Martyr Kanin – 鈥楶alm of a Shadow’
After talking with Michael Miskanin III for only a few minutes, it is plain to see that he is a true reflection of the music he creates. The Uniontown singer-songwriter, who performs under the name Martyr Kanin, recently released his debut album “Palm of a Shadow.” Just like the multi-talented artist, Kanin’s music is intelligent, insightful, reflective and compassionate. For someone who first picked up a guitar only five years ago, he sounds like an artist well-established in his career. Kanin’s arrangements carry a Jack Johnson-meets-Michael W. Smith soundscape containing a mellow nature with a simplistic and sincere spirituality.
The delicate melody of “Someone Else” opens the album with Kanin’s soothing vocals and hook-laden lyrics. “Fall” has become a personal favorite of mine, as the lush backing vocals of Nina Sainato seamlessly blend with Kanin’s richly textured aural painting about the fragility and raw emotion of starting a new love. Sainato returns on the engaging “Goodbye,” adding her angelic backing harmonies to the hauntingly beautiful arrangement about living each day to the fullest. “I’m reaching out to find a hand to hold/I wind up in the palm of a shadow,” sings Kanin on the closing confessional “Forgive Me.” The final cut encapsulates the album’s overall deep-reaching theme covering life, love and the faith that holds it all together. “Palm of a Shadow” features 11 songs that are easy on the ears and comforting to the soul as the production quality is pleasingly exceptional and musicianship equally stellar. Kanin says that the album title refers to taking control of your life. It’s abundantly clear that this emerging artist’s future success is firmly in hand as he vividly narrates the emotions of his heart.
Kanin will perform Saturday at the Catholic War Veterans in Uniontown to raise money for Relay for Life and the Western Pennsylvania National Wild Animal Orphanage.