MTV Top Euro Chart 1996". ki.informatik.uni-wuerzburg.de. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  10. "Salt Records Discography". Salt Records. Archived from the original on 25 April 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  11. "Salt Records Discography". Salt Records. Archived from the original on 9 May 2012. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  12. "Salt Records Discography". Salt Records. Archived from the original on 15 May 2012.
  13. "Salt Records Discography". Salt Records. Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  14. "Open Lab". openlab.fm. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  15. "Fallece el Dj Robert Miles, creador del tema 'Children'". 24 Horas (in Spanish). 9 May 2017. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017.
  16. "Open Lab". openlab.fm. Retrieved 28 May 2018.

Further reading
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