Review: "Misery" - Mikayla Menzies
- Alexa Leung
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Have you ever been sick while on a trip? It is perhaps one of the worst things that could happen while travelling– while you’re supposed to be having fun and enjoying the sights, you are instead struck by an illness that takes over your entire body, and all you can think about is how nice it felt while you were healthy. Mikayla Menzies’ latest single “Misery” navigates the complexities of feeling emotional and physical pain, and the painful road we drive toward healing. The track captures that complete trapped feeling we get during our lowest points in life, as if we have no escape from whatever ails our bodies and minds. But “Misery” has us nevertheless looking to the light, for those moments of solace that help us along to hope for the best.
If you love soft and emotional songs, then you are going to fall head over heels for “Misery”. I’m definitely one of them, and I absolutely adore how heartfelt every single piece of this track sounds. The soundscape is gorgeously rich, with moments of airy wandering that are mixed with tense times that have you feeling along with the narrator’s pain. The chorus and verses complement one another in a way that has the song sounding complete, whole. I especially loved the bridge, which takes on a slightly different tone than the rest of the track– with its heavier percussion, you can really feel the tension in the lyrics. Mikayla sings, “I just wanna go home” again and again, and I think the entire message hits harder when you learn that “Misery” was written after Mikayla’s road trip when she suffered from a mysterious illness. Caught in a whirlwind of confusion and aches, a lot of us can relate to the feeling of longing for not your destination, but your home after dealing with all the pain. If it’s not obvious enough already, “Misery” is a song with a message that I can’t get enough of– it’s got the perfect balance between a varied, dynamic soundscape that still maintains its core tone, while also having lyrics that can speak to a multitude of experiences. There’s something for everyone in “Misery”, especially if you’ve ever been on a sick-stricken road trip.
Based in Victoria, British Columbia, Mikayla Menzies is a singer-songwriter who creates music that expresses herself and heals the soul. She hails from the suburbs of Ottawa, Ontario, and her earlier years are marked by personal tragedy; she has taken these moments and channelled them into her writing, infusing her music with honesty and raw experience. Her music speaks to the lost, alone, and trapped, and it frees them in making them feel seen, offering hope and connection when faced with sorrow. Her debut single “Wildfire” released in 2018, and was followed by a number of other singles throughout the years since. “Misery” marks the beginning of Mikayla’s upcoming EP, which will further explore mental health, grief, and resilience– and all the things that make Mikayla’s music hers. To keep track of her EP, you should drop her a follow on any of her platforms, and of course enjoy the rest of her music while you’re at it!
Written By Alexa Leung
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