by izzy petraglia
mirama, also known as Logan Joel MacKenzie, is a multifaceted talent from New Zealand, with expertise in guitar, synths, and keys. He has been a touring member of Grammy-winning band Paramore since 2017, but demonstrates his versatility as a solo artist beyond that with his first EP, Arrows in Paradise.
MacKenzie released his first single “Find It,” under the alias ‘mirama’ in 2017, marking Arrows In Paradise as his first release in seven years. The EP is a genre-bending compilation displaying MacKenzie’s multi-instrumentalist talent in production and songwriting. Listeners can expect to hear a blend of songs influenced by 70s soft rock, jazz, and bossa nova.
He marked the start of this new era by releasing “Did You Mean It” as a single, and I was immediately excited to hear what the remainder of the EP would sound like. Out of all the songs on the EP, this one sticks out as the most reflective of the 70s soft rock influence MacKenzie draws inspiration from. The song overall feels reminiscent of artists such as Van Morrison and Neil Young — especially the guitar riffs.
“California” is my personal favorite on the EP. It’s the perfect introduction to the EP, setting the tone for the various production elements you can expect from its remainder. The song brings forth the best qualities of California as if you’re actually there. Whether it’s going on a drive with the sun and wind hitting your face, or taking in the beauty of the mountains or beach. It became a personal favorite because of how strongly it reminds me of how I feel when I visit there — and the memories I associate with each trip out west.
The production elements of this EP truly shines during “Moon Drag.” This interlude serves as the precursor to the final track, “Time To Pretend,” allowing listeners to fully immerse themselves in the EP’s diverse sound palette. “Moon Drag” is one of the more ambient works out of the five songs, and it seamlessly blends in a bit of space age pop with its bossa nova-jazz fusion.
All in all, Arrows in Paradise and the various layers to its production is an excellent demonstration of mirama’s creative genius. This is the EP to give a listen to to feel the familiarity of warm weather as winter winds down.