Singer Jamie Miller, whose hit song 'Babydoll' has amassed over 80 million streams in the past two months, has revealed that he nearly gave up on his music career and planned to return to his hometown of Cardiff from Los Angeles because he "really couldn't afford it anymore."
The Cardiff-born artist recently became the first Welsh act in 15 years to earn a UK number one hit, and the first solo male Welsh artist in 41 years to top the singles chart since Shakin' Stevens.
Struggles Behind the Success
Despite being viewed by many as a successful star gaining steady traction, Miller said his reality was far different. He spoke candidly about his battles with imposter syndrome, noting that his first chart-topper doesn't "feel real."
"I will forever, I think, deal with imposter syndrome. I think for the past few years it's just been a really hard time personally and I think where I counted myself out so much and then planning to give up this year and move back home because I just really couldn't afford it anymore. I think people think you, you're a millionaire when you have millions of streams and stuff," he said.
"Like, it was like a really weird juxtaposition on how people viewed me and I felt like they all thought I was rich and this massive success when really I was struggling to pay rent and keep up with this image online."
'Babydoll' Changes Everything
'Babydoll' was first released in August, entering the UK charts in September at number 84. The song gained momentum when Miller recruited actor and singer Antonio Cipriano, star of the series Off Campus, to join a version of the track.
Since then, Miller has travelled the world and recently performed on Strictly Come Dancing. He said the song has transformed his outlook on life.
"I think Babydoll honestly, changed my whole perspective on things. It's changed my life, opening for the Jonas Brothers in America, to then coming home and doing Strictly Come Dancing, then flying to Germany, Berlin, and France, and doing all these amazing things. Sounds like I'm boasting. It just feels really, really mental," he said.
Despite his worldwide success, which has been celebrated across Wales, Miller said he feels no pressure. "I feel like there's no pressure when it comes to anything that's coming on right now. I feel like just because I never expected it, I don't think I've had time to take it all in and I never expected it in a million years," he said.
From The Voice UK to Worldwide Fame
Miller first rose to fame in 2017 when he became a finalist on the sixth season of The Voice UK, following an unsuccessful X-Factor audition. After his breakthrough on the competition series, he moved from Cardiff to London, then to LA, where he pursued a career in music.
The now 29-year-old spoke about the "rough time" he had growing up loving music in Pontprennau. He recalled being afraid to sing in school due to name-calling and not fitting the stereotype of wanting to be a singer rather than a rugby or football player.
"I feel like there's such a system when you're in school and when you're younger that Cardiff people are afraid to dream because of the situations that we're put into when we come from certain places, I think we're almost built into feeling that we can't do things," he said.
"I had a kind of a rough time in school when I came to getting called names and stuff because I wanted to be a singer rather than a rugby player or a football player or I didn't fit the stereotype of what I wanted to do with my life. But now I get to prove those people wrong, you know?"
Support from Tom Jones and Looking Ahead
Miller cited Sir Tom Jones as his biggest idol growing up, and described receiving a message of support from the Welsh legend as a shock. "Tom Jones was like my idol all growing up," he said. "I love Tom Jones and the other day I got a message from Tom. And I'm just like, what is going on? It's just mental, he has just been such an amazing light in my life. I'm just so grateful. He said, 'you're amazing, and I'm so proud of you.'"
Miller credited "being delusional" about his dreams as a key factor in his success, and offered advice to anyone from Cardiff or small communities: "Even though it's not the coolest thing to do when it's not real, when it does feel real, you'll be ready and you'll feel like, wow, I prepared for this moment my whole life."
He continued: "I just feel like it's time to start being real people behind the screens. I think there's such a way of cyber bullying and all these things. I literally just got to a point where I just didn't care anymore. I've been able to see the world, I've been able to leave Cardiff and see different things in life, and I think there's more to life than the street you grew up on. I feel like if there's any kid out there, if you're a girl, if you're a boy, whatever, like you want to be, be it."
Miller has been performing shows around the world, and in 2027 he will return to his home country for his first UK festival appearance of that year, joining the bill for In It Together Festival.
