Miura : wears her Tenacious Heart on her sleeve photo: Aaron McKenzie Fraser

"Originally the Dragonfly single was going to be an EP containing 10 tracks," says local folk musician Miura over camomile tea.

"They [all the songs] were all recorded on this digital box where we left them because it took too long to download them... While I was on vacation I was sitting in a small town somewhere in the U.S. and CNN was reporting that Canada was blacked out, and they weren't sure if it was a terrorist attack or what. So I called my mom who told me 'so-and-so called' [from the studio]. I called him and he says to me, 'Well, I have some good news and some bad news.' I'm like, 'Okay, give me the bad news.' 'Well, during the blackout we've lost almost everything.'"

What was saved, she says with a sigh, were the three tracks that made it onto the Dragonfly single released in 2003.

Though Miura says she believes we choose our own paths, with so many positive things recently occurring, she admits she can't help feeling that this couldn't have just "happened" to anyone.

I hadn't spoken with Miura in a year. On the verge of her biggest gig to date-opening for Sarah Harmer at the Ottawa Folk Festival-and on the eve of releasing her new EP Tenacious Heart, I wanted to catch up with her and find out about her past "fated" year.

The last time we spoke, she was a bundle of nerves, waiting anxiously for the judges' decision on who would win CBC Galaxy's New Performer category for the 2004 Ottawa Folk Festival. She was nervous because, after having a son and switching from music to mom, at that point she had been out of practice for three years.

Fate dealt her another blow-she didn't win, but that was to be the last setback.

In the past year Miura has performed at the Ottawa Folk Festival, won XPress' Best Singer/Songwriter award for 2004, and was asked by Tulip Fest organizers to open for Sarah Harmer, one of her favourite musicians. And Tenacious Heart, a reworking of songs from Dragonfly including some new material on which Miura's vocals dance along with her gentle guitar playing, is out on June 24.

"I think sometimes that I should maybe write a song that really says something like, 'Don't cut down the trees man,' you know, but whenever I write a song all that comes out is mush, love stuff, relationships and finding yourself...songs that are universal.

"I remember watching a Sting interview once and he said, 'You have to write about love. Anything else is just journalism.' That's pretty harsh, but I guess if you're Sting you can say that."

Miura can't, at least not yet, but she's someone whose stubborn presence among the rising group of Canadian alt-country/folk musicians shouldn't be underestimated. The CD release party for Tenacious Heart is on Friday June 24 at Zaphod's.

ANA MIURA
W/ NATHAN WILEY, JEREMY FISHER,
SARAH HARMER
SATURDAY MAY 21, 6 P.M., $15
MAJOR'S HILL PARK

 
 

		Write your comment on this article!

Ana: You need your propers     As a person who has been on the Ottawa scene for almost ten years, I have seen many singer/songwriters pass through this town; from local to international. I am also entering my last year in one of Canada's top university music programs. I have played hundreds of performances, seen hundreds of artits, and much much more. In short, I know intelligent, well crafted music when I hear it. On that subject, I first met Ana in April of 2003 at Cafe Dekcuf, the favorite open mic hangout for people on the local scene. To be honest, when I first saw her, I expected her to be a typical 'girl with a guitar' folk rocker. 30 seconds into her first song, she had won me over completely. Her guitar playing was what hit me first, her immaculate voice next, and her raw talent and energy third. I continued to be dazzled by her, so much so that the club owner and I agreed that she had to open our show. Not only is a Ana exceptionally talented, but she is a kind, intelligent and exceptionally strong person. She balances being a worker, a mother, and an artist with a great deal of grace. As far as Ana winning the title of bets singer/songwriter in Ottawa, she thoroughly deserves it. Her songs are intelligent and powerful, and her talent is undeniable. On top of that, it takes more than a few freinds and family members to win this title, it takes a legion of dedicated fans, which Ana has built over the course of her career. Ana is one of two people i can think of who draw you in to her performance. Her performance at the Tulip festival was in front of a sizeable crowd in a huge feild, and yet by the end of it, you felt as if you were watching one of your old freinds play guitar on their couch. She draws you in, makes you feel like a part of the show. The only other person I have seen do this is John Mayer. On behalf of all of us who love Ana and feel she deserves every accolade she recieves, get to know Ana as a person and an artist, and you will change your mind.
Erik Kristjansson	{3 votes}	May 31st, 2005
Sucking and Blowing     With a healthy nod to George C. Scott for inspiration, I think I just may manage to irk everyone without appeasing a soul (there, I CAN suck and blow at the same time, thank you very much P.E.Truedeau). I find it difficult, arbitrary and frankly pointless to define anything artistic as being 'the best', or 'the worst'. Art, and life for that matter, is a spectacularly subjective experience, and it is high time that we start acknowledging this, and deemphasizing awards shows such as the Junos or the Oscars. It isn't even worth debating whether Ana Miura is 'the best songwriter' that Ottawa has to offer. I'm not even sure I know what constitutes Ottawa anymore, so god help me if I can judge who is the best songwriter in this city. It seems like people are more ticked at Ana, not on an artistic level, but because she aggressively promotes herself. Is this such a bad thing? Is this somehow worse than every other musician who gets an agent, a manager and a promoter to do this for them? Am I using too many rhetorical questions? So, if Ana spearheaded much of her success and media attention because she is a good self-marketer, at least she managed to spread her art to a broader audience. Kudos to her for pursuing her dreams, and having the tenacity (no pun intended) to keep at it after motherhood. Even though I won't be rushing out to buy her album, she's a musician with a strong sense of artistic integrity, and one that I enjoyed sharing a stage with.
Nathan Hunter	{13 votes}	May 26th, 2005
Sorry to be mean but     As an out of towner who visits Ottawa regularily from my musically sterile town (let's just say my husband and I live at the periphery of the GTA, near 80 strip malls), I have seen some really amazing local performers - Ottawa is trully a secret hive of under-exposed talent. Honestly, I just don't get how Ana was voted the number one singer songwriter. I caught her show yesterday evening and sure, she oozes confidence and has quite a pretty voice, but best songwriter!? I just don't get it. I really just don't get it. Sorry Ana, you will probably read this and I don't want to be mean because your lyrics sound very personal and you should obviously follow your passions. The truth is we've seen much better things in O-town, of many genres, including 'folky female with guitar' genre. How the heck does the x-press voting machine operate? Is it that whoever has the most co-workers, boyfriends, largest family (ie. fans by default, not by experience of the music scene) write in to vote wins? Something smells fishy and it's too bad becuase there are other performers who deserve the coverage, promotion and opportunities which (ahem) "winning" this vote affords.
Gillian Webster	{12 votes}	May 22nd, 2005
Proud Citizen     The very first time I heard Ana Miura sing was at Cafe dekcuff. Within minutes of hearing her first song I was totally blown away. Her beautiful calming voice and her exceptional guitar playing left me speechless. I couldn't wait to get my hands on one of her CDs. When I approached her to purchase one of her demos, I found her to be extremely friendly and modest. Next thing I knew, we were chatting away about everything and anything. She is so down to earth that it fealt like we were old friends catching up on old times. As a Canadian, I would take great pride in seeing this Ottawa born artist rise to stardom. Talent like her's should not go to waste.
Elisabeth Von Teichman		June 3rd, 2005
Re: Sorry to be mean but (Gillian Webster)     You do bring up good points about Ottawa being a secret hive of under=exposed talent, and therein lies the problem with voting for best songwriter (let alone any other category) of the year winners. There isn't enough exposure for far too many bands, artists singer-songrwriter types and MANY others. And THAT brings up a major problem with the voting system. How can people vote for someone they've never heard of, let alone have all the winning votes if only a handful of people have heard of said artist. To be honest I hadn't heard of Ana Miura before reading this article, so for me it would have been hard to vote for Ana if the question came to me. So unless more artists get the proper exposure that they need and deserve, winning artists will always be questiond by people who've heard better or whatever the situation may be.
Jeremy King		May 30th, 2005
The proof is in the pudding     It seems as though everywhere you turn these days one name is on the tongues of local music aficianados-Ana Miura. Her meteoric rise to stardom vis-a -vis the Ottawa xpress starmaking machinery is no fluke.With masterful pieces like la de da,shemakes me wonder why Burt doesnt have his name legally changes to Hackerach.When I first saw Ms Miura at the elbow room some three odd years ago,noone knew her from a hole in the donut. Now look and behold a new star has risen on the horizon of the Ottawa scene and soon the entire night sky will be illumnated by this tulip of a womans sensual singing and crafty lyrics.There is a reason why I can't put out an insurance pitch without uncontrollably watching the conversation turn towards one thing-Ana Miura.If shes not sipping margheritas on a sunny beach somewhere and hob nobbing with the likes of Brian Adams, Shania Lavigne, and Kelly Clarkson by years end,I will eat my own stetson.Goodgoing Ana.
Chip Farmingdale	{1 vote}	May 27th, 2005
The Evolution and Progression of a Musician     It has been a sincere pleasure to have watched the growth of Ana Miura's musicanship and guitaring capability for the last few years. From the timid guitarist at the Elbow Room accompanying another female singer to seeing her performance at this year's Tulip Festival, her evolution as a musician should be an inspiration to others. She has learned different chord phrasings, she has learned the structure of songs and like all vocalists, she is constantly learning how to sing. These things are not easy and it is very time-consuming but I am positive that she is playing music not for conceit or for the attention but because she just loves playing and creating something that she feels inside. Ana does not have an ego (if anything she is too humble about her ability) and I would never describe her as a "prima donna". In the music world filled with Britneys and Jessicas, we should embrace those that struggle with life, family, school, work and honest songwriting instead of putting them down. Whether you like or dislike Ana's music is really not the point. Music is art and art is subjective.
K I	{1 vote}	May 26th, 2005
Set a goal     What a great story! Ana worked hard for what she believed in...It should inspire all of us as well. If we're patient enough, our dreams will come true, we'll be able to make them happen...When I read great life experience like Ana's it makes me realize more and more that we can get whatever we set our mind on getting...
Lise Auger	{18 votes}	May 20th, 2005
How outrageous!     Just who out there voted in this 'best songwriter', with no recordings to her credit, a mere year or so of coffeehouse gigs, along with 'best sub', 'best pizza', 'best plumbing service'? Methinks a vast and agressive marketing blitz does nothing to convince us that this prima donna is in the same category as the real artists out there who have been producing fine music for years, quietly, humbly, and with integrity.
Billy Bixton	{11 votes}	May 20th, 2005
Ana rocks!     It's sweet to see Ms. Miura getting the attention she deserves. I've seen her play acouple times in acouple different places, and each time I was blown away. I've even seen her set sabotaged by another musician, and still she blew me away. She's pretty much the hotter, female equivalent of Rambo. But I ask: Where the hell's the bandana and the missile arrows? Those things are cool. You haven't seen stage presence till you've seen bandanas and missile arrows. One thing I noticed about the picture above is that Ana's holding a tulip. Isn't it illegal to pick the tulips? I surely hope that tulip was purchased at Loblaws. I've citizens' arrested people before for less, so if I were you Ana I'd steer clear of my devoted group of unemployed impoverished bounty hunters. They're hungery for some crappy reality show on Rodgers. So what's up with the front cover of the Xpress? If I wanted to see more Star Wars crap I would look at a Pepsi ad. I don't think I'm alone when I say that I would have been much more pleased to see Ms. Miura on the front cover. I swear, when aliens come to our planet and have to make up their minds as to whether they're going to kill us all or give us all nicely tanned supple bodies, they'll look at what's hot in pop culture, like Crap Wars, and totally enslave us all. There is only one woman who will save us... Ana Miura.
Steve Bragg	{6 votes}	May 19th, 2005
Impressive     I saw Ana play last fall. i had only just heard she won some category in the Xpress magazine. so , i went to see for myself. it was surprisingly good. If you like a soft, steady voice to delivering non-feminist folk music...ana will deliver. I hope things go well for her because she has everything required to make it. She's kinda likethe soft side of Nelly Furtado, but grass roots of a Shania Twain. Good luck, Ana.
Ger Madden	{6 votes}	May 19th, 2005

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