photo courtesy of Cameron Carpenter
Single Review of Siobhan Bodrug: “Monster”
Toronto’s acclaimed rising star Siobhan Bodrug showcases her powerful vocals on the deep, dark, torchy “Monster.”
Indeed the topic of the song is heavy. Bodrug is quoted as explaining in her press release that “‘Monster’ tells the story of a toxic, complicated relationship. It deals with the mental torment of hiding behind an innocuous facade versus meeting the person head on. ‘One minute it’s love, the next it’s fire… Is it a cover for something? Or just the cold hard truth?’ The chorus ends with the most difficult question of all – as a child dealing with an adult situation – ‘will the monster take away my youth?’ The story however, takes an unexpected turn of self-realization in the bridge – ‘you’re a beast, you’re a beauty, and I’m just like you’.”
image courtesy of Cameron Carpenter
See, I told you it was deep. And dark. And heavy.
The song itself starts with a slow organ fade-in and Bodrug’s old-fashioned smoky jazz joint wails before adding other musical elements. Her voice sounds truly anguished but in a beautifully engaging way. It soars, and oh wow, some of the notes she hits! Then there’s the bridge and chorus. A powerfully engaging lead-in and chorus that’ll have you closing your eyes and soaking it in. Soulful. Memorable. And as I noted at the beginning, dark and torchy.
photo by Bronwen Lewis; photo courtesy of Cameron Carpenter
If you add this to your playlist, your ears will perk up every time you hear it begin because you know you’re in for a soak-it-in musical experience. And be sure to give it at least a few listens. It keeps getting better as you discover more nuances. Peel the onion. You know you’re a monster, too!
Looking Ahead
Bodrug has played on some big stages in the past year. Be sure to periodically check the “Shows” page of her website to see if and when she’s performing near you. At the moment, the website lists just 3 November shows in Canada, in the cities of Ottawa, Paris, and London, Ontario. (I swear to god, I’ve driven between Hamilton and London at least a couple dozen times over the years, and I never noticed Paris.)
