Born out
of a mutual interest in music and an old friendship,
their pop duo has become a regional sensation.
Miller’s bluesy vocals, at times assertive and at
others pensive, perfectly complement the soulful and
heartfelt tone of Murray’s voice. Their harmonies
are tight, and their chemistry is undeniable. And,
even with their duo’s success, camaraderie remains
its driving force.
“Meg and I have been working together since around
1996,” Miller says. “It’s a ball to be able to play
music with one of my closest friends who is also an
amazing singer and performer, not to mention the
fact that she plays a mean tambourine.”
Miller, on the other hand, attributes her musical
expansion to Murray’s guidance. When describing her
addition of jazz standards into her set lists, she
says, “Meg is the one who first encouraged me to go
in that musical direction and I’m really glad I
did.” Still, Murray refuses to take all the credit.
When speaking about their duo’s success, she
stresses that theirs is a collaborative effort. “The
ability of an artist to work with friends and people
you respect and trust creates a tremendous amount of
room for growth, experimentation and fun. Angie is
that person for me—to tell me what is cool, what
needs work and to encourage me, and to tell me ‘you
are not gonna wear that shirt.’” And, in a moment of
special graciousness, Murray adds, “Angie is also a
very good guitar/music teacher, but shhh—don’t tell
her I said that.”
For both Murray and Miller, playing music is a
cathartic experience. Although Miller’s current
interest lies in telling stories through her songs,
her early work focused on her inner life.
“Most of my writing was a reflection of what I was
experiencing personally,” she says. Murray describes
her songwriting as therapeutic. But, she believes
that playing with others is even more beneficial. “I
find I am now more interested in the shared
experience of a gig, the songs we play and the
audience—the fun, the humor, and the excuse to get a
babysitter.”
Miller and Murray have long lists of influences.
Among Murray’s are artists on her mom’s
records—musicians like the Beatles, the Jackson 5,
and the Supremes. Miller also attributes her first
inspiration to her parents, saying that their
favorite artists—among whom are Aretha Franklin, Ray
Charles, and Emmylou Harris—probably had an
influence. But, true to form, she adds that the
people that she’s worked with have been as much of
an influence as any of the music to which she’s
listened. “Being on stage with talented players
helps make you a better musician,” she says.
Miller and Murray have a couple of shows coming up
in February. You can catch them at Heroes Pub in
Annapolis at 9 p.m. on the 3rd and at Leaky Pete’s
in Cambridge on the 17th at 8 p.m. From here, “I
just want to keep playing, writing, and recording. I
feel blessed to be able making a living doing
something that I love,” says Miller, adding, “I also
like being an independent artist—running my own
business on my own terms. I’ve always seen that as
one of the serious perks to this job. And, I get to
work with a lot of amazing artists.” Murray replies:
“Amen, sister.”
To find out more about Miller and Murray, visit
either of their websites: www.angiemiller.com and
www.megmurray.com. Be sure to stay on the lookout
for their solo gigs—the 9th at O’Loughlin’s in
Arnold, and the 23rd at The Rockfish in Annapolis
for Miller and Murray and their performances as part
of other duos. Murray plays in Heroes Pub every
Wednesday night at 9 p.m. with her longtime partner
Bryan Ewald, and Miller performs in a Jazz Duo with
either Jim Cunningham or Michael Raitzyk on guitar.
Meet the Artist by Karly Kolajain
29 Jan 2012
Photo-Scott
Hechinger Styling-Emidio Vincenzo
Salon
From shore to Maryland shore, Meg & Angie have been playing energetic concerts since 1996.
Meg
Murray and Angie Miller have been performing
together for nearly 16 years.
Wednesdays at 
