big eagle

Robyn Miller sings with the authenticity of someone shaped by wide-open landscapes and hard-earned experience. Performing under the name Big Eagle, she blends folk, country, and rock into a sound that feels both timeless and unmistakably her own. Her debut album, Willow Creek, is a deeply personal collection of songs inspired by her Northern California upbringing, years of musical exploration, and the winding path that ultimately led her home.

Raised among the towering redwoods of Humboldt County, California, Miller is the daughter of an artist and a naturalist. Surrounded by nature from an early age, she developed a lasting connection to the land that continues to resonate throughout her songwriting. Although her journey eventually took her from the mountains to Los Angeles and back again, the spirit of Humboldt remained a constant source of inspiration. It was during her return to the region—and the community of Willow Creek—that the album found both its title and its emotional center.

Some listeners first discovered Miller as the charismatic frontwoman of indie rock favorites The Peels from 2002 to 2006. While those years sharpened her stage presence, stepping away from the spotlight allowed her to discover a more intimate and honest songwriting voice. The songs that became Willow Creek were written without expectation, serving as personal reflections before evolving into her debut as Big Eagle.

Miller refined the material through performances alongside artists including Bowerbirds, The Chapin Sisters, Dawes, Little Wings, and Will Oldham (Bonnie "Prince" Billy). She recorded the album with producers Bart Davenport and Dan Horne, who encouraged her growing confidence as a producer, while collaborators Aaron Sperske, Richard Gowen, and Thom Heyman added depth and texture to the recordings.

Echoing the influence of Gram Parsons, Bob Dylan, Karen Dalton, and Bobbie Gentry, Miller crafts songs that honor Americana traditions while sounding refreshingly contemporary. With vivid storytelling, haunting melodies, and a voice both delicate and commanding, Willow Creek captures themes of love, loss, resilience, and the enduring pull of home. It is the sound of an artist who has found her true voice by embracing where she came from and every road that brought her there.