Mary Strand – Costa Rica (2025)
In 2022, Strand released the nostalgic power-pop meets indie-pop single ‘Act as If’; from then her songs have developed in sound, style, sophistication, and plain old super-ness. Earlier this year, the US-based artist blared from our speakers with a powerful punk tone in ‘Take Your Time’, and today we take a gander at her most recent single, ‘Costa Rica’.
One to make her mark with intimate connections and comfortable spaces, Strand opts for personal narratives enchanting audiences like Scheherazade in One Thousand and One Nights. In ‘Costa Rica’, Strand allows us into her memories walking hand in hand through the sonic journey. Inspired by “…a chaotic family trip to Costa Rica, she turns personal mishaps into lyrical gold…” with a mesmerising melody carrying the tale.
Unlike her previous single, ‘Take Your Time’, where Strand took the fore in punk-inspired lead vocals, ‘Costa Rica’ is a high-powered duet with Ryan Smith – who also happens to contribute the guitar and percussion in ‘Costa Rica’. The interplay between male and female vocals acts as a type of conversation; a brief chat that you shouldn’t be listening to but can’t help eavesdropping. I’m sure they don’t mind if people sneak a listen to the single, I mean that’s what songs are for – to entrance and intrigue with moving lyricism.
Along with the smile-inducing chemistry fluttering back and forth by Strand and Smith, the melodic aspect of ‘Costa Rica’ is as entertaining. Joined by Mark Wade (bass and backing vocals) and Jack Strand (drums), guitarist Strand and multi-instrumentalist Smith fuse vintage alternative rock and pop-rock with contemporary power-pop. Brimming with hard-hitting slicks of 90s rock, the crashing drums meet soaring guitars, a bold bass, and gritty vocals in a sensational symphony.
Distinctive of Mary Strand & The Garage, ‘Costa Rica’ has a toe-tapping infectiousness making you grin, laugh, and join in the “feel-good anthem…with its hopeful message: life gets better when you stop sweating the small stuff…” ‘This track is the first single off Strand’s upcoming album, I Don’t Need Your Permission, and I can’t wait for its release. Until then, stop sweating the small stuff and listen to Mary Strand.
Find out more about Mary Strand on her Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Spotify.
This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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