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On the phone earlier this month, Laura Mina Mitic’s was feeling good. She did not know at the time that disaster was about to strike.

The singer, who goes by her stage name MIINA and previously fronted the Shawnigan Lake-based band Carmanah, is in Guelph when we talk, having just kicked off the Ontario leg of her Canadian tour. 

“It was a great reception; I’ve never played in Guelph before, and so it was cool seeing the community in the downtown core,” MIINA says of playing Sonic Hall. “It was a beautiful venue; everyone was super friendly and lovely, and they seemed to really enjoy themselves.”

Unfortunately, a few tour stops later, the vegetable oil-fuelled bus that the singer and her husband (also a musician and formerly a member of Carmanah) built broke down about halfway through the trip. That led to the postponement of shows in Saskatoon, Medicine Hat, and Fernie. It was but a temporary bump in the road in the tour—MIINA and team are happy to report that the bus is back up and running and headed toward home. 

Thankfully, the bus made it through Ontario, where MIINA played to sold-out crowds in places like Ottawa and Burnstown, and the musician is set to perform at the Biltmore Cabaret on April 25. 

“Considering this is my first tour as MIINA, just to see that people are familiar with me and coming out and supporting this project, it feels really lovely,” she says. “But you know, even if just 10 people show up in the community, in this day and age ticket sales are notoriously challenging and so for people to leave the comfort of their homes and spend their time with me, I’m honoured. Touring is a really special things that I get to do.”

MIINA released her debut feature album, Where The Light Goes, last month. It’s a dreamy, sunlit effort imbued with elements of pop, folk, and rock. The album was produced by a who’s who of Canadian indie producers, including Howard Redekopp, Erik P.H. Nielsen, and Gus Van Go, who have collectively worked with names like Tegan and Sara, Mother Mother, The Beaches, Metric, and City and Colour.

“Releasing an album is a bit daunting,” says MIINA. “But this tour has been so lovely see people coming out and telling me they are enjoying the new music and are excited to buy the vinyl. And seeing some really nice responses from radio stations. But it’s tough, especially as an indie artist who isn’t massively known. Sometimes you’re just shouting into a bit of a void, just hoping that someone will listen.”

Standouts on the album include songs like the Waxahatchee-like “Bridge on Fire” and the subtly groovy “Worry”. The keyboard elements of the latter track are especially important to MIINA.

“This is the first time I’m playing the keys on stage in my career,” says MIINA, noting that usually another band member does that duty but she is on parental leave. “So there are a couple of songs, like ‘Worry’, where I’m putting the guitar down and playing the keys, and it feels exciting and new to be sharing a song where I’m on the keys.” 

MIINA still lives on the Island, but she’s familiar with the Biltmore and is excited to return to its stage.

“I love that space; it’s a great room,” she says. “I think that if I lived in Vancouver I would enjoy going to shows there, so that’s always a good sign.”

MIINA plays the Biltmore Cabaret with opener Alexandria Maillot on April 25. Tickets here.