Canadian singer-songwriter Miranda Joan has just unleashed her long-awaited sophomore album Overstimulated. Collaborating with producer CARRTOONS, the multi-genre journey of sound is a self described "existential rollercoaster ride" with stories of pain, loss, joy, healing, romance, gratitude and more. The album is a collection of eleven songs, each highlighting an overdrive of emotions referencing the word overstimulated. Penned during the time of lockdown and into life reopening, Overstimulated is an engaging body of work that shows the depth of Miranda Joan's soul, with songs that are relatable and important.
The album begins with "Circle", a seductive nostalgic-drenched soul gem highlighting spoken word and Miranda's enveloping vocals. The track is a meditative contemplation on moving on from the dissonant corners of the mind, finding space in stillness and introspection. Then there is "Overstimulated", a supple and electrifying banger detailing the need for connection after a period of isolation. Funky basslines and smoky vocals sing lyrics of urgency and yearning, "Late night / Bright light / Call me on your phone / You are something shiny like a disco ball / If you want to get a little overstimulated with me." Miranda is willing and ready to get back out there and embrace romance and connection.
With "Zero Gravity", the celebrated songwriter taps into soulful Jazz. Her own intergalactic masterpiece, Miranda collaborates with her favorite musicians including Tim Smith on drums, Sly5thAve on woodwinds, Randy Runyon on guitar CARRTOONS on bass. The track is the ultimate cinematic and otherworldly musical escape. Miranda sings "I could be an astronaut / I could be among the stars / I could be an alien", sharing her own wild imagination to listeners. On her double single "Coffee / Too Much", Miranda Joan writes a song all about her own vices. From coffee to a lust that won't stop, the double track is all about overindulgence and how it can take many forms. Sweetly rich vocals and infectious melodies are set against groove-induced soundscapes for an enjoyable earworm.
Perhaps the most inventive song on the album is "Bada Bing!", featuring producer and musician CARRTOONS. The track is a bouncy alt R&B masterpiece filled with a smooth pop laden hook, Motown influenced vocals and an enthralling musical collision rarely heard in music today. Funk, pop, R&B, soul, rock, and more are all fused together for an alluring and ravishing sonic palette. Miranda Joan ends her album with the soft adult contemporary single "Kiss A Stranger". Layered strings overlay a sky-soaring chorus full of velvety vocals. Her vulnerability is on full display as she grapples with loneliness post breakup. That authenticity and raw emotion is what makes Miranda Joan so deeply engaging and a welcome listener for any music fan.
Miranda Joan began sharing music in 2017. Born in Montreal, raised in Vancouver and now residing in New York, the prolific singer has shared the stage with icons including Lorde, Shawn Mendes and The Killers to name a few. With Overstimulated, Miranda Joan proves she is one of the most exciting voices in music today.
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