A Conversation With SZA Bassist (And Guy I Know Pretty Well), Declan Miers

Today on Why Music Matters, I get to spend some time with one of my favorite musicians, with the added bonus that he happens to be my son. Declan Miers is a bassist, producer, composer and guitarist who is currently on the road with alternative R&B superstar SZA. He’s performed and recorded with a host of Neo-soul, R&B, pop and jazz artists, including Mac Ayres, Renee Rapp, Brass Tracks, Cautious Clay, Cisco Swank, Gene Coye, Mikki Howard, Ava Max, and Alex Isley. But in my eyes, he’s still that little kid who fell in love with music when he was still crawling around on the floor in front of the stereo, my longtime concert buddy, and the kid who left home at 16 to attend the Berklee College of Music on a full scholarship, and then headed out into the world to pursue his musical dreams. Declan was raised to speak his mind, and he does so here, in a conversation that touches on the mentorship he received from the Buffalo gospel, jazz, rock and funk music communities, the life of a young touring musician, and the role that music can play in teaching us all how to speak less and listen more. Welcome to Why Music Matters, Declan Miers. Let’s have some fun!