Hotel Mira is an amazing band, and here’s why:
You may or may not have already read my article on The Zolas, a local alternative/indie band who have been making some serious waves in the Canadian music scene. This article also serves as a feature on a local alternative/indie band, whose following is a little smaller, but I have a feeling that won’t be the case for long.
Please allow me to introduce: Hotel Mira.
You might know them by their old name, JPNSGIRLS. An iteration of the band carved out their place in the Vancouver indie scene from 2010 to 2016 under this name, and even scored a nomination for a Sirius XM Independent Music Award.
But after some personnel shuffling, a name change was in order and Hotel Mira as you and I now know it was born!
If I can get personal with my feelings toward Hotel Mira for a moment, I think this band is ridiculously, absurdly good. Musically, lyrically, production-wise… it’s all spot-on.
My favourite tune of theirs has to be ‘Better on Your Own’. The song is three minutes of groveling at the feet of an ex-partner. It’s an admission of obsession. Frontman and sole lyricist Charlie Kerr made that very obvious with this line in verse two:
Screaming, “Yes! I’m obsessed!” / You are everything I wanted and more / Start a cult, and I’ll join / ‘Cause I’m yours, I’m yours, I am yours.
But it’s backed by this playful, almost percussive melody in a major key.
This is a band that takes risks in the name of perking your ears up. Sounding interesting. Giving life to feelings that are embarrassing but ubiquitous and relatable, even if we don’t want to admit it. It’s inarguably a fresh take.
If you’d like to experience this one-of-a-kind act in person, Hotel Mira is touring with The Zolas right now! They come to Vancouver next Friday at the Vogue Theatre, and you can snag a ticket to that show right here.
If you make a sign with their lyrics on it, Charlie Kerr might even grab it from you and brandish it onstage. It seems like a thing he might do.