Dub-321 talks “Guilty Murderer”, feat. Howi Spangler of Ballyhoo!

Space Coast’s own solo artist Miles Galli (aka, Dub-321) has dropped a banger collaboration with Howi Spangler of Ballyhoo!. The track is uplifting and grooving with provocative lyrics — it’s pure genius! I came across the song’s video and knew this would make for an interesting conversation. A former inmate and addict, Miles Galli has overcome the odds with perseverance and strength.

He shares his inspiring true story, holding nothing back.

I appreciated Galli’s ability to speak to his vulnerability, while at the same time reflecting on how he came out of that dark place. “Guilty Murderer” (out now) is about toxic relationships, exquisitely mastered by both artists. It’s something I think we can all relate to! Spangler and Galli delivers the perfect storm: a seductive and addictive sound that will get you going! Top Shelf was able to get a little time with Galli (hereinafter referred to as Dub-321) to discuss music and his battle with addiction.           

Tell us about a bit about yourself!

• D321: I’ve lived in Florida’s Space Coast since I was like two years old. I dropped out of high school in my junior year and joined the Navy. I shipped out just after 9/11, did that a few years and got out at around 21 years of age.
• I originally started Dub-321 in 2007 when I was 25. I wasn’t taking it nearly as seriously as I do now. I was partying a lot then; I ended up having a surgery in 2009 that got me physically hooked on opioid pain medication. Once the prescription ran out, I experienced physical withdrawal for the first time. Then, I turned to the street to find more with the intention of weening myself off. Well, that never happened. By mid-2010, I was shooting up daily. I was an atheist my whole life until I was arrested and then incarcerated. I used my remaining four years in prison to grow my relationship with God, become a better man, and work on my music as much as possible. I wrote over 50 songs behind the fence.
• I was released in February 2018 and hit the ground running. I started working on chasing my dreams immediately. I dropped my first album, Braving Babylon (a reference to my time in prison), in early 2019 and I’ve dropped two more since. In five years since my release, I’ve shared the stage with so many greats that it blows my mind: Yellowman, Steel Pulse, Ballyhoo!, The Elovaters, Kash’d Out, The Supervillains, and many more. I’ve also accumulated over 8,000 monthly Spotify listeners. I am beyond grateful to even be here still and able to participate in the music scene. By all rights, the way I lived, I should be dead. The success I’ve found thus far truly amazes me and it doesn’t seem to be slowing down. I’m grateful to God for giving me a second life and putting the old me to death.

So, what drew you to music? 

• Between 6 and 11 years old, I would watch MTV and VHS-record all my favorite music videos. I did the same with the radio and cassettes. I would make myself mixtapes to listen to from a very young age. I was obsessed with Vanilla Ice, MC Hammer… Then, in the early 90s, I fell in love with [grunge] type of music, especially Nirvana — they were my absolute favorite. I wanted to be just like Kurt Cobain. He is the whole reason I decided I wanted to learn to play the guitar, sing, and start a band. RIP, Kurt Cobain. I got my very first guitar for Christmas in 1994 and I’ve been playing and writing songs ever since.

How has your music changed throughout your career?

• I’ve put out two full-length LPs — Braving Babylon and Fashionably Late. Also, one compilation of demos, outtakes titled “Chronic Logic”. My music has absolutely evolved over the years. I’ve had so many influences throughout my life. After grunge it was skate punk, then I got heavy into Sublime and Bob Marley in high school. I also really got into Slightly Stoopid, Long Beach Dub Allstars, and Pepper after high school in the early 2000s.
• The things I write about have also evolved a lot over the years. You’ll hear some party-type songs on Braving Babylon, because I wrote like half those songs before I went to prison. These days, I try not to glorify or promote the life I lived before prison and if I do bring it up, I always try to tie a lesson or moral into story, showing the consequences of said action. I guess it just comes with age, experience, and wisdom. I want my music to help and lift people up, not lead them to destruction.

How did your “Guilty Murderer” collab come to life?

• I was aware that Howi [Spangler] produces music. We connected and I sent him a clip of myself playing “Guilty Murderer” on acoustic (which I wrote in prison). Howi was on board! I recorded myself playing the entire track with just my voice and rhythm chords to a click track and sent that to Howi. Then, he built all the instrumentation on top of it and sent it back to me to redo my final vocals and the guitar solo. I sent it back to him, then he wrote and recorded his verse and mastered it. The rest is history. Howi did all the production on this song, which I’m super grateful to him. It’s the first time I’ve had one of my songs produced by someone other than myself, so I’m honored it was him. I used to listen to his music on repeat in my active addiction, finding strength to make it just one more day. So, the fact I know him now and I’ve worked with him is surreal. 

If you were to name a song in your head right now, what would it be?  

• “Free Falling” by Tom Petty, because I sing that song to my dog Dookie every day. But, I change all the words for him to make it more relatable. 

What has been the greatest barriers or obstacles in your musical journey?

• For me, personally, it’s been my reputation that precedes me –at least, locally. I still live in the same county where I was once a junkie. Some people are slow to forgive and some will never change their opinion of me, no matter how long I’ve been clean off the needle and doing well. And that’s okay with me. I don’t blame them for it one bit. I knew when I got out of prison, it was going to be an uphill battle for me, starting from the very bottom. But, all my family is here and I absolutely love the Space Coast. I couldn’t leave. So, I just try to block out the negative. I focus on God and my goals, as well as stay grateful for the support I do receive, which is more than abundant enough for me and truly humbling.

Any tour plans?

• I was on the shelf for nearly a year as far as live performances go, due to medical reasons, but I am feeling much better now. I just recently hooked up with an awesome new booking agent who is helping me to get my calendar filled up for 2024. An east coast run/tour is one of the things she is working on for next year. 

Hope we can catch you in action soon! In the meantime, what do you hope your fans get from your music?

• Hope… Hope that there’s a way out of whatever they may be dealing with. Hope that life can — and will — get better if they just get out of their own way.

Dub-321 – “Guilty Murderer” feat. Howi Spangler

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