Vancouver Island Singer Embarks on Eco-Friendly Canadian Tour
Laura Mina Mitic, known professionally as Miina, is charting a new course in her musical journey with a uniquely sustainable approach. The former lead singer of the Shawnigan Lake folk-pop band Carmanah has launched her solo career with a 23-date tour across Canada, traveling in a converted Greyhound bus powered entirely by recycled vegetable oil.
From Band Frontwoman to Solo Artist
Miina, whose soulful vocals helped define Carmanah's sound through several acclaimed albums, released her debut solo full-length album Where the Light Goes Out in March. This follows a previous EP that signaled her artistic evolution. The band was a regular fixture on festival stages nationwide, building a loyal following through extensive touring.
The timing of her tour coincides with peak gasoline prices driven by ongoing international conflicts, but Miina has found an innovative solution to fuel costs. Speaking from Guelph, Ontario, she explained how her vintage 40-foot bus runs on filtered used cooking oil collected from restaurants along her route.
The Vegetable Oil Conversion Project
"We acquired the old bus for $5,000 plus a concert commitment during the COVID shutdown when touring was impossible," Miina revealed. "We transformed it into both a tiny home and tour bus, then took the extra step of converting it to run on used vegetable oil. We're literally collecting used canola oil, filtering it, and using it as we travel."
The process requires both effort and serendipity. Sourcing sufficient spent oil presents challenges, as not all restaurant owners understand or support the concept of repurposing their waste oil. The filtration process itself isn't instantaneous, adding another layer of complexity to their journey.
Environmental Innovation Meets Musical Creativity
Miina credits her partner, a former Carmanah member who contributes to her solo project, with the technical ingenuity behind the conversion. "He has that mad scientist mentality and loves solving puzzles like this," she said. "The environmental benefits obviously appeal to him too. It's not for everyone, but restaurant owners we meet are fascinated by the process. Even when they can't help us, they're excited about what we're doing."
The bus accommodates the entire band with sleeping bunks and most amenities found in conventional tour vehicles. Between occasional showers at friends' houses and periodic hotel stays, the "veggie oil express" provides a comfortable, eco-conscious touring experience.
Musical Evolution and Critical Reception
Miina's new material showcases a dream pop aesthetic that evokes comparisons to 1990s acts like Mazzy Star, while maintaining connections to her folk-pop roots. The production team includes notable names like Howard Redekop (Tegan and Sara, Mother Mother) and Gus Van Go (The Beaches, Metric), with Erik H.P. Nielsen (City and Colour) contributing to the 10-track collection.
CBC Music has added her single Archetypal Life to its playlist at position 18, and a video has been released for lead single Push It. Miina performs with special guest artist Dana Sipos and her band, blending new compositions with familiar material from her Carmanah days.
The pandemic provided unexpected creative opportunities, Miina noted. "Moving forward as a solo artist was difficult initially, but it offered silver linings for creative growth. I collaborated with Toronto-based songwriter Lowell, co-writer of Beyoncé's Texas Hold 'Em, who was incredibly inspiring. Where the Light Goes Out represents my first full solo project, primarily written in my home studio and enhanced by my bandmates and producers."
This tour represents more than just a musical journey—it's a statement about sustainable living and innovative problem-solving in the arts. As Miina's vegetable oil-powered bus travels Canadian highways, it carries both her evolving musical vision and a tangible commitment to environmental responsibility.
