1 00:00:01,366 --> 00:00:03,200 AMNA NAWAZ: And finally tonight to close out the week, 2 00:00:03,200 --> 00:00:06,133 a gifted young talent you might have seen online. 3 00:00:06,133 --> 00:00:10,033 GEOFF BENNETT: Yes, his name is Miles the Music Kid. That's what he's known as. And 4 00:00:10,033 --> 00:00:13,800 his videos are striking a chord with audiences around the world. 5 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:18,800 William Brangham has the story for our arts and culture series, Canvas. 6 00:00:20,466 --> 00:00:22,900 MILES BONHAM, Musician: Get a new audio track? 7 00:00:22,900 --> 00:00:27,900 WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Eight-year-old Miles Bonham, a 4-foot music-producing phenom... 8 00:00:29,233 --> 00:00:30,533 MILES BONHAM: Transposing it down 12 semitones. 9 00:00:30,533 --> 00:00:35,400 WILLIAM BRANGHAM: ... seemingly can do it all. 10 00:00:38,033 --> 00:00:42,033 MILES BONHAM: At first, I might just want to make music, 11 00:00:42,033 --> 00:00:47,000 not really have an idea. And then, it's like, oh, OK, this is cool. 12 00:00:50,566 --> 00:00:55,433 WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Miles has become an Internet sensation. Millions of followers watch along 13 00:00:55,433 --> 00:01:00,433 as he puts his spin on other songs or creates his own, the best of which he calls bangers. 14 00:01:04,666 --> 00:01:09,666 He started at age 4 on a little guitar and soon progressed to the piano. His parents, 15 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,666 neither of whom are professional musicians, started sharing clips 16 00:01:23,666 --> 00:01:28,666 of him online. And before they knew it, Miles was producing full multitrack songs, 17 00:01:30,466 --> 00:01:35,333 complete with drums, bass, and vocals, using high-end recording software. 18 00:01:37,033 --> 00:01:39,400 MAN: That's just who he is. He's just -- it runs through him. Music 19 00:01:39,400 --> 00:01:44,400 is how he expresses himself, and it's just a huge passion of his. 20 00:01:45,933 --> 00:01:47,933 WILLIAM BRANGHAM: His songs go through many, 21 00:01:47,933 --> 00:01:52,200 many permutations. And Miles says only about one in 10 achieved banger status. 22 00:01:53,933 --> 00:01:58,366 So do you know when it's done and when you feel like this is great, 23 00:01:58,366 --> 00:02:01,800 I'm finished, I can mix this now? 24 00:02:01,800 --> 00:02:04,833 MILES BONHAM: I mean, like being a perfectionist, 25 00:02:04,833 --> 00:02:09,833 I always listen, like, a lot of times before I say it's done. 26 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:15,900 QUESTLOVE, Musician: Miles, my man, my peer. 27 00:02:15,900 --> 00:02:19,700 WILLIAM BRANGHAM: And that perfectionism has landed him some pretty cool friends, 28 00:02:19,700 --> 00:02:23,633 like Questlove of The Roots, who gifted Miles a drum set, 29 00:02:23,633 --> 00:02:26,533 and Grammy Award-winning producer Mark Ronson. 30 00:02:26,533 --> 00:02:31,533 Miles is part of a rising generation of precocious young musicians with huge online followings. 31 00:02:34,300 --> 00:02:39,300 How do you keep it normal for him? How do you keep it so that he is just a regular 32 00:02:41,366 --> 00:02:44,300 8-year-old boy living a life with a sister in your home and life? How do you do that? 33 00:02:44,300 --> 00:02:48,433 WOMAN: That's a pretty easy question, because he is a regular kid. I mean, 34 00:02:48,433 --> 00:02:52,733 he literally is a regular kid. He does all of the things that regular kids 35 00:02:52,733 --> 00:02:57,700 do. And it just so happens he's got this musical super power on the side. 36 00:02:59,866 --> 00:03:04,833 WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Their son is a rare breed, a social media superstar who 37 00:03:06,966 --> 00:03:11,800 doesn't have access to social media. Mom and dad, who asked we not use their full names, 38 00:03:13,700 --> 00:03:17,400 say they walk a fine line between protecting Miles and supporting his passion. 39 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:22,266 WOMAN: We don't think it's healthy for kids to go on social media while their brains are 40 00:03:22,266 --> 00:03:27,266 developing. And so he's not getting that dopamine rush, and so he doesn't really care. He's just 41 00:03:29,333 --> 00:03:33,000 focused on having fun and doing the things that make him happy, like every other kid. 42 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:37,600 WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Every time a young phenom emerges, there's some group of people assume 43 00:03:37,600 --> 00:03:42,100 that there must be maniacal parents behind the scenes that are pressing the 44 00:03:42,100 --> 00:03:46,666 young person into this success. Is that the case? Is that what's going on here? 45 00:03:46,666 --> 00:03:51,666 MAN: It's as far as possible from the truth in our case, right? If Miles tomorrow were to say, 46 00:03:54,033 --> 00:03:57,500 "Hey dad, I want to be a lawyer, or I want to be a tech entrepreneur, 47 00:03:57,500 --> 00:04:02,466 or I want to be whatever," like, both of us would probably breathe a nice sigh of relief. 48 00:04:03,966 --> 00:04:05,533 WILLIAM BRANGHAM: What do you want to be when you grow up? 49 00:04:05,533 --> 00:04:08,466 MILES BONHAM: I think, like, a musician, like, a producer, 50 00:04:08,466 --> 00:04:13,466 songwriter. So I have written my own songs and I sing my own songs. 51 00:04:17,166 --> 00:04:19,866 WILLIAM BRANGHAM: Miles has just released his first original single, 52 00:04:19,866 --> 00:04:24,866 "You Can Be a Hero," for a movie soundtrack. And at his age, this is likely just the beginning. 53 00:04:28,600 --> 00:04:29,233 MILES BONHAM: Two, three, four. 54 00:04:29,233 --> 00:04:31,033 (MUSIC) 55 00:04:31,033 --> 00:04:34,400 WILLIAM BRANGHAM: For the "PBS News Hour," I'm William Brangham. 56 00:04:38,366 --> 00:04:40,600 GEOFF BENNETT: I love that his mom described his talent as his 57 00:04:40,600 --> 00:04:42,866 musical superpower. That's exactly what it is. 58 00:04:42,866 --> 00:04:45,833 AMNA NAWAZ: It is. He's found his thing. What a blessing. Good for you.