Aruna & The Sirens look out for women with their moving new single Have You Seen My Sister? — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
Responding to what the UN dubbed the Shadow Pandemic, the Bath, Ontario band have released an anthem calling attention to the global surge in gender-based violence. Have You Seen My Sister? starts strong with the powerhouse vocals of songwriter Aruna Antonella Handa and harmonies by bandmembers Alejandra Ballon, Caitlin Holland and Lindsay McDonald.
Handa’s vocals are reminiscent of Tracy Chapman and Janis Joplin, while the Sirens’ voices lift the sound with soaring harmonies. The band ask the listener to consider the relationship between a lack of power and disproportionate representation in incidents of violence. The song’s first line is a call to action: “Won’t you remind me to wonder who’s missing from the corridors of privilege?”
As the song transitions, the vocals and other instruments drop out, allowing the cello — played by Grammy nominee Dave Eggar — to take the spotlight, creating a sense of wind and motion. This shift in tone suits the lyrics of the final part of the track, as the song reminds listeners of the various roles women play in our lives and how profound that loss can be.
The track is a collaborative effort by artists from the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. In addition to Tennessee-based Eggar on cello, among the many guest artists are Ontario’s Doug Tielli on acoustic guitar and Bostonian Antje Duvekot providing further vocals. The band’s rhythm section features Raphael Roter on drums and Chris Adriaanse on upright bass.
The song dates back to 2020, when Handa read about the Shadow Pandemic, which has been fueled by increased alcohol consumption and people trapped in lockdown with their aggressors. She reached out to New York-based friend and producer David Seitz, whose credits include work with Moby, Pete Seeger and Bruce Springsteen. At that time, Handa and Seitz were working on the band’s debut record, and discussed the possibility of creating a socially distanced, collaborative recording.
Aruna & The Sirens are an acoustic band with original songs spanning genres including folk, classical and jazz. They have performed at clubs in Toronto and made appearances at festivals such as Nuit Blanche, Canadian Music Week and Open Tuning. They plan to release their first LP in the coming months.
Check out Have You Seen My Sister? above and below and get more informationm at Aruna & The Sirens’ website.
