WHO IS miles?

A musician, artist, comedian, and friend, Miles Melbye embodies the warmth of a kind soul and the drive of a lifelong learner turned leader — always reaching for the next blank canvas.

From the oceans of California to the mountains of Colorado and the deserts of Utah, Miles has chased every color with a different brush. Growing up in Northern California, he carved blue waves on his surfboard, in Colorado, he painted lines through white snow and in Utah, he blended reds and browns on his bike — until a few too many crashes brought that chapter to a close.

That pause opened the door to a new, more grounded form of expression. Miles dove headfirst into music, exploring the colors, textures, and tones hidden within each note of the guitar. In college, he formed Jerry’s Children, a band that blended Grateful Dead and reggae influences. After graduation, he returned to California and started a new, original project — Okeba — bringing his own sound to life.

His journey into graphic design began almost by accident, when his artist friend was too busy to sketch an idea. So, Miles decided to try his own with it. He downloaded Procreate on his phone and started creating art with his thumb and finger. A few sold pieces and successful shows later, he invested in an iPad — and his artwork quickly evolved to a new level.

Miles was born and raised in Menlo Park, California. He graduated from Saint Francis High School in the spring of 2019 and decided he wanted to leave home. Miles graduated from the University of Colorado in 2023 with a degree in Communications and a minor in Business.

After college, Miles took to Australia, where he and some friends bought a van and traveled from Sydney to Cairns. He split off after a few months and went island hopping in Southeast Asia, focusing on the wildlife and culture. Once out of money, Miles returned home to San Francisco where he found work in Fisherman’s Wharf.

He became a deckhand for Flash Fishing Sport Charters, working with Captain David Crumpler, taking customers to go out fishing for halibut, striped bass, rockfish, salmon, and sharks. In his two years on the job, he met plenty of other Captains and took busy work on other boats to learn more and be on the ocean as much as possible. But, the connection he made with Captain Dave was unlike any other relationship he has ever had. Working with the same guy every day, meeting at the boat at five in the morning and getting off, sometimes as late as eleven at night — Miles and Dave learned a lot from each other, helping navigate through difficult situations both on and off the boat. With heavy support from Dave, Miles decided to leave the fishing industry and focus on the creative side of his brain.

Today, Miles lives in the Outer Sunset of San Francisco, patiently waiting for the sun to break through the fog. Always chasing new thrills and inspiration.