ARUNA & THE SIRENS RELEASE PROVOCATIVE COUNTRY BALLAD, “CITY HOTEL,” RECOUNTING RACIST ATTACKS IN ONTARIO, CANADA
Kingston-based musician Aruna Antonella Handa announces the release of her newest single, “City Hotel” by her Toronto band Aruna & the Sirens (out October 18, 2024, via Frozen Lake Records). A country ballad recounting stories of racist attacks in Ontario, “City Hotel” is the first single to drop from the upcoming concept album about addiction and recovery. While most of the songs on the record explore the personal experiences of an addict in recovery, “City Hotel” is one of two tracks about the social costs of addiction.
The band’s first release, “Have You Seen My Sister?” garnered a nomination for Single of the Year (2024 Canadian Folk Music Awards).
The stories in the song “City Hotel” took place in 2016-17 in Hamilton, Thunder Bay and Whitby in Ontario, Canada’s most populous province. The stories recount four racist incidents, two of which resulted in the death of the victims. In each case, the incidents took place at night with intoxicated assailants attacking perfect strangers. Handa started writing this song when she read about the brutal beating with a baseball bat on a Hamilton teenager while he walking home after studying at a friend’s. The police labeled the incident a robbery, though the young man’s cell phone and wallet were not taken. “I believe Trump’s victory in 2016 emboldened the worst tendencies in people: he blew the whistle, and I feel that gave permission to people to be racist.”
“City Hotel is the first country song I’ve written. I wanted a country tune because the theme has been handled so well in jazz and folk songs, like Abel Meeropol’s “Strange Fruit” made famous by Billie Holiday. I wanted to recognize that racism is not something that happens uniquely in the southern United States but is baked into the way we live here in Canada. I also wanted to bear witness to the people who were attacked especially those two who lost their lives for nothing.”
Supporting Handa’s lead vocals on this track are Sirens Caitlin Holland from Whitby and Alejandra Ballon from Toronto, supported by band mates Chris Adriaanse on double bass and Raphael Roter on drums, both from Toronto. The band is joined by Owen Sound guitarist Doug Tielli on acoustic and electric guitar, Guelph vocalist Olivia Blumenthal singing harmonies, and Toronto musicians Tzevi Sherman on slide guitar, and Sarah Byck on tambourine. The track was recorded at Canterbury Studios in Toronto, with multiple award winners NYC-based David Seitz producing and studio owner Jeremy Darby, recording engineer.
“On the day we recorded this tune, the slide guitarist with whom we’d been practising had a last minute conflict. Chris (bassist) made a call and his pal Tzevi stepped in. David and I looked at each other through the studio glass. Tzevi delivered the atmosphere we were looking for from the slide guitar.”
“City Hotel” may be Handa’s first country song, but it won’t be her last. As a vocalist, Handa loves the wide open spaces created by the chords of country music. “When I listen to this song, instead of singing the lead like I do on the record, I often sing the harmonies along with the Sirens as there’s always another part to add.”
The song is named after a hotel, since demolished, on King St. in Kitchener- Waterloo, Ontario, Handa’s hometown.
“K-W was an interesting place to grow up as a brown skinned kid of mixed Italian and East Indian background. In some contexts, the racism was palpable, and in others absolutely absent. The key to survival was to know which was which and it was not always obvious. One thing is clear though: alcohol and drugs loosen inhibitions, and while this may be desirable at times, it can be downright dangerous when all that’s standing between your safety and being attacked are a few inhibitions.”
Quote From Editor:
“‘City Hotel’ is a haunting reflection on violence and resilience. The lyrics contrasts shared laughter over ‘watered down beer’ with the deep scars left by senseless brutality. A powerful reminder that, as the beat goes on, so does the fight for justice.“