Prentiss Mitchell chats to Brighton based singer-songwriter Miles Goodall about BIMM Brighton, the local scene and writing about his sexuality. You can catch Miles in action at The Hope and Ruin on March 6, and he plays at the same venue on February 16 as part of local band Charlie and the Villas.

Firstly, how were you inspired to start making music?

I’m not sure really. Music seems to have surrounded me from a young age. My parents always had musical instruments in the house and always had loads of different types of music playing. It’s always been a part of my day-to-day life. When I first started singing I remember trying to imitate Joss Stone singing her single You Had Me as well as Michael McDonald, Keane and Jackson Browne. And I really liked Maroon 5. The idea of playing in a band always excited me to be honest.

How has BIMM Brighton help you pursue that further?

BIMM’s great. The opportunities to perform I think are the biggest help for me. I was able to play some shows in Sweden through the Schools Tour team, which was really cool. All the tutors have loads of time for you as well, if you need help or advice they are there. You have to work hard though – nothing’s given to you on a plate. That’s something I learned at BIMM. It prepares you for the industry.

What do you think of Brighton’s music scene?

I love Brighton’s music scene. There’s so much going on. You can be walking down the street and hear four or five different genres of music from different venues all at a really high standard. There’s usually an open mic night every night of the week as well. I made a point of playing as many as possible when I moved down – they’re vital. I love open mics: you never know what you’re going to get.

Which is your favourite Brighton venue you’ve been to, or played at?

The Old Market. The stage and sound is amazing, plus the crowd is really close to you, which is intense. I’ve played at the Theatre Royal as well. That’s a really stunning building inside and the stage is huge. I also really like The Bee’s Mouth and Medusa – open mic nights there are great.

How would you describe your sound to somebody who’s never listened to your music before?

That’s a really tough one. I’d say a fusion of Keane, Adele, Florence And The Machine, and with a splash of Steely Dan and Carole King. I listen to so much music that it’s really hard to tie myself down to a particular genre, I really love Steely Dan so there’s definitely elements of their music in mine. I’ve been compared to Rufus Wainwright and James Blake as well.

What do you think it is that makes you stand out in the sea of contemporary music?

I guess my strongest asset has always been my voice. I think it’s quite unique and makes me stand out from other musicians, as does the fact I write on and play piano. There’s so many guitarist singer-songwriters, especially in Brighton, so I think the piano helps a lot... until people mention Tom Odell.

You said your recent single Make It Alright is probably the most personal song you’ve written. Why is that?

It was written when I was younger and it’s about my struggle with coming to terms with being gay. I think everyone’s struggles shapes them as a person. For me it was that. In all honesty, I’m not totally OK with it, even now, but it’s just one of those things. I was in quite a dark place. I was getting really sick of lying about who I was, and it all bubbled over into Make It Alright. I cried in the studio when we recorded it.

For more information, visit: facebook.com/ pg/milesgoodallmusic