Kari Lyn explores the duality of comfort and grief in her new single Anyways — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
With countrified guitar, soothing harmonies, and her straightforward vocal delivery, Anyways deals with the unexpected death of Toronto folk-rock singer-songwriter’s father in 2017 when she was living in Australia, halfway around the world from her native P.E.I.
“Taking that 30-hour flight home was the hardest thing I’ve ever been through,” she says, “but when I returned home, the biggest thing anyone said was how proud my father was about my traveling and the fact that I was following my dreams.”
One of her favourite memories is of dancing with her father to It’s Your Love by Tim McGraw. “He would pick me up and spin me around in the living room, which sparked the beginning of my love of music,” she recalls. “You can hear the inspirations from that song in Anyways.”
“The radio turns to our favourite song
And I’ll find a dime just to lead me along
I know you’re right there with me
I hear your voice within me
I feel the love reach from the tune
In my heart we spin around the room
Like the way we used to do.”
“Dimes, to some, represent that someone is watching out for you above and that you are on the right path,” Kari Lyn explains. “That is where the line in the bridge, ‘I’ll find a dime just to lead me along,’ comes from. I’ve found dimes in the most random places, when I’m going through the toughest times and it always gives me comfort.”
Kari Lyn has spent her whole life surrounded by music and storytelling. Growing up in North Rustico, P.E.I., listening to the Saturday Night Hoedown on the radio, and stories told by her “P.E.I.-famous” grandfather Tommy Gallant, she was constantly inspired to share her truth through her lyrics. At 19 years old, she left home for a trip to Thailand, resulting in almost five years of travel, getting out of her comfort zone, and experiencing everything from scuba diving and climbing active volcanoes to learning new languages and cultural traditions.
Inspired by these travels, she returned to P.E.I. and wrote and released her debut album Hit The Ground, which was nominated for Rock Album of the Year at the 2020 Music PEI awards. Check out Anyways above, hear more from Kari Lyn below, and try to keep up with her on her website, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
