We Speak Indie Artist
Bella Shields Finds Power In An Overlooked Story On “The Art of Letting Go”
Some songs leave their mark because of what they choose to talk about. Bella Shields’ latest single, “The Art of Letting Go”, out now via Now Listen, stands apart by exploring a type of loss that rarely takes centre stage.
Across the track, the attention stays on the gradual distance that can grow between people. It’s not driven by arguments or clear endings. Relationships can shift for reasons that are difficult to explain, and the song captures that uncertainty without trying to reduce it to a single message.
That choice gives the release a refreshing perspective. The lyrics leave room for different interpretations, whether someone hears it through the lens of friendship, family or another close relationship. By avoiding rigid storytelling, the song becomes surprisingly adaptable to different experiences.
Shields also delves into the pressure people can place on themselves to become someone new, adding another layer without pulling the song away from its central idea. The result is a release that invites reflection long after it finishes.
With only two official singles available, Bella Shields is already showing an instinct for subjects that sit outside the usual romantic storyline. “The Art of Letting Go” works because it trusts its audience to bring their own experiences to the music, giving the song a lasting quality that extends well beyond its closing chorus.
Plain Mister Smith returns with Bric-À-Brac Attack, a beautifully offbeat collection of indie-folk, pop and atmospheric songwriting. Released via Amelia Records, the album finds the Vancouver and London-based multi-hyphenate turning fragments of memory, relationships and everyday absurdity into something quietly cinematic.
At its centre is “Grindavik”, a shimmering, reflective track inspired by the Icelandic town shaped by recent volcanic activity. Bright acoustic guitars and steady drums carry a constantly shifting chord progression, mirroring the song’s central metaphor of a relationship under pressure and the hope that its fissures can eventually heal. Featuring Jordan Klassen and Kitt, the track captures the emotional tension that runs throughout the album.
Elsewhere, Bric-À-Brac Attack moves effortlessly between playful guitar-driven moments, lush arrangements and more introspective passages. “Miss Sunshine” brings infectious energy, while collaborations with Findlay Brown, Leeroy Stagger, Krystle Dos Santos and Tyson Mostenbocher add colour to an already eclectic record.
Former guitarist of Canadian darkwave band Moev and a cellist with the Vancouver Philharmonic Orchestra, Plain Mister Smith brings an unusually broad musical perspective to his songwriting. Yet Bric-a-Brac attack never feels overly calculated. Instead, it has the charm of something discovered rather than constructed.
Warm, strange, melodic and emotionally searching, Bric-À-Brac Attack is a record that rewards getting lost in its details. Plain Mister Smith may remain deliberately mysterious, but the music itself speaks with remarkable clarity.
Photo credit: Sandra Lockwood
-
We Speak Entertainment1 week agoE-Dee’s Young Legend Delivers 14 Tracks of Dancehall Energy and Global Ambition
-
We Speak Events4 days agoWonderama Wonder Games Take Over Times Square With Music, Games, Esports and a Full Day of Family Fun
-
We Speak Music6 days agoSiren Call Reveals New Single ‘Hello Stranger’
-
We Speak Indie Artist6 days agoPlain Mister Smith Pieces Together a World of Sound on Bric-À-Brac Attack