Gospel music, particularly in the Black community, is a very interconnected creation. From its earliest days to its present form, there has always been some level of kinship or reciprocity between the sacred and worldly music forms. Many of our favorite R&B artists got their start in the church, and we've seen quite a few instances of gospel artists who made the leap to secular fame and vice versa. But there are also some artists who don't want to be confined, or defined, rather, by any particular genre. Artists like T.J. Miller The Bridge.
As the son of a preacher, the Camilla, GA native initially entered the music world through his gospel album FEARLESS: The Freedom Project Vol. 1. But as he continued to mature and refine his sound, he began to rethink his place in the industry. "I don't want my music to be defined under the label of 'Christian Music,' he says. "It's just really great music that was written and sang by a young man that just happens to be a 'Christian.'"
In 2015, this creative freedom led to The Reconnection EP, a "bridge" between different genres that allowed TJ to reintroduce himself to his old audience and gain new fans in the process. After spending the past year on stage and in the studio with his band The Nuances, he's back with new a new single "Moan." and the promise of a full-length project (Pure Imagination) to be released on his 25th birthday next January.
Although this version of "Moan." is just a demo, the gospel influence is quite evident throughout the track from the organ riffs to the spontaneous ad-libs. But make no mistake, this ain't no church hymn. Mr. Miller has got a serious love jones and our ears are reaping the benefit. He proceeds to put some stank on his incredible tenor range in an effort to convince us of his yearning.
The Bridge puts it this way, "I am a soul singer. That means when I sing, it is important that even though you hear the beauty of my voice; you hear and feel the emotions I feel in that present moment." After listening to this "demo," we think we have a pretty good idea of what he's feeling. Check it out below along with "Love-ism" and "Yours" (two Reconnection tracks that will be featured on Pure Imagination). You can purchase all of his music, including the demo version of "Moan.," through iTunes and Bandcamp. And be sure to follow T.J. Miller The Bridge via his website, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for album updates and concert performances.
