Over the course of three albums, Toronto’s Mia Sheard has seared herself into the consciousness of the Canadian music scene. She has been favourably compared to Mary Margaret O’Hara and Jane Siberry. The lyrics that defined her sophomore album Reptilian were provocative, insightful and witty - the words of a poet (Globe and Mail). Anemone is Mia’s latest CD, recorded at Toronto’s Chemical Sound, with co-producer Howard Redekopp (54.40). For this record, Mia brought her working band into the studio - and the results are evident with a more live-off-the-floor sound. “This album sounds like a band” says Sheard. “Having played with Chris, Dan and Ryan now for two years, I’ve had a chance to hear my songs develop over time. We arranged the songs as a group, and let them morph naturally. Like growing old, they change subtly over time, but you don’t see the lines that have developed unless you step away for a while.”
Check out Mia Sheard’s albums available for sale on CD Baby:
From the first notes of “Love Your Anemones”, and that very sexy sigh from special guest Ron Sexsmith, this album continues to highlight Mia’s exquisite voice and ‘piercing emotionality.’ Anemone confirms what many believed: Mia Sheard is ‘electrifying’ (NOW magazine) and a talent to be reckoned with.
“I love the word ‘anemone’. It contains more vowels than consonants. If you’re not sure how to say it, it almost sounds like ‘an enemy’ … In fact, an anemone is a sea animal made so perfectly it hasn’t had to change one bit in millions of years. And humans think they’re superior. Ha!”
Mia grew up in a musical family in Toronto. Singing since age 3, she was a member of the Jarvis Collegiate Chamber Choir, performing Benjamin Britten, Bach and Pergolesi at St. Martin’s in the Field and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, England. She studied singing at the Royal Conservatory of Music for three years, receiving Honours in Grade Nine Singing. This background, including her love of Joni Mitchell’s lyrical stylings, propelled her to write music of her own.
Mia firmly established herself with the release of Reptilian. That album gathered universal praise from critics, with the Globe and Mail calling it “the work of a true original”. Reptilian placed high among many year-end Top Ten polls – including those in the Globe and Mail and NOW magazine. Her riveting live performances landed her spots on CBC Radio’s This Morning, CTV’s Open Mike with Mike Bullard and TVO’s Studio 2. She has toured extensively across Canada, and is now establishing herself in the UK.
Keep an eye out for an exclusive interview with Mia Sheard right here on TransCanadaRadio!
0 Responses to “Mia Sheard in profile: Anemone”
Leave a Reply