Angie Miller (American singer)
Angela Kristine Miller (born February 17, 1994), also known by her stage name Zealyn, is an American singer-songwriter. She came in third place on the twelfth season of American Idol in 2013. Her debut EP, Weathered, was released independently on November 12, 2014. Miller rebranded in 2016, opting for the stage name Zealyn. Since then, she has released a second, Limbic System, and third EP, A Weekend in Maine.
Angie Miller
Angela Kristine Miller
Zealyn
February 17, 1994
Beverly, Massachusetts, US
- Singer
- songwriter
- Vocals
- piano
2013–present
Early life[edit]
Angela Kristine Miller was born on February 17, 1994, in Beverly, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston. Her father, Guy, and mother, Tana, graduated from Valley Forge Christian College in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. The couple relocated to Massachusetts after Guy attended Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in South Hamilton to prepare for ordination as a Christian minister. The Millers served at churches in Lynnfield and on Cape Cod, where they resided for eight years, before becoming co-pastors at Remix Church, a member of the Assemblies of God protestant denomination, in Salem.[1][2] Miller also has a brother, Jonathan. He is two years older than she. He is an integrant of hardcore band, Exiting the Fall.[1]
At an early age, doctors diagnosed that the singer experienced 40-percent hearing loss in her left ear and 20-percent in her right, after discovering that the protective envelope of her eardrums had vanished.[1][3] Consequently, she had ear tubes placed and, a month prior to her American Idol audition, fits for silicon spray ear plugs. Miller's condition has affected her singing, obstructing her hearing of her surroundings, rather than herself. She claimed that she learned to manage it a couple of years prior to her American Idol audition.[1] In January 2013, her mother revealed to The Salem News that a third surgery to skin graft her eardrum was impending once Miller completed her stint on the series.[1]
As a child, she was introduced to worship music at church[1] and various other styles at home.[2] The Millers are a musical family: Guy plays the keyboard, Tana plays the guitar, and Jonathan plays multiple instruments. Through watching them perform, Miller developed an interest for singing and songwriting at an early age, penning her first effort "Little Sparkle Dress" at age six.[2][3] Her engagement in children's theatre further nourished her desire to perform.[2] At the age of nine, Miller became an avid fan of the singing competition television series American Idol after seeing the second season finale, which made her long to someday enter the competition herself.[4] She initially began playing guitar, but switched over to piano after receiving lessons from an instructor in Cape Cod.[2] Though never receiving formal vocal training, she refined her singing with critiques from her mother and brother.[2][5] Miller attended Beverly High School from 2008 to 2012, involving herself in the school's choir, honors vocal ensemble, and theatre program.[1] She appeared in installments of The Will Rogers Follies, My Fair Lady, and Thoroughly Modern Millie.[6][7] She was an active participant at her father's church as well, leading music during services.[6] During high school, she also held a job at a fast-food restaurant at Northshore Mall in Peabody,[1] and ran a popular YouTube account where she posted videos of herself covering modern hits.[6] In 2011, Miller placed seventh out of over 1,000 contenders[2] in the female solo category at the Assemblies of God National Fine Arts Festival in Phoenix, Arizona. She received scholarship offers from three Christian universities, including her top choice, Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Waxahachie, Texas. Miller did not accept any of the colleges' offers, and instead decided to audition for American Idol upon completing her high school studies.[6]