Miles

While pursuing studies at the University of Wuerzbery in Germany, English expatriate Tobias Kuhn crossed paths with Mike Silver and Ronny Rock, two individuals who matched his affinity for early-'90s indie rock and straightforward pop melodies. The three musicians formed Miles in 1992, assigning vocal responsibilities to Kuhn, guitar duties to Silver, and drumming to Rock. An initial self-titled EP and a homemade album soon followed, leading directly to a deal with V2 Germany. Their official debut, The Day I Vanished, arrived in 1997 and spread the group's buoyant rock sound through Europe and Japan. In 1999 Miles collaborated with the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra on the band's self-titled second album, extending its audience into Sweden, Austria, and the U.K. Although American listeners remained unfamiliar with the material, New York indie label Feel Records secured the group in 2001; bassist Nina Kraensel joined at that point, further refining the lineup. Summer 2002 brought the compilation Structure vs. Happiness, which gathered standout songs from the first two albums.