“Oh Canda! Our home and native land!” Ok, sorry, I just had to get that in there, as Ms. Miura hails from Canada. Ottawa to be exact…or is it Ontario? Oh well, both are listed on her website and it looks like she spends a fair amount of time in each place while occasionally jaunting down to the states for a gig or two. But that’s not what we’re here to talk about. We’re here to discuss Tenacious Heart, her debut EP. (We won’t count the 3 song demo released beforehand.)
Upon the first couple of listens to Tenacious Heart, I was immediately struck by Ana’s beautiful voice. She reminded me a bit of Leigh Nash, from Sixpence None the Richer and “Kiss Me” fame or maybe it was Sarah Bettens from K’s Choice. The opening track “Dragonfly” begins with a bouncy acoustic guitar and wastes no time in showcasing Miura’s vocals. Following “Dragonfly” is the ever so happy, “La Dee Da” with a chorus so annoying catchy that one can’t help but sing along. This tune also features a fiddle track that could have been played by Boyd Tinsley. (Dave Matthews Band) While all of the 6 songs are good, the standout number is the closer, “He Swallows Whiskey”, a tale of lost love that brings a tear to your eye with the opening verse bringing a vivid image to one’s mind:
He swallows whiskey
Puts his hand out on the table
Tells the bartender “I’ll have another”
And the lady next to him
Says, “We could try to make amends”
But he can’t hear her anymore.
Excuse me…let me grab a tissue. Here’s hoping that we hear more from Ana Miura in the near future. And if she keeps racking up award after award in her native land, I’m sure we will.
http://www.anamiura.com/
www.myspace.com/anamiura
About the author: Producer, Engineer, Musician and all around music enthusiast.