Victoria, BC’s Mikayla Menzies Blends Singer-Songwriter and Alt Pop on “Misery,” a Cathartic New Single

Victoria, British Columbia-based singer-songwriter Mikayla Menzies’ new single, “Misery,” is a powerful and poignant anthem about the complexities of physical and emotional pain, resilience, and the journey of reclaiming personal freedom. 

The song stems from a harrowing road trip across Canada, where Mikayla found herself grappling with a mysterious illness while navigating the winding, often painful path toward healing. “Misery” captures the feeling of being trapped in one’s own body, while still searching for moments of solace amidst hardship.

The song’s title speaks to the challenging journey Mikayla faced as she endured long stretches of highway, dizziness, muscle aches, and confusion while clinging to the hope of reaching her destination—Tofino, a small surf town on Vancouver Island. Through the pain, she discovered a deep, unexpected strength within herself, and “Misery” is her cathartic expression of that personal evolution. The track’s lush production and flowing singer-songwriter and alternative pop-inspired sound embody the bittersweet mood Mikayla experienced during her painful summer, which later evolved into autumn.

Sometimes, when we plan exciting things, life can have other lessons in store for us, and both of those things can be true and play out all at the same time. There is a degree of irony in the way this song has a ‘feel good’ mood, but carries such a heavy truth for me personally. I wanted to be as honest as I could while telling this story, and with the creativity and innovative perspective of my producer, Josh Hart, I really feel like we were able to execute it. – Mikayla Menzies