Miles Fisher

Miles Fisher sings; he acts; he writes. And he looks damn good while doing it. He's also a Harvard graduate with a guest spot on Mad Men. On paper, you might hate him for being that self-starter that has it all. But in reality, Fisher is too down to Earth and self-effacing to hate. And too talented to ignore—his self-titled EP has been gaining traction and he's got a knack for turning videos viral. We caught up with the 26-year-old up and comer to talk music, style inspirations and his time at Sterling Cooper.

We're big fans of your "This Must Be The Place" cover and the American Psycho-inspired music video. What was it that made you choose that song?

Flattery is the highest compliment and Talking Heads have always been a favorite. There's a certain sound that I try to maintain and I thought I'd try to apply it to a few of my favorites. "This Must Be The Place" was the first one we tried on for size and it just seemed to fit. American Psycho is another personal favorite, so I figured if we could record a cover of the song and shoot a "cover" of the movie, there'd be potential to gain a bit of interest.

Why do you think electro pop is enjoying such a renaissance as of late?
I think part of the surge stems from the reality that Electro Pop, if that's what it's called, is fairly self-enabled. I made my EP with one producer, Sean Han of Blip Blip Bleep. The two of us created each and every sound on that record. Such is the case with so many music artists in this genre.

Most kids go to college these days with laptops that come equipped with remarkably powerful software to produce and record music and video. And they've been using it since 9th grade. They're becoming efficiently fluent in digital platforms that allow them to share their work. The more creators of audio and visual content online, the better I say. The market is fairly meritocratic-if the sound is good, it will find its ears; if it looks good, it will find its eyes.

And what's found your ears lately?
I've been listening to a collection of sounds of late: Electric melodies like Passion Pit and Discovery; guitar roots like Kurt Vile, Trampled by Turtles and the Black Keys. Mash-ups by McBoogie, Terry Urban and DJ Cobra along with bossa nova stuff like Antonio Carlos Jobim / Stan Getz, Astrud Gilberto and Coleman Hawkins.

There's been a lot of chatter about your recent appearance on Mad Men. What was it like playing Jeffrey Graves?
So much fun. The show is terribly articulate. Not just in its dialogue, but in its aesthetics, in those pregnant pauses. There's so much attention to detail—that's my kind of show. It demonstrates a great respect for the audience. I went to school with a few kids like Jeff Graves so it was fun to walk in their shoes, or rather loafers, for a bit.

Not to mention, it's such a stylish show and you've got that modern preppy with an edge thing going for you.
Thanks.

How did you develop your personal style?
I have a fairly colorful background and a bit of everything goes into how I dress. I was born in Dallas so there's a sense of utility to everything I wear. You know, got pockets? Use 'em. Going into the field? Don't wear shoes you're afraid to scuff. I went to St. Albans prep school in Washington DC, so there are traces of preppiness that come from being surrounded by a century of tradition. When you're restricted to coat and tie everyday, you find ways to make yourself unique and appreciate small details like shirt cuffs, socks and coat linings. At Harvard, I learned how to layer. Now, living out in California, I try to strike a balance between not taking myself too seriously while still "looking the part."

So you take style pretty seriously then.
I try to not forget that style serves a purpose. You walk into a room and what you wear makes an introduction well before you get a chance to utter a word. Look, I had two grandfathers. One was a congressman from Texas for eight terms. The other was abandoned on a doorstep at birth in a small town in Australia. One used clothes to assimilate. The other used clothes to understate. Both used them well. For my part, I like clothes to tell a story with each piece reflecting a bit of who I am.

Best style advice you've ever received?
Stanly Marcus [of Neiman Marcus] was a good friend of my father's, and whenever I'd be at his office he'd tell stories or quiz me. He had many pearls of wisdom, but one that will always hold true was when he said to me, "The most expensive suit you ever buy is the one you never wear."

What was the last piece of clothing you bought yourself?
I was just back in New York and got a great jacket from Oxxford Clothiers. A bit old school, and construction-wise, a finer suit cannot be found. Stanly Marcus was the one who turned me onto them. And just like the grey New Balances I rock, Oxxford is all USA.

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