Episode
Ep. 238: Illenium | Addiction Almost Killed Him. Music Saved Him.
- Published
- Feb 10, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 4859
- Processing state
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- https://shows.acast.com/andthewriteris/episodes/ep-238-illenium
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Summary
Today's guest is a multi-platinum DJ, producer, and songwriter who turned personal devastation into one of electronic music's most emotionally resonant careers. From opioid addiction in high school to wilderness therapy at rock bottom, he rebuilt his entire life in Denver—sober, alone, and teaching himself music theory from scratch. Now 13 years clean, he's become a voice for mental health in a scene built on excess, collaborating with Jon Bellion, Halsey, Teddy Swims, and countless others to create music that connects survivors. His latest album, Odyssey, is a cinematic journey through heartbreak, recovery, and the sessions that saved his life. And The Writer Is... Illenium! In this episode of And The Writer Is…, Nick Miller (Illenium) opens up about: * Moving every two years as a kid and never having roots * Falling into opiates at 15 and hitting bottom by 2011 * Moving to Denver alone and getting sober at 21 * The Good Things Fall Apart session (and demo) * How music saved his life entirely and much more... Hit the subscribe button and turn on notifications... Every week we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music. Follow us on socials at @andthewriteris A special thank you to our sponsors… Our lead Sponsor, NMPA— the National Music Publishing Association. Your support means the world to us. And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period. Chapters: 0:00 Intro 1:00 Childhood and Moving Every Two Years 5:00 Getting Into Music Through Tiesto's Album 6:30 The Electronic Artist That Inspires Industry Musicians 9:00 Getting Sober—His Rough Patch in 2011 10:00 Escapism and Addiction 12:30 The Wilderness Program That Saved His Life 16:30 Getting Lost in Music and How He Learned to Create 17:30 Illenium's Roots 18:00 Learning From Other Producers and…