Miranda Joan
Miranda Joan has just released her newest single ‘Overstimulated” and it’s exactly the type of songs I needed to hear. I needed a good r&b/soulful record and Miranda definitely delivered the perfect record with “Overstimulated”. It’s brilliant, refreshing and fun. Her vocals are mesmerizing and the melodies are timeless. ”Overstimulated” deserves a lot of love so make sure to go stream it and share it with your friends !
“Overstimulated” is now available !
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
Hello Better readers! I’m Miranda Joan and I’m a Canadian singer-songwriter from Montréal based in Brooklyn. My story in music started as many 90’s kids did, with the Backstreet Boys, and has recently culminated in this new single that embodies some of that early 2000’s sound. Somewhere between these two key points in my artistic evolution was music school, a move to New York City where I now live and create, and the release of a couple albums.
What did you grow up listening to?
As I mentioned, 90’s boybands and girlbands were a fixture of my childhood. That evolved in high school to include a lot of classic soul and R&B as well as more pop leaning contemporary R&B singers of the time. And then it was on to University where I studied jazz and had my world deepened as well as my ears opened to a different approach to music.
When did you know you could sing?
According to my family I was always making noise and singing around the house and in the car. However, I don’t think I realized that it was something I could pursue, even just as a passions at the time, until around middle school. Then in high school I became involved in everything I could get my hands on, from musicals to jazz band and beyond.
Growing up, what were your favorite songs to sing along to?
To the aforementioned list of artists I have to add all the classic Disney movies. I had the sing-a-long tapes on VHS!
What made you want to become an artist and release your original music? What was the biggest struggle when you first started?
What pushed me towards pursuing a career as an original artist was the bent I had for writing. Songwriting was a way to cope, to express myself, to release, and that was the most significant force pushing me towards my artist career. One of the biggest struggles continues to be releasing. It’s an arduous undertaking and requires a lot of mustering to get things to the finish line. And because I write most about my personal life, it is a vulnerable experience for a covert-introvert such as myself to put my stories into the world. It’s hard to let go of the outcome and that continues to be an ever-evolving journey.
Who was the first person to ever believe in you?
My family! My mum, my dad and my brother. From day one. I am infinitely grateful. I'm not sure how far along I'd be in any of this if it wasn't for their love and support.
"Overstimulated" is your latest single - what's the inspiration behind this song?
I wrote this song when the doors to life had just reopened post-lockdown and I was, as I’m sure many of us were, ready to erupt. It was summer in New York City, I had just returned from nine months in Vancouver, and it was hot. We’re talking sweat dripping down the small of your back, sleeping on top of the sheets, too-hot-to-think kind of heat. In what felt like a blink of an eye, everything opened up and here we were, hermited heathens, given keys to the city. The energy was intense and, having spent so much time in isolation, when things finally came back and we were able to socialize again, I was overcome with urgency. I wanted to do it all, I wanted contact, I wanted to be around people, I wanted to be seen, I wanted to feel. I was vibrating and it was as overwhelming as it was exciting. Overstimulated is about the exhilarating part of reaching out and feeling it all again.
Could you describe the songwriting/production process for this single? Who helped you create it?
It was early in the evening on a Friday night last summer in Brooklyn. I remember it clearly, sitting in my friends apartment that I was subletting having just got back to the city after a long period of isolation and lockdown, and I wrote the melody and lyrics. I brought the song to CARRTOONS who produced it in his studio in upstate New York, and later added additional synths that were recorded by Jake Sherman at his studio in Brooklyn.
What did you feel when writing this song?
I remember feeling wide awake. And so was everybody else. The city was vibrating, electric with anticipation, as we were all on our own journeys of rediscovering what it felt like to be together again; to see and be seen.
What made you want to release "Overstimulated" as a single?
I felt the music was strong, I loved this energy as the first introduction to the latest body of work, and I think it scratches sonically that early 2000s itch that was so influential to my initial tastes in music.
What can you tell us about your upcoming album?
This single is the title track off my upcoming album “Overstimulated” which is sort of a glimpse into the corners of my mind and the many winding places it goes. “Overstimulated” explores the fullest sense of the word. From a joke turned obsession with a WWE wrestler to a romance in space, a love song to caffeine and the fantasies of intimacy with a stranger, the loss of an old friend and the promise of new love, “Overstimulated” is what happens when there’s nothing to do and only time to think. So stay tuned :)
As an artist, what is the hardest part? And what is the best part?
The hardest part of being an artist in my experience is the unpredictability of any one person’s career. There is no “A” leads to “B” leads to “C”, it is different for every person. We can certainly learn from each other, but how one person found success and built their career can be entirely different from the next, and there is very little mentorship emotionally and support mentally to help artists navigate the business and its tumultuous nature.
The best part is perhaps that same unpredictability because truly everything can change in a moment. It seems most often to be the accumulation of moments that ultimately propels us forward in our careers, but the fact that things can change drastically from one day to the next keeps the adventure of it all very real. And with that has also come the best people. My fellow community of artists and musicians has been the most incredible gift.
How's it like to be a woman in the music industry? What message would you like to give to women out there?
It has its specific challenges, navigating a male-dominated industry, and coming up in the time of social media where it feels as though we are asked to make public all facets of our lives for anybody and everybody to voice opinions on. I think I’d like to share some encouragement with whoever might need it. It’s hard to put yourself out there but if you know who you are and what you want to say you can't let fear get in the way of sharing your voice and your art. If you are speaking your truth and doing your best work, nobody can take that away from you. You have to care about what it is you are doing or trying to do before anyone else will; it’s easier said than done but you really do have to be your biggest believer. It’s what draws me back to the art, that part of me that needs to do it, that can’t help it.
What are your thoughts on today's music industry? If you could change one thing, what would it be?
I'm no expert, but it does seem that there is a heightened emphasis on virality and pining after viral moments. I'm not sure how conducive that's been to great art as much as it has been a distraction, at least I'll speak for myself. So I guess if I could change one thing, I'd change the priority we place on numbers, as in social media or streaming metrics, and what they mean and instead see things move towards an enjoyment of music based on the contents of the art; the actual music. Numbers can be a a big gatekeeper in today's industry, so I'm particularly grateful to those who really take the time to listen with their ears more than their eyes.
What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
I’d say it’s this one right here. In the continued act of showing up, I am most proud of myself. At the moment, I am a one-woman show. It’s an incredibly exciting life and it can also kick my ass, but I keep showing up to bat. I’m proud of that.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
I’m not sure I have the answer to this one!!! But I’m inclined to say more love and more listening.
What biggest life lessons have you learned so far?
Another tough one! There have been a lot of lessons, and often hard-learned… In my life thus far, time and patience have proven to be a friend. And I have benefited greatly as an artist and individual from both those things paired with a lot of hard work. I’ve learned it takes time to make something beautiful. In life and in love, I’m still building, I’m still trying to build, and if I’m lucky I’ll get to spend the rest of my days in pursuit of beautiful creations. We shall see!
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