Is she jazz with a dose of pop? Is she pop, with a smattering of jazz? While it's not one of the world's most perplexing conundrums such as the chicken-or-the egg mystery, yours truly has no intention of deliberating or debating to any great extent. But no matter how you perceive her truly remarkable sound, Elysia Biro (pronounced eh-LEE- sha BEE-row) is easily one of Canada's most engaging new rising sounds and her new EP is confirmation of that.
The Vancouver Island singer/songwriter/ classically trained pianist is celebrating the arrival of her debut project with this spring's release of Running From Nothing, containing five songs that Biro describes as 'small truths revealing themselves'. She writes expressively, performs passionately, and takes the listener into very deep parts of her life that otherwise might be off limits if it weren't for her musical success. The 26 year old delivers an indisputable signature style, sound and voice with lyrics very thoughtfully written with warmth and honesty. “Just Wait A Minute” proved to be the coming out introductory release from Running From Nothing, blending a laidback jazz-leaning arrangement with a sweet vocal delivery, which I found to contain some Norah Jones nuances. In fact, the rising star, Biro, lists Jones as among her greatest influences, along with icons, Joni Mitchell, Oscar Peterson and Ella Fitzgerald. Leaning into the mainstream sound, “Gentleman Blue” demonstrates her versatility and depth of talent with a stylish beat, unfettered optimism and reflective writing. During a visit to Wave 98.3 earlier this year, Biro explained that the song was written after a birthday outing last year with her mom and close friends. She was able to break the habit of questioning her accomplishments amid concerns about growing older, concluding that aging is a privilege and that she should embrace that inevitability all of us face.
Biro is breathy, and simply breathtaking, on “Wish I Were Better”, a very moving and heartfelt song about love loss, pain and reflection which she penned on an upright piano on Vancouver Island. The song was recorded in Los Angeles with violin, synthesizer, grand piano and alto sax, and sung with raw emotion. She adds, “I was processing some difficult parts of my past and as soon as the melody came to me, the words ‘I wish I were better’ just fell out and the rest of the lyrics came so easily”. The EP's title song melds Biro's polished vocals into a mid-tempo jazz/pop melange and certainly should strike a universal chord, pun intended, of managing fears and anxieties and putting those seemingly gargantuan-sized perceived problems into perspective; overthinking or overdramatizing them literally has people 'running from nothing' in the grand scheme of things. Seems Biro is not only a genuinely talented songwriter but a musical therapist who is open to sharing her personal stories with fans. Biro again touches on the subject of romantic reality on “Fool's Gold”, concluding how outward appearances are often misleading and how we should see past them. Here, she melds her honest and sincere vocals with gentle piano backing on this jazz influenced track.
Running From Nothing is more than a breakout release from the rising Canadian talent, but rather a statement release. A statement that Biro is just embarking on a music career that has the potential to reach unlimited heights based on her ability to truly connect and engage with the listener through her brilliantly written music. It's that type of musicianship that has resonated with global audiences that include sold out performances in the UK last year and appearances at venues and festivals across Canada, the US, and UK this year. It's only the beginning, and if there are more personal memories to share musically, there will be contingents of fans everywhere ready and running to welcome it.
Reviewed by Stu Berketo