Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson is a Brooklyn based singer-songwriter with the voice of a broken troubadour and the looks of a troubled heartbreaker. His debut EP features the single ‘Buriedfed’ which got the critics in a flutter with its unique phrasing and folksy vibe. Miles turns out a storming live show and happens to be one of the friendliest chaps you could want to meet, says Stewart Who?

When did you last have a really good night out?
Right here, at The Lexington – first night in town. Actually, I had two good nights here— once here the first night we got in town, and then another night after the Amazing Baby show at The Old Blue Last. After the first night here I woke up with all kinds of interesting things in my pockets. Got me into a spot of trouble later.

What’s your favourite item of clothing?
Oh, I have a few favourites – I like my old Doc Martins I’m wearing right now because they’re 11 years old at this point, they’re about to fall apart. That or the green hoody that I lost the first night I was here – do they have a lost and found here?

I’m not even positive I left it here but I can’t remember where we went afterwards. If you love something let it go— if it comes back to you it’s yours.

When did you last cry?
Probably watching a terrible romantic comedy on the plane. What did I watch on the flight over? I’m trying to remember – it was really awful. Generally bad films with swelling strings and moments of poignant triumph over adversity.

If you could own any piece of art in the world, what would it be?
I don’t know – what’s the most expensive one? Owning art— not so big for me. I’d have to own a house, my fabulous place that I would want to furnish and like where am I meant to put it? Carry it around in my suitcase, bring it on the tour van.

Maybe that Damien Hirst diamond skull – maybe sell it for cash and buy a house and buy some cheaper art that I actually like, because I abhor Damien Hirst.

Who makes you go weak with desire?
Hmmm. No comment. Not anyone ever again. I will officially never care again (laughs).

When was the last time you told a lie?
I never lie. Hopefully, with any luck the last question, but I generally don’t lie. Maybe to the police.

Who’s your favourite fictional character?
Jesus. Or Lou Reed maybe.

What album would you take to a desert island?
Neil Young— On The Beach.

You got a hot date/guest you wanna impress- what do you cook them?
Just thinking about that – I’ve never actually been on a date and generally I spend all my time making these very fancy, rich, elaborate meals for myself every night.

It would probably involve a nice steak, with a salad with some fruit, some cheese, and some nuts in it. Maybe some roasted brussel sprouts, roasted potatoes, soup, a nice dark beer or some wine. And bread. Imagine that I was actually cooking for somebody else. If only!

What song will you have played at your funeral?
I was actually thinking about this the other day. “The Weight” by The Band. Actually, that whole album— ‘Music From Big Pink’.

What would you change about your physical appearance?
Dunno, if possible, make myself even more irresistibly handsome.

What’s your karaoke song?
Oh yeah, I went to a live band karaoke in Brooklyn and did “American Girl” by Tom Petty. It was fantastic— we started off the night and I was with a bunch of co-workers that didn’t know that I played music, because I don’t like to tell people that I make music and it blew all these people away.

We all got really drunk and we closed out the night with “Dancing With Myself.” It was like a show— best show of my life. Doing live band karaoke of “Dancing With Myself”. My own shows are always a bit of a let down after that.

What’s the most embarrassing thing on your iPod?
I don’t have an iPod, and I’m not embarrassed by any music that I listen to. I listen to every type of fucking music but I don’t think I listen to any bad songs. If a fucking song is a hit it’s a hit.

I like Annie Lennox, I like Ol’ Dirty Bastard. I can’t think of anything that I would be embarrassed about that I listen to— nothing. Because if someone doesn’t like a track I play, fuck ’em. I love all the music that I love so much, I’ll just argue them into the ground.

I’m a terrific debater and arguer so it’s not even worth it, because I do have a broad spectrum of things that I like, so I have no tolerance to people who don’t like music— they are wrong. If someone thinks the song that I like is not good, you’re fantastically wrong, you have no idea how wrong you are. I didn’t have anything terribly flaccid when I did have an iPod, you know, maybe something a bit cheesy.

Sometimes there’s the artist that has the one good song and everything else just totally sucks—but for that one song it’s worth it. I’m a hits guy, which will become evident one day (laughs).

If you could be trapped in a lift with any 3 living people – who would they be?
I wouldn’t like to be trapped with anybody! It would have to be—there’s three members of my family, three members of any of my bands, or three terrifically attractive supermodels. I wouldn’t want to be trapped in a lift with anyone actually I don’t already know, I feel like there are better ways to meet people than being in a lift with them.

Either people I already know I can tolerate or people who might lead me to believe that I might stumble into a fantastic erotic situation. I sound like a 13 year-old.