Miles Calder Shares Debut Solo Album 'Autopilot Life' + Announces Release Tour

Today's a big one for Pōneke songwriter Miles Calder. The former frontman of The Rumours has revealed his much-teased debut solo album Autopilot Life to the world and announced an all-guns-blazing release tour with full band, journeying all across Aotearoa in autumn. Taking inspiration from the highly relatable desire to transcend humdrum everyday realities, Autopilot Life serves up ten accomplished new songs from Calder — finding his own cosy space somewhere between lush psych-tinted 60s balladry, stately piano driven pop and heart-tugging cinematic rock reflections, spiced up with an occasional dash of Stonesy boogie. The icing on the cake is a brand new live video of Calder and band performing the title track at RNZ studios, getting you amped for the shows to come.

Miles Calder came to the eye-opening realisation that art was mirroring life as his record began to take shape: “I realised that I was in a relationship, job, and daily routine that I didn’t want to be in, because I never stuck my head up to check. I could have just read the lyrics of these songs I was writing... Most of the songs on Autopilot Life relate to living an unexamined life. The overall float-like feel of this song is like the ignorance-is-bliss waking dream state with the vocals crying out from under it.”

Undertheradar proudly presents...

Miles Calder Album Release Tour 2021
with Full Band

Friday 16th April - Dive, Dunedin
Saturday 17th April - Loons, Christchurch (supporting Tiny Ruins)
Friday 30th April - The Plant, Blenheim
Saturday 1st May - The Mussel Inn, Golden Bay
Thursday 13th May - Wine Cellar, Auckland
Friday 14th May - Sawmill, Leigh
Saturday 15th May - Jam Factory, Tauranga
Friday 21st May - Paisley Stage, Napier
Saturday 22nd May - Snails, Palmerston North
Friday 4th June - Meow, Wellington

Tickets on sale now via Banished Music

Press release:

Wellington singer-songwriter Miles Calder will embark on a nationwide tour this April and May in celebration of his debut solo album Autopilot Life, out today. The ten shows will see Miles and his band perform in intimate venues across Aotearoa, captivating audiences with a dynamic set ranging from floating atmospheric ballads to chomping rock n roll.

Four years on since his folk/Americana self-titled release with former backing band The Rumours and time living overseas, Miles has emerged with a renewed sound, fresh songs, and new band. His new album Autopilot Life takes his classic folk-rock style into a striking psychedelic realm, evoking early 70s Lennon and late-era Beatles as much as contemporaries like Kevin Morby and Father John Misty.