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Robert Miles | |
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_(377x500).jpg) Miles in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Roberto Concina |
| Also known as |
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| Born | (1969-11-03)3 November 1969 Fleurier,Neuchâtel, Switzerland |
| Origin | Fagagna,Friuli, Italy |
| Died | 9 May 2017(2017-05-09) (aged 47) Ibiza, Spain |
| Genres | Trance |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1994–2017 |
| Labels | |
Roberto Concina (Italian pronunciation:[roˈbɛrtokonˈtʃiːna]; 3 November 1969 – 9 May 2017), known professionally asRobert Miles, was an Italian record producer, composer, musician and DJ.[1] His 1995 composition "Children" sold more than 5 million copies and topped the charts worldwide.[2]
Robert Miles was born inFleurier, Switzerland, to Italian parents.[3]
Miles became proficient at playing the piano during his youth inFriuli, Italy, in the small town ofFagagna, where his family moved when he was young, and had been in the music scene since 1984. He worked as a DJ in some Italianclubs and private radio networks, and in 1990 he used his savings to establish his own recording studio and apirate radio station.[4][5] Originally performing under the name Robert Milani, he changed his last name to Miles in anticipation of "the musical journey ahead of him".[6]
| External videos | |
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 "Robert Miles - 'Children' (Dream Version)" onYouTube |
In 1994, Miles wrote atrance andchill-out piece based on acoustic guitar chords and soft synthesizer effects, "Children", which was later developed into adream house song featuring a piano theme on top.[7] The single picked up sales slowly; however, within two weeks of its official release in 1995, it had sold more than 350,000 copies all over Europe and topped thecharts in many countries. The single received an unprecedented "Essential Tune of The Week" three weeks in a row onPete Tong's show, causing a furious bidding war. It was then signed to Deconstruction Records in the UK by Giles Goodman of Dynamik Music (who represented Platipus Records the initial UK licensee).[7] After occupying the Euro Top 100 chart number 1 spot for thirteen consecutive weeks(seeEuropean Hot 100 Singles) by 1997, "Children" had sold more than five million copies worldwide. It earned Milesplatinum records[8][9] in many countries, aBrit Award for International Breakthrough Act 1997 (Miles was the only Italian artist to have received the award until its final award for that category in 2012),[10] a World Music Award as World's Best Selling Male Newcomer,[7] and various other awards.
Miles' next single was "Fable".[7] Part of this song was used in the theatrical trailer for the U.S. movieEver After(seeEver After § Trailer) starringDrew Barrymore andDougray Scott. His debut albumDreamland was released on 7 June 1996 in Europe,[7] and released in the United States about a month later. The album included a cover of "One and One" featuring British singer Maria Nayler. This cover became very popular (it reached number 1 in the Euro Top 100 Singles Chart during the Christmas period and remained in the top spot for six consecutive weeks)[11] and was later released as a single in Europe and the U.S.
In November 1997, Miles released another track, "Freedom", which was one of the key tracks on his second album23am,[7] featuring vocals provided byKathy Sledge ofSister Sledge. Containing a different feel from the previously more club-orientedDreamland,23am incorporated more lyrics-driven songs than its predecessor while maintaining Miles' trademark piano sound from the first album.[7]
After splitting fromDeconstruction,BMG and his former management in London, he set up his ownindependent record labelSalt Records (stylised as S:alt Records, with S:alt being short for suitably:alternative) in 2001 and released his third album,Organik,[12] featuring the new single "Paths" with vocals provided byNina Miranda ofSmoke City. Guests on the album includedTrilok Gurtu,Bill Laswell andNitin Sawhney. Music fromOrganik was used on variousmovie soundtracks such asThe Bourne Identity,Derrida, andCity of Ghosts. It was licensed toNarada Productions' Shakti Records label in the USA. In 2002, an album containing mainlyremixes of songs found onOrganik was released. The album, appropriately entitledOrganik Remixes,[13] contained remixes by the winners of the remixing contest held on Robert Miles's Web site, as well as remixes from well-known artists such asFuture Sound of London,Riton, and Alexkid among others.[14] The album also had one new track, "Bhairav", which featured the vocals ofAmelia Cuni.[15]
In 2004, Miles releasedMiles Gurtu,[16] his fourth album, which was a collaboration with percussionistTrilok Gurtu and includedjazz andelectronica elements. Also guesting on the album wereNitin Sawhney,Jon Thorne, Mike Patto and Paul Falloon.[14]
Miles' fifth album, entitledThirteen,[17] was released worldwide on Salt Records in February 2011. For this album, Miles produced a blend of alternative andprogressive rock withambient and electronic soundscapes.[18]
In 2012 Miles finished working on the soundtrack for the movie documentaryThe Turn of THIS Century, directed by Peter Beyak and featuring the photography ofLife Magazine. He founded a new FM and online alternative radio station,Open Lab, broadcasting fromIbiza, a project bringing together culture, arts, media, technology and innovation.[19]
Miles died frommetastatic cancer in Ibiza, Spain, on 9 May 2017 at the age of 47.[20][3]
Miles’ OpenLab station was taken off-air shortly afterwards, pending discussions on the future of the station. After receiving many messages from people expressing dismay at the station's suspension, it was announced that the station would be returning soon in 2019, starting with a live radio stream in January 2019 and followed by a reboot to radio on 106.4 FM in Ibiza in April 2019.[21]
Studio albums
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