You know that feeling when you’re watching a movie, maybe munching on some popcorn, just waiting for the main star to do their thing? Then, out of nowhere, a side character walks into the frame and completely hijacks your attention. That is exactly what happened to me—and thousands of others—while watching Ryan Coogler’s Sinners in 2025. You go in for Michael B. Jordan, sure. But you leave talking about Miles Caton.
It’s rare to see a debut that feels this lived-in. Usually, newcomers have a certain shine to them, a “please like me” energy that screams theater kid. Caton didn’t have that. He had grit. He had soul. Whether you know him from that viral clip of him belting Nina Simone when he was practically a baby, or you’re just now hopping on the bandwagon because of his role as “Preacher Boy,” one thing is crystal clear: the kid isn’t a flash in the pan. He’s the whole fire.
I’ve been following the indie music scene for years, and it is exhausting watching talented kids burn out before they can legally drink. But Miles Caton feels different. He bridges that impossible gap between being a viral sensation and a serious, method-acting heavyweight. Let’s dig into how a boy from Brooklyn went from singing in his living room to holding his own against Hollywood royalty.
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Key Takeaways
- The “Sinners” Breakout: Miles Caton stole scenes from veterans like Michael B. Jordan in his 2025 film debut.
- A Prodigy’s Start: He first blew up at age 12 with a viral rendition of “Feeling Good” that even Jay-Z had to sample.
- Gospel Royalty: Talent runs deep; his mom is Timiney Figueroa and his aunt is Anaysha Figueroa-Cooper.
- The 60-Day Grind: He learned to play blues guitar from scratch in just two months for his movie role—no hand doubles.
- Dual-Threat Status: Unlike many who try, Caton successfully balances a touring music career (with H.E.R.) and acting.
How Did a Smartphone Video Launch a Legit Career?
We throw the word “viral” around until it loses all meaning. These days, going viral just means you did a silly dance or fell off a skateboard. But back in 2017, the internet felt a little different. When a video surfaced of 12-year-old Miles Caton singing Nina Simone’s “Feeling Good,” it didn’t just get likes. It stopped people in their tracks.
I remember seeing it. It wasn’t cute. It was startling. You had this kid, who looked like he should be worrying about middle school homework, delivering vocals with the pain and weight of a 50-year-old blues singer. It was raw. That 60-second clip did more for his career than a decade of auditions ever could. It caught the ear of the right people, eventually landing as a sample on Jay-Z’s “4:44.”
Think about that for a second. Jay-Z. Most people work their whole lives and never get that nod. Miles got it before he hit puberty. But here is where the story usually goes off the rails. Most viral kids chase the clout. They become influencers. Miles went the other way. He went to work. He hit the stage on Little Big Shots, sure, but then he hunkered down. He didn’t just want to be famous; he wanted to be good.
Is the Caton Family the Secret Weapon?
Talent is often a roll of the dice, but sometimes, the deck is stacked. In Miles’ case, he didn’t just inherit a good voice; he was born into a masterclass. He describes his background as an “extremely musical family,” which is a polite way of saying his family could probably out-sing your favorite choir without warming up.
His mother is Timiney Figueroa. His aunt is Anaysha Figueroa-Cooper. If you know gospel, you know those names carry weight. Growing up in that house must have been intense. In the world of gospel, you can’t just hit the note. You have to feel the note. You have to make the person in the back row cry. That is the training ground Miles stood on.
- Sunday Morning School: This environment gave him an edge acting coaches can’t provide. He learned to project emotion, not just volume.
- The Family Clown: Despite the serious musical pedigree, Miles has gone on record saying he’s the “family clown.” That creates a killer combination: the discipline of a gospel singer mixed with the looseness of a comedian. It makes him incredibly watchable.
Why Did Ryan Coogler Bet Big on a Rookie?
Ryan Coogler is smart. He built the Creed franchise. He turned Black Panther into a cultural movement. The guy doesn’t take unnecessary risks. So, casting a complete acting novice for a pivotal role in a supernatural thriller like Sinners? That’s a gamble.
Why did he do it? Because the character of Sammie “Preacher Boy” Moore couldn’t be faked. The role demanded someone who could embody the spirit of a 1930s Southern musician. You need a specific kind of weariness in the eyes, a specific kind of soul in the voice. If you cast a polished Disney kid, the movie falls apart.
Miles sent in a self-tape that must have been electric. He wasn’t “acting” like a musician; he simply was the music. Then came the chemistry read with Michael B. Jordan. Reportedly, they clicked instantly. You see it on screen. There’s a brotherly shorthand there that you can’t script. Coogler saw that authenticity and knew he had his guy. It reminds me of when Spielberg cast Whoopi Goldberg in The Color Purple. Sometimes, you just need the real thing.
What Does It Take to Learn Blues Guitar in 60 Days?
This is the part of the story that made me respect the guy. Miles Caton is a singer. He was not a guitar player. But his character, Sammie, lives and dies by that six-string.
In Hollywood, the standard move is to use a hand double. The actor strums vaguely, and they cut to a close-up of a professional’s hands. It’s easy. It’s safe. Miles said “no” to that. He locked himself in a room for two months. We’re talking five to six hours a day, every single day.
Have you ever tried to learn guitar? It hurts. Your fingers bleed. Your wrist cramps. To go from zero to playing convincing blues—which relies heavily on feeling and complex finger work—in 60 days is borderline obsessive. When you watch Sinners, look at his hands. That’s him playing. That level of dedication proves he isn’t just relying on his natural gifts. He’s willing to bleed for the craft.
How Does Touring with H.E.R. Shape an Actor?
Before he was trading lines with Delroy Lindo, Miles was on the road with H.E.R. Touring is a beast. It’s not glamorous private jets; it’s a grind. It tests your stamina and your ability to perform when you’re exhausted.
I believe this is why he transitioned to film so smoothly.
- Stage Presence: When you’re on stage in front of thousands, you learn how to hold a room. You learn that if you zone out for a second, you lose them. He brought that intensity to the camera.
- Adaptability: Live music is unpredictable. things go wrong. You have to roll with it. Acting is the same way. If a scene goes left, you have to stay in character. Miles had already earned his stripes in the trenches of the music industry.
Can He Break the Curse of the Singer-Actor?
We’ve all seen it happen. A singer tries to act and it’s… painful. Or an actor tries to drop an album and we all pretend it didn’t happen. It’s the classic dual-threat curse. But Miles seems uniquely positioned to dodge that bullet.
Why? Because he isn’t keeping the two worlds separate. In Sinners, his music was the vehicle for his acting. He even co-wrote the track “Last Time (I Seen the Sun)” with Ludwig Göransson. You don’t just stumble into a writing session with an Oscar winner like Göransson. You have to earn that seat.
Miles is letting his acting inform his songwriting and vice versa. His debut single “This Ain’t It” and his album Somethin have a cinematic quality to them. They tell stories. He isn’t trying to be a pop star; he’s trying to be an artist. There is a difference.
Is Horror the Perfect Playground for Soul Vocals?
Horror and Gospel might seem like opposites, but they are cousins. Both deal with the extreme ends of human emotion—salvation, damnation, fear, and glory. Sinners leans heavily into this, and Miles fits right in.
He has mentioned being a fan of the horror genre, and it shows. He understands timing. He knows that sometimes the scariest thing you can do is be quiet. But when he does let loose, either screaming in terror or singing a hymn to keep the darkness at bay, it hits you in the gut.
Critics at Variety noted that his performance grounded the supernatural elements of the film. That’s high praise. It means he made the vampires (or whatever evils lurk in Sinners) feel real because his fear felt real.
What’s Next for the Kid from Brooklyn?
So, where do we go from here? The sky is the limit, honestly. There are already whispers and fan-casts putting him in superhero tights—jokes about his name “Miles” leading to a certain Spider-Man role write themselves. But I honestly hope he stays in the indie/drama lane for a bit longer.
He has a texture to his performance that is rare. He feels like a throwback to the 70s, back when actors looked like real people and not AI-generated models. With his management team at Artists First steering the ship, I expect we’ll see him tackling more gritty, character-driven roles.
But don’t sleep on the music. Now that he has the platform of a blockbuster movie, his next album drop is going to be massive. He has the potential to be this generation’s Jamie Foxx—someone who is equally lethal with a script or a microphone.
Miles Caton isn’t just a “rising talent.” He’s a reminder that in a world of auto-tune and CGI, nothing beats raw, human ability. He put in the work, he respected the craft, and now, he’s taking the victory lap. I’ll be watching whatever he does next, and you should too.
FAQs – Miles Caton
How did Miles Caton’s viral performance as a child launch his acting career?
Miles Caton’s viral cover of Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good’ at age 12 showcased his raw talent and caught the attention of influential figures, including Jay-Z, which helped him transition from social media buzz to professional opportunities in music and acting.
What is the significance of Miles Caton’s family background in his development as a performer?
Miles comes from a deeply musical family, with his mother Timiney Figueroa and aunt Anaysha Figueroa-Cooper being gospel vocalists, providing him with intense vocal training and emotional projection from a young age.
Why did Ryan Coogler cast Miles Caton in ‘Sinners’ despite him being a novice actor?
Coogler cast Caton because he believed the actor’s natural authenticity and soulful presence were essential for the role, and Caton’s self-tape and chemistry with Michael B. Jordan proved he could embody the character convincingly.
How did Miles Caton prepare to act as a blues guitarist in ‘Sinners’?
Miles dedicated himself to learning blues guitar from scratch, practicing five to six hours daily for two months without hand doubles, demonstrating his commitment and passion for authentic performance.
Can Miles Caton successfully manage both his acting and music careers?
Yes, Miles balances his touring music career with acting, using his stage experience and adaptability gained from performing live to enhance his screen presence and songwriting, helping him avoid the common singer-actor curse.
