Sarah McLachlan is searching for her purpose in this fractured world.
The Halifax-born singer-songwriter once shattered boundaries with her Lilith Fair tour by empowering a generation of female voices.
But lately, as she prepares her first album of original material in a decade, she is questioning how to voice her opinions on social and political issues.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e always considered myself to not be political, but IB次元官网网址檓 not sure any of us have the luxury anymore,B次元官网网址� she said in a phone interview from her Vancouver home.
B次元官网网址淚 just want to be thoughtful in what I say. I want to let the music speak for me.B次元官网网址�
McLachlan is still figuring out exactly what that means to her. SheB次元官网网址檚 currently in the studio with producer Tony Berg, known for his work on the Boygenius album, to shape her ideas into a record.
SheB次元官网网址檒l also embark on a North American tour next month that celebrates the 30th anniversary of B次元官网网址淔umbling Towards Ecstasy,B次元官网网址� performing the album in its entirety. The shows kick off in Vancouver on May 23 with additional Canadian dates in Toronto on June 19 and Montreal on June 20.
McLachlan spoke with The Canadian Press about revisiting her 1993 album, recording a new one, and deciding when to speak out.
CP: Playing one of your albums front-to-back is something you havenB次元官网网址檛 tried before, and it makes sense to pick B次元官网网址淔umbling,B次元官网网址� since it includes B次元官网网址淧ossession,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淗old On,B次元官网网址� and fan favourite B次元官网网址淚ce Cream.B次元官网网址� But what made you want to hit the road for this one in particular?
McLachlan: ThereB次元官网网址檚 a ton of nostalgia around it for me and probably a lot of people. I think itB次元官网网址檚 my favourite record. It was certainly the easiest record I ever made. And there was a lot of joy and fun attached to it. I know so many people whoB次元官网网址檝e said, B次元官网网址淭hat record got me through university.B次元官网网址� And, I think every song has a certain importance. So playing it in its entirety will be a lot of fun and something IB次元官网网址檝e never done.
CP: While you havenB次元官网网址檛 been absent from the music industry B次元官网网址� you released a 2016 Christmas album, hosted the 2019 Juno Awards and continue working with your music school charity B次元官网网址� thereB次元官网网址檚 been little new music from you lately. What happened?
McLachlan: I donB次元官网网址檛 really have an excuse. With COVID, everything ground to a halt, and I didnB次元官网网址檛 have a huge deadline to finish it. So I just allowed other things to intervene. I learned how to skate ski, which is really fun. ItB次元官网网址檚 one of those things where I need to get outside and my partner was a big skate skier. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a new lease on winter for me.
CP: Now thereB次元官网网址檚 the making of an album in the mix. YouB次元官网网址檙e working with producer Tony Berg, whoB次元官网网址檚 a frequent collaborator with Phoebe Bridgers and was involved in the Boygenius album. How did that come about?
McLachlan: I had been writing and had enough material that I thought: LetB次元官网网址檚 get into the studio and see what happens. I absolutely love Phoebe Bridgers and Boygenius and there was a list of producers and his name was at the top. I met him and we connected right away. We spent five days together. WeB次元官网网址檙e kicking each other and laughing and taking the piss constantly. HeB次元官网网址檚 like my older brother. And now as soon as I finish this call, IB次元官网网址檓 jumping in the car, heading to the airport and going back to L.A. IB次元官网网址檝e got another 10 days in the studio. And itB次元官网网址檚 just been so much fun to explore.
CP: What are you writing about?
McLachlan: Oh the end of the world. Fun stuff. No, IB次元官网网址檓 kidding. Am I kidding? EhB次元官网网址�
CP: I donB次元官网网址檛 know, I canB次元官网网址檛 tell!
McLachlan: IB次元官网网址檓 not sure myself. A lot of it is just about where IB次元官网网址檓 at in my life, reflection on parenting, and being a woman in our times. The demise of society. A lot of possible scenarios are creeping in. ItB次元官网网址檚 like, where is my place in all of this? What is my continuing purpose? WhatB次元官网网址檚 my new purpose? Why am I still making music? These are questions that IB次元官网网址檓 asking myself. I donB次元官网网址檛 have any solid answers yet. But the music will speak for it, eventually.
CP: YouB次元官网网址檙e coming back in a very different cultural climate. You mentioned being a woman today, and I assume youB次元官网网址檙e referring to the stripping back of abortion rights in the U.S. YouB次元官网网址檙e also among more than 300 artists who signed Tegan and SaraB次元官网网址檚 open letter opposing anti-transgender legislation in some Canadian provinces.
McLachlan: Anybody whoB次元官网网址檚 different is under threat and that typically is marginalized societies. We are living in very precarious times. We think in Canada weB次元官网网址檙e so much more advanced than the states, but weB次元官网网址檙e not, really. And I think these things have to be talked about. That is a lot of contemplation for me as an artist when we (discuss) my place. I havenB次元官网网址檛 been out and around for a bunch of years. IB次元官网网址檝e been living my career quietly. I never liked fame, and being constantly asked for my opinion. I just know how I feel and that things can be quietly heading in a really bad direction.
CP: It sounds like youB次元官网网址檙e still in the process of figuring this all out.
McLachlan: I havenB次元官网网址檛 had a lot of conversations about this other than with close friends and family. And they donB次元官网网址檛 know how to counsel me because, theyB次元官网网址檙e like, B次元官网网址淛ust donB次元官网网址檛 say anything.B次元官网网址� And IB次元官网网址檓 like, B次元官网网址淚 canB次元官网网址檛 not say anything.B次元官网网址� I think itB次元官网网址檚 scary for anybody to stand up and take a strong stance because you have people on the opposing sides, the right and left, or the fundamentalists on either side. And there are so many threats of violence (against) someone saying the wrong things and making a stupid comment. And thereB次元官网网址檚 so little forgiveness. I say: Look, weB次元官网网址檙e all learning. WeB次元官网网址檙e all trying to figure out how to be in this new world. And itB次元官网网址檚 going to be messy.
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B次元官网网址� This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
David Friend, The Canadian Press
