By Juan Zambrano
Best Interests, the latest single from British Columbia’s Carmanah, is a melodic, alluring call to walk away from the industrial claustrophobia of the city into the freedom of nature.
A droning guitar opens Best Interests, painting a soundscape which echoes the regimented mundanity of industrial life. The listener’s date with mundanity is short lived, however, as the droning fades to the background and the guitars spread out, becoming livelier. A breezy atmosphere takes over as the instruments disperse, making way for the lyrics and a mysterious, alluring offer to leave the city behind.
This offer comes to the listener courtesy of Carmanah’s vocalist, Laura Mina Mitic, who vows to accompany the listener on this journey, assuring them she has their best interests in mind. With a soulful delivery which carries a seductive edge, Mitic ensures her offer is irresistible, quickly taking the listener’s hand and sending the soundscape into a slow building liftoff.
This liftoff is best represented through an instrumental solo, in which all the players come to life. The guitars show off a soulful sensibility, while drums pound to keep the beat and a xylophone invokes the whistling of birds. Mitic’s dulcet tones join the liftoff, employing a two-part harmony and making her words seem as though they are blowing and rising with the wind.
The final piece in this climax is lyrical, as the band muses on the reasons behind humanity’s possible desire to escape into nature. “Tired of playing games that keep you up into the night. Tired of playing nice when everybody thinks they’re right.” These are the last words Mitic sings before throwing all cares away in a swaying chant, echoing the droning bass line and re-contextualizing it into the rhythm of freedom and bliss.
As Mitic ends the song by chanting the chorus, “I’ve got your best interests in mind,” the listener is left with a feeling of peace and a desire to join in the liberating dance. If a song about embracing nature can leave the listener in such a head space, then it’s done its job with flying colours.
Best Interests is an advanced single released to promote Carmanah’s upcoming second album Iris, which will be released on June 12th. The track originated from a jam session, born from a guitar riff and nurtured by the careful ear of producers Gus Van Go and Werner F. Their combined effort resulted in a fun, breezy anthem. If this is any indication of the album’s quality, then Iris looks to be a must listen release in 2020.
