Since winning the Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the year in April, Beaches—an all-female rock band from Toronto—took part in their first national headlining tour.
They opened for the Foo Fighters at their biggest hometown venue, and received the public praise of Sir Elton John by playing their music through his radio show.
Jordan Miller is the group’s lead singer and bassist. She describes her band’s sound as a mix between glam rock and garage rock, with most of their influence coming from bands such as The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Pretenders, The Strokes, Oasis, and Blondie.
While travelling from Toronto to Ottawa on Dec. 1 for their show at the Bronson Centre, she spoke with the Charlatan about what this year has been like for the band.
The Charlatan (TC): How did the Beaches come together as a band?
Jordan Miller (JM): Me and my sister (Kylie Miller) started playing guitar when we were really young, writing songs and eventually put together an EP. Then, we figured that we should play live, so we just asked a few of our friends if they wanted to be in a band, and we started our first incarnation of the band, which was Done with Dolls. And when we got to high school, we decided to change our sound and play music that was more applicable to people our own age, and we were more comfortable playing and started writing our own songs.
TC: You got the Juno for Breakthrough Group of the Year. How did that feel?
JM: It was incredible. We’ve been playing for five years, all four of us, and we’ve been working on this record for a really long time. For it finally to be released, and for us to be recognized by our industry and by such amazing Canadian musicians, and to be included in a category full of incredible musicians was such an honour.
TC: As you mentioned, you did your first headlining tour. What was that step like?
JM: It was scary, but it was a lot of fun, and it was really awesome. It was a great experience. Touring is hard because there’s a lot of driving and there’s a lot of bullshit. But when you go onstage and when you have so many people singing your songs back to you, and looking at you in the eyes and you can see how happy you’re making them, it’s all worth it. It’s such an incredible feeling.
TC: In July, there was the Foo Fighters show at the Rogers Centre in Toronto. How did you get on the bill for that show?
JM: They had another support venue on tour with them . . . They had an opportunity to have a third band up, and our agents included us in a list of bands, and they picked us, specifically, which was really cool . . . It was super lucky and super awesome. Dave Grohl is a really nice guy, and he smells really good.
TC: What was it like meeting him? Did he have any advice or compliments he wanted to give you?
JM: He said he really liked our band and liked our music. He also said that he showed us to his daughter, which was really nice. He’s just a really nice guy. Think everything that you hear about him being incredibly genuine and wonderful, it’s super true, and he smells like American tobacco and leather. I really like his smell.
TC: You guys got to meet Elton John this year. What’s he like?
JM: He’s super lovely . . . He has a radio show and he’s not just the face of it; he actually picks the music that goes onto that show. Record labels will send him new music all the time. I asked him why he has been so supportive of us, and he’s so helpful. He said that when he was younger, he had a lot of his idols help him out, and put him on their shows. He’s trying to do that for young rock and roll artists because that’s the music that he’s passionate about and he thinks needs the attention at this time. He’s returning the favour for when people helped him out as a kid. He’s a super lovely man and I’m so thankful that he’s not only included us in his program but also took the time to meet us.
TC: What’s your main message to kids who aspire to be like you and have success in rock and roll?
JM: Get in a band with your friends and practice all the time—not only because it makes you a better musician but because practising and playing music is super fun and awesome. That’s really all you need to do to succeed: work at it.
