B-Side Guys

In a world where the forces of gentrification and urban development often threaten to erase the rich histories of our cities, Yukon-based orchestral folk musician Erica Dee Mah has crafted a gentle, yet powerful anthem of resistance with her latest single, “The Garden.” The song, inspired by the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden in Vancouver’s Chinatown, is a meditation on the importance of preserving cultural spaces and the resilience of communities in the face of adversity.

From the opening lines, “Inch by inch, and stone by stone / Build a garden for a home,” Mah’s vocals are a soothing balm, her delivery imbued with a sense of quiet determination. The instrumentation is sparse and delicate, with Mah’s guzheng (a traditional 21-stringed Chinese zither) providing a shimmering, ethereal backdrop to her words. It’s a sound that calls to mind the intricate beauty of the garden itself, with each plucked string a tiny blossom in a vast, tranquil landscape.

But beneath the song’s serene surface lies a deeper message, one that speaks to the struggles faced by immigrant communities in a rapidly changing world. As Mah sings of sweeping out pinecones and digging ponds for lilies, she’s not just describing the physical labor of tending to a garden – she’s evoking the tireless work of preserving a cultural legacy in the face of erasure. “Scrap plans for the freeway / These parts are worth saving,” she insists, her voice rising with a quiet urgency.

As the song progresses, the lyrics take on a more somber tone, reflecting the harsh realities faced by Vancouver’s Chinatown community. “Street by street, we feel the defeat / Put bars on the shop windows,” Mah sings, her words painting a vivid picture of a neighborhood under siege. And yet, even in the face of these challenges, there is still hope to be found. “We’ve still got the garden,” Mah repeats, her voice a beacon of light in the darkness.

Ultimately, “The Garden” is a testament to the power of art to inspire change and foster connection. Through her music, Erica Dee Mah has created a space for reflection and healing, a reminder that even in the most trying of times, beauty and resilience can still flourish. It’s a message that feels more vital than ever in a world that often seems hell-bent on erasing the very things that make us human. With “The Garden,” Mah has planted a seed of hope that, with care and nurturing, might just blossom into something truly transformative.