Tara Van – “MILES ON IT”

Toronto soul artist Tara Van released her four-track EP, Miles On It, and it’s my favorite of the week. Recorded at Apt Sea Sound in Toronto with producer Mark Calderone, the music draws from vintage soul, jazz, blues, and neo-soul, pulling inspiration from legendary performers like Etta James and Ella Fitzgerald.

The tracklist features the title song “Miles On It” running three minutes and eighteen seconds, “I’m A Vine” at three minutes and fifty seconds, “Moving Picture Show” at two minutes and forty-six seconds, and the bonus live studio demo “Take Your Light Down” at three minutes and twenty-one seconds. Out of those four, my two personal favorites are “I’m A Vine” and “Moving Picture Show”. “I’m A Vine” brings in horn player Tom Moffett and bass player Alex St Kitts to add rich instrumental depth. “Moving Picture Show” grew out of the Toronto International Film Festival and honors her grandfather, who is a living founder of the festival, with writing assistance from Dan Dwoskin.

The closing track, “Take Your Light Down”, is a raw, one-take studio recording featuring just vocals and guitar. Overall, the songs focus on resilience, hope, and holding onto what matters during turbulent times. You can follow Tara Van on social media to stay updated on her new music releases this year.