Dani Miller’s Guide to Changing Your Luck

Words: Rob Corsini | Guide: Dani Miller | Photography: Holly Silius & Miriam Marlene

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Whether she’s making electronic music with Ashley Smith as part of Trashworld, or with punk band Surfbort - there’s one constant for Dani Miller: her luck. Dani gets to do what she loves every day and she gets paid for it - it’s the dream and she knows it. That’s not to say that every day is easy. We all know life is full of ups and downs, but Dani knows something else - that all you need to change a down day into an up is a little bit of luck.

Surftbort’s new album, ‘Reality Star’ has just been released. And for Dani there was a clear inspiration. “I just realised that everyone is the star of their own reality. Everyone is Paris Hilton in the simple life. We’re like Sims interacting with each other”. Being the star of your own reality is as hectic as it is fun - and Surfbort’s album is full of anthems to help everyone get through life together. 

If there’s one thing Dani knows - it’s how to improve your fortunes. Here’s Dani Miller’s guide to Changing Your Luck.

Chant Works and Affirmations

Chanting words and affirmations is really powerful. I feel like it's just as powerful as negative talk - which is really powerful and really bad for you. So the opposite is true. Chanting good things if you're feeling not lucky and down. If you chant: “I'm so fucking lucky, things just go my way, it switches the energy.” And then you're lucky, and everyone loves you, and your day rules. Wherever you are in the moment is the best, you could be checking yourself out in the mirror, you could be screaming in your car, you can be,calling your bestie and chanting it with them.

Surround Yourself With Good Luck Charms

I'm a sucker for good luck charms, maybe just because I like shiny things. My brain's really dumb, but I think just anything sparkly, a keychain, a unicorn, anything that makes you happy and brightens your day. Put it in eye's reach. It will just help you get lucky along the way and remind you that life is sparkly and fun. I have a giant unicorn tapestry from the 60s - every time I look at it, I'm like: oh yeah, today's gonna be a good day.

Trick Yourself Out of a Funk

I feel like before, when I was depressed, I would be like: the world's ending and I wanna die. Now, I'm like, okay: first, you order takeout, then you can scream into your pillow, and get out all the rage. Then blast ‘Lucky’ or your favourite song. It could be Nirvana, it could be Killing In The Name, Take Your Picture, whatever. Throw on your favourite lucky song and even if you don't fully feel good right away, just start delusionally vibing. Trick yourself into a good time.

Hardcore Self-Care

I feel like when I was younger, I would put myself in horrible situations and line myself up for bad mental health. Now extreme self-care is the only way, baby. First of all, handle the basics. Am I hungry? Am I angry? Lonely? Tired? Eat some food, call a friend, clear your resentments, take a nap. That’s the start. Then, eat good for your body, but then also a chocolate chip cookie is self-care for your soul, you know? Go for a walk, be in the sun. I don’t know, all the health nerd stuff is important.

Spent Time With People You Vibe With

That's just the vibe. I feel like too much internet, not enough irl really gets you down. The more you link with people, meet new people, hang with your OG friends, connect with your family… I know families can be crazy, but still connect with whoever you vibe with… lucky things will just happen and then you’ll feel good. And you’ll spread the luck to all your family and friends and then it’s just contagious. 

Get Your Vibes Right to Spread the Love

Getting the vibes right, this is very important. When things are too serious and too dark, I'm like: Okay, it's time for the fairy lifestyle. If you show up to the function and you're, just a dark rain cloud, lucky things will maybe not happen. So, to get the luck started, get the vibes right. Dance! Laugh at nothing! Hang out! 

Sacred Alone Time

Sometimes when I'm doing nothing, I'll be like: Oh, I'm so unproductive, I'm in a writer's block, I'm in a rut. But actually, if you're staring at the wall or walking by yourself to 7-Eleven or doing nothing - it's actually really important for the creative self. People underestimate alone time. When I am not alone, I get overstimulated and then I get bratty. So give yourself a nice, zen alone time, and then you're less of a brat, and then more lucky stuff happens.

Don’t Panic and Add Up the Unluckiness

It's okay if bad shit's going down and it's okay if you're actually really sad and depressed. I'm not trying to get you to spiritually bypass that state. Like, life can be shit and that's really bad. But don’t just focus on the bad stuff, still keep a little door open for the lucky, good times to flow in. When life is really hard and crazy, I focus on a list of things I like. Making a pie, going on a walk, screaming at a show. If I pay too much attention to the bad things that went down, I'll spiral and feel shitty, and then not feel lucky.