Somewhere in an old mansion in Smithers, B.C., there must be a portrait of Dan Mangan rapidly aging — or at least that’s what his new album Oh Fortune would have listeners believing.
While the 28-year-old singer looked as youthful as ever on stage at the Bronson Centre Oct. 14, the songs he sang were about growing up and coming to terms with death.
“I think I’m maturing a bit, I’m becoming more of an adult. I question what kind of life I have and what kind of life I want to have,” Mangan said. “Some people have it planned out, but I really don’t know what kind of life I’ll have. I’m thinking a lot about existence.”
With growing up comes the prospect of death, prevalent on Mangan’s new album — it’s there in some of the song titles, in the images and in the lyrics.
“Coming to terms with [death] is a beautiful thing,” he said. “Being OK with your own demise and not being in denial that it is going to happen is . . . a step towards being happy.”
The album’s wide scope of material comes from Mangan’s motto to always be writing, he said. Oh Fortune is also his first under the Arts & Crafts label.
“It’s an asking for fortune, bring about joy and it’s also a lament, a cry for fortune,” Mangan said. “Overall, it’s a declaration of the chaotic nature of which time presents itself. A lot of it is about time and finality and about a destination.”
Mangan said Oh Fortune was written to be different than Nice, Nice, Very Nice.
“I’m proud of it,” he said, referring to the album that netted him a Polaris Prize nomination in 2010. “But I want to try different things. [Oh Fortune] is a statement. I don’t want to be put in a box.”
The blue-eyed songwriter took the stage in Ottawa for the first stop on his Canadian tour after playing the bar circuit in the U.S.
“When we crossed the border we couldn’t help but be giddy,” he told the audience.
He started off the show with his dripping sarcasm in the song: “About As Helpful As You Can Be Without Being Any Help At All.”
Joining Mangan on tour are a full-time keyboard player and a trumpet player. The live band is loud and boisterous, but just as easily created an achingly beautiful soft sound on some of the albums’ quieter pieces.
The song “Sold” had the audience stomping and clapping so hard it seemed like the walls of the auditorium were going to crumble and cave in.
As Mangan continues to mature, he said he’s finally learning to act like an adult.
“I think never assuming you’ve got it figured it out is a good thing,” he said. “Always being open to new perspectives, learning new things, reading good books, having a good conversation . . . that’s how I plan on spending the rest of my days.”