Miles

Album: Legacy! Legacy! (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Legacy! Legacy! is a concept album in which Jamila Woods examines her family history through the lens of some of her heroes. Here the Chicago songstress steps into the shoes of Miles Davis while the instrumentation evokes the jazz trumpeter icon's early-'70s music.
  • In channeling Miles Davis, Woods becomes masculine and braggadocio, asserting, "There'll never be another. I'm better than your best."

    She explained to Uncut: "I was thinking about the balance of feminine and masculine energy and how I wanted to manifest more of that assertiveness and more things associated with masculine energy. The song became a cool experience in embodying that."
  • Woods told Pitchfork that though it was hard for her to be masculine and assertive, voicing Miles Davis was a good feeling. "Miles used his power," she explained: "He would speak really softly in meetings with white executives so they would have to lean in. He'd turn his back to the audience, like, I'm not here to perform for you white people, I'm playing my music and I don't need to shuck and jive for you. I appreciated that."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Mac Powell of Third Day

Mac Powell of Third DaySongwriter Interviews

The Third Day frontman talks about some of the classic songs he wrote with the band, and what changed for his solo country album.

Jello Biafra

Jello BiafraSongwriter Interviews

The former Dead Kennedys frontman on the past, present and future of the band, what music makes us "pliant and stupid," and what he learned from Alice Cooper.

Randy Houser

Randy HouserSongwriter Interviews

The "How Country Feels" singer talks Skynyrd and songwriting.

Concert Disasters

Concert DisastersFact or Fiction

Ozzy biting a dove? Alice Cooper causing mayhem with a chicken? Creed so bad they were sued? See if you can spot the real concert mishaps.

Art Alexakis of Everclear

Art Alexakis of EverclearSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer of Everclear, Art is also their primary songwriter.

Laura Nyro

Laura NyroSongwriting Legends

Laura Nyro talks about her complex, emotionally rich songwriting and how she supports women's culture through her art.