|
By: Adam Grant Click to listen to Dragonfly Click to listen to Swallows Whiskey 
When musicians decide to take their talents and use them for charitable causes, suspicion can be easily found by those who see such a move as one to help said musician sell records, or enhance their reputation. But in the case of Ottawa, Ontario singer/songwriter Ana Miura, her heart looks to be genuinely committed to the greater good of others. Back in 2003, Miura enlisted a flock of fellow female artists who would be interested in using their talents to sell people on some humanitarian spirit. After rounding up 4 other performers, the first ever Babes for Breasts breast cancer benefit show wound up raising $500 for Breast Cancer Action Ottawa. However, between 2003 and now, life would get busy for Miura, leaving her with very little time to organize such an event again. She was in school, raising a child, and released her 2005 disc, Tenacious Heart. But in 2006, Miura found out that the mother of one of her friend’s had passed away as a result of breast cancer, thus inspiring Babes for Breasts to make a return at the end of January 2007, to attempt to raise $4,000 for the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation’s “Well Women,” program, which is set up as a support group of sorts for those dealing with their breast cancer experiences. 
“It was about trying to give back to the community that was giving to me,” explains Miura. “I always feel a responsibility to people who need help – maybe that’s because I’m a psychology student and my dad’s a doctor, and my mom’s a nurse, and they both used to be missionaries – so I guess it’s in the blood. “There are so many people affected by cancer – especially women and breast cancer,” she continues. “1 in 3 women will get breast cancer, so back (in 2003) I really wanted to do something that connected with the community and I also wanted to do something that was for women, because I really wanted to narrate the bond women have together as sisters.” Aside from her charitable endeavours, Miura has also begun to receive some rather kind recognition of the music in which she has performed within events like Babes for Breasts. Perhaps best described as an acoustic folk act that wonderfully channels the emotion found within relationships and heartache, Miura was named Ottawa’s Best Singer/Songwriter of 2004/2005 by the Ottawa Xpress, has shared the stage with Canadian music songstress Sarah Harmer, and even took home the 2006 Songs from the Heart songwriter award, for the track “He Swallows Whisky.” Interestingly enough, this prize not only landed Miura $1,000, but also added confidence to not only tour more extensively, but to also feel more secure about continuing to pursue a career in music – and maybe most importantly, a new album come 2007.
“The turning point for me was winning the Songs from the Heart competition this fall,” concedes Miura. “Because every time someone asks me, ‘what do you want out of music, what would you want out of a music career?’ I say, ‘all I really want is for people to listen to my songs – I don’t really want fame – all that I really want is my peers to recognize me.’ “So when that happened, that blew my mind – I never, never expected to win that in a million years. It really allowed me to give myself permission to be a musician,” she adds. “(I’m left) thinking, maybe I can do this, maybe I do write pretty good songs, maybe the music resonates with people – maybe I can do this.” For more information on Ana Miura, please visit www.anamiura.com
|
