Old Sand Mill's 1st album was actually as a guitar folk duo called Reynolds and Miller, with Michael Reynolds and Chip Miller. Titled "Cathedral," it was a small indie release recorded in the UK, and featured guests, British actress/singer Susan George and "Hair" Broadway cast member, Sally Eaton. It was a mixture of original and classic folk songs. After their numerous popular performances in the NY metropolitan area, they recorded their second live unplugged album taped at the legendary coffee houses, The Bitter End and Folk City in Greenwich Village. Titled “Songs from an Old Sand Mill: Live in NYC”, Their sound was a blend of original gems and Celtic songs. The album was released on Vanguard Records and got the attention of Nina Simone's manager, who signed them to a deal at Capitol Records, with Paul Simon producing their big label debut. The duo began touring and opening for Simon's concerts as well as for Jackson Browne. In the midst of the sessions, halfway through completion, the two songwriting partners became strained when Reynolds joined Scientology. Eventually, the friendship splintered and Simon and Miller left the project, putting the album on hold. Miller formed an alt rock band, Pomeroy, and opened for King Crimson, Lou Reed, The Ramones, and Jefferson Starship. Partnered with The Weasel’s guitarist extraordinaire, David Maynard, the band released a live album recorded at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, which was their farewell performance. Miller wrote numerous successful TV and radio jingles and released some diverse solo work from disco to pop, to jazz and orchestration. When he moved to Hollywood, he recorded theme songs to 2 indie motion pictures, of which one, “Mortuary Academy,” became a cult film in Europe. Miller started directing and producing music videos for MTV, VH-1, and BET, working with artists ranging from Linkin Park, The Rolling Stones, Squeeze, The Commodores & LL Cool J, to The Black Crowes, Charlie Wilson & Marc Anthony, helming 160 plus major music videos and dozens of live TV concert specials for Brian Wilson/The Beach Boys; The Kingston Trio; Timothy B. Schmit; Donovan, Diahann Carroll, Mary Youngblood & Jana Mashonee, Kris Kristofferson, Paul Simon, and Earth, Wind & Fire, in addition to screenwriting, directing & producing several indie feature films, TV pilots, and documentaries.
When Miller launched a weekly children’s series on Disney Channel, the budget could not afford a big name artist to write the show’s theme, so he reached out to Reynolds, suggesting they give it a go again. Miller flew Michael out to Hollywood from NYC and they went to work like no time had passed, quickly regaining their creative Zen. The song became the show’s theme, and a hit record in the children’s market and on streaming sites. But Michael was still a Scientologist and had dark clouds in his life. He returned back east. But Miller decided to build on what took place creatively, and over the next year, would reboot Pomeroy classics and some Reynolds and Miller tunes left unfinished at Capitol. He wrote a dozen new songs, formed a new Brit-flavored alt rock band, Old Sand Mill. The name is a tribute to reynOLD SAND MILLer. Working with younger musicians, Miller gathered celebrity friends to participate, took 2 years to record in London, Nashville, NY & LA, and in 2018, released the band’s debut album, “The World Is Getting Colder” on Universal Records/BMI Music International. The star-studded concept album is a collection of original, finely-crafted, visual songs, written by Miller, multiple Grammy winner Jerry Douglas (Alison Krauss & Union Station; Earls of Leicester), Brian Wilson, and two by Reynolds and Miller. The band's distinctive sound is inspired by contemporary artists, Beck, Joseph Arthur, Fleet Foxes, Elbow, while paying analogue tribute to the sounds of The Beatles, David Bowie, Neil Young, and Simon & Garfunkel, with pristine harmonies from the Paul Simon songbook. Brian Wilson joins in on two songs, including a Beach Boys cover with Miller doing the Mike Love vocal. Other artists on board are: Darryl Jones (The Rolling Stones); Earl Mankey (Concrete Blonde); Rick Boston (Low Pop Suicide); R&B icon Deniece Williams; Gabriel Witcher (Punch Brothers); the late Howie Wyeth (Bob Dylan’s band) & the 40-piece Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra. And Paul Simon adds uncredited vocals to one song. The album offers eclectic instrumental arrangements, passionate lyrics, psychedelic sounds, some very catchy tunes, and 2 numbers evoking a spot-on Pink Floyd mood. Critics and fans call the work a groundbreaking debut album, with Billboard Music International citing it as "a future classic." The CD was an internet hit worldwide, with outstanding CD sales in Europe, and still selling, and gaining more fans of several generations. Now available on all major streaming platforms worldwide.
Old Sand Mill's 2022 album, "The Example," demonstrates the musical diversity of Miller and his new band. Showing off chops as a tight, complex group of musicians, this album pays respect to Yes, Pink Floyd, Bowie & Queen. Chip provides lead and harmony vocals, rhythm guitar, harmonica, flute, and percussion. Other guests include the late David Maynard of The Weasels, who died after the album was finished; bassist Tom Carroll, Howie Fields (Jimmy Buffett band) on drums, and Professor John Slack on keyboards, B3 Hammond Organ, and Mellotron. The album is now on all major streaming platforms worldwide. Old Sand Mill is a Coachella-based recording artist and alter ego of award-winning LA filmmaker/screenwriter/songwriter & musician, Chip Miller. In 2024, Old Sand Mill collaborated with hip hop artist, Madd KD to create and release, "Justice," the title theme song for the upcoming theatrical motion picture, "Ride To Justice." The original story and screenplay was written by Chip Miller.
