Tara Van releases “Miles On It” music video

Toronto-based singer-songwriter Tara Van has always used music as a way of making sense of the world, turning the complicated business of being human into songs that distil heartbreak, self-discovery and the beauty of everyday experience. Drawing on soul, folk, pop and jazz, her genre-agnostic sound reflects a personality that’s as imaginative as it is emotionally candid. Songwriting is a love language for Tara, a way of expressing the things that are difficult to articulate and connecting with others who’ve experienced similar moments of uncertainty, longing and renewal.

From the age of four, Tara could often be found perched in a tree, lost in thought and scribbling into her songbook. Her school years were marked by bullying, but she eventually discovered a sense of belonging at art school, which she describes as her ‘Island of Lost Toys.’ Finding a community among fellow misfits helped provide a space where her individuality could flourish and that ability to embrace the parts of herself that don’t fit neatly into expectations continues to inform her music.

Her songs offer windows into her internal world, with an emotive approach to self-expression that allows contradictory feelings to coalesce through meaningful musical expression. In 2023, following a trio of singles, Tara released her debut studio album, RISE, produced by Malory Torr. Revolving around the poetic cycles of wilting, falling, rooting, rising and blooming, the uplifting dream pop record explored lost love, self-discovery and reincarnation. Its themes reflected her interest in personal transformation, treating heartbreak not merely as an ending but as part of a longer process of learning, healing and becoming.

The following year brought a shift towards another of her musical passions; beginning work with Mark Calderone at Apt Sea Sound in 2024, Tara moved closer to neo soul, developing a series of releases that included “Sunshine’s Callin’” and “Glow.” She also reunited with Torr for “Hello Human,” a collaboration that encouraged listeners to appreciate, nurture and protect their relationship with the natural world.

Now, her recent single titled “Miles On It” presents a meditation on impermanence, nostalgia and the importance of appreciating what we have while it remains with us. Taking cues from the sound of Khruangbin and Leon Bridges’ “Texas Sun,” the track pairs Tara’s delicate vocals with Mark’s guitar work and carefully layered electronic elements. Opened by Tara’s smooth vocal leads, gently tapped percussion and soft acoustic guitar rhythms, the song flows with mellow groove as soulful melodies glide above, casting an enticing folk-tinged soundscape that’s mesmeric and utterly charming.

Wrapped in dreamy atmosphere, the chorus swells with the soft splash of cymbal and overlapping vocal layers as twinkling instrumental tones flicker around Tara’s beautiful voice. Glowing with blissful melodies carrying heartfelt lyricism, the song progresses with lilting rhythmic sway to form a magical musical moment that’s truly impossible not to love. Catchy, original and truly captivating, “Miles On It” sees Tara Van present a dazzling display of her songwriting flair and performance panache with a delightful song that’s timeless and guaranteed to put a smile on your face.

“Miles on It” also offers a subtle challenge to a disposable culture increasingly defined by constant replacement and rapid change and by not encouraging listeners to dwell on what’s disappeared, Tara turns attention towards the value of what’s been experienced. The accompanying music video, filmed and directed by Keston Martinez and Mark Calderone, follows her through sunlit settings, from a dusty road to a motorbike ride, visually echoing the song’s themes of distance and movement.

Released ahead of her upcoming EP of the same name, “Miles on It” continues Tara Van’s exploration of life’s brief but poignant moments. Her music finds meaning in the process of letting go while remaining open to what comes next and through her knack for sharing the complicated, unfinished parts of being human, Tara Van continues to transform private reflections into songs that invite others to feel a little less alone.

Watch the music video for Miles On It below

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