A Canadian stringband is paying homage to the resilience of Lytton with a new song more timely than ever for the province amid the record-breaking fire season.

Toronto-based Lonesome Ace StringbandB次元官网网址檚 new song, B次元官网网址淧raying for Rain,B次元官网网址� was released earlier this month, and although written two years ago, the message still resonates today.

Max Malone plays the upright bass and wrote the piece with the help of his bandmates and his wife. His home is about 15 kilometres from Lytton, and the song was written in response to the fear caused by the wildfire.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 really eerie, it almost feels dark during the day and obviously it affects your breathing and your health in general,B次元官网网址� Malone told Black Press Media in a phone interview.

B次元官网网址淭he sun takes on this red hue, thatB次元官网网址檚 ominous, that was definitely the eerie feeling that came with it.B次元官网网址�

The fatal Lytton wildfire began on June 30, 2021, and destroyed most of the small town and is still in recovery.

Malone is from Toronto, his wife is Californian, and no stranger to wildfire season. He said that he wrote the verses with her all in one go, but the chorus, which he calls B次元官网网址減reachy,B次元官网网址� took him some time.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檇 say the chorus is a general feeling expressing the idea that weB次元官网网址檙e all in this boat and it looks to get worse, and I was complaining,B次元官网网址� Malone said.

B次元官网网址滿aybe thereB次元官网网址檚 people who will find that irritating or offensive but it is sort of a form of complaint because your life gets upended and it gets disrupted even if itB次元官网网址檚 not directly affected by the fire, even if youB次元官网网址檙e not having to evacuate.B次元官网网址�

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Malone and his bandmates, John Showman and Chris Coole, have been playing together in the Lonesome Ace Stringband for 15 years, beginning in Dakota Tavern in Toronto.

Before that, they played brunch gigs together for roughly five years. He said the chemistry they have together comes out when they play.

B次元官网网址淚 love the songwriting and the harmony and our interplay of instruments and it was sort of accidental that we hit upon this bass trio, it just seemed to really rhythmically cut through the din of cutlery and plates,B次元官网网址� Malone said.

B次元官网网址淲e just get a pretty strong groove between the three of us and we donB次元官网网址檛 infringe on each otherB次元官网网址檚 tonal range.B次元官网网址�

Some inspirations for MaloneB次元官网网址檚 songwriting are Darrin Hacquard, Pharis and Jason Romero, and Amelia Curran. He said that he doesnB次元官网网址檛 think that Lonesome Ace sounds like those artists musically, he thinks that theyB次元官网网址檙e talented songwriters.

B次元官网网址淚 take inspiration from people who just whose songwriting really reflects the reality that theyB次元官网网址檙e living,B次元官网网址� Malone said.

Malone wants Praying for RainB次元官网网址� to reflect how ever present climate change is, especially in Canada. He hopes that people who listen to the song pick up on that.

Lonesome AceB次元官网网址檚 upcoming album, B次元官网网址淭ry to Make It Fly,B次元官网网址� comes out on October 13. Malone said that itB次元官网网址檚 a record about optimism.

B次元官网网址淭he idea of perseverance is the message of the album, and staying hopeful.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淧raying for RainB次元官网网址� is available to stream on Spotify or Apple Music or to download on the Lonesome Ace Stringband website. The website also has more information on tour dates and tickets.