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.
91裸聊视频淚91裸聊视频檝e always considered myself to not be political, but I91裸聊视频檓 not sure any of us have the luxury anymore,91裸聊视频� she said in a phone interview from her Vancouver home.
91裸聊视频淚 just want to be thoughtful in what I say. I want to let the music speak for me.91裸聊视频�
McLachlan is still figuring out exactly what that means to her. She91裸聊视频檚 currently in the studio with producer Tony Berg, known for his work on the Boygenius album, to shape her ideas into a record.
She91裸聊视频檒l also embark on a North American tour next month that celebrates the 30th anniversary of 91裸聊视频淔umbling Towards Ecstasy,91裸聊视频� 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 haven91裸聊视频檛 tried before, and it makes sense to pick 91裸聊视频淔umbling,91裸聊视频� since it includes 91裸聊视频淧ossession,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频淗old On,91裸聊视频� and fan favourite 91裸聊视频淚ce Cream.91裸聊视频� But what made you want to hit the road for this one in particular?
McLachlan: There91裸聊视频檚 a ton of nostalgia around it for me and probably a lot of people. I think it91裸聊视频檚 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 who91裸聊视频檝e said, 91裸聊视频淭hat record got me through university.91裸聊视频� And, I think every song has a certain importance. So playing it in its entirety will be a lot of fun and something I91裸聊视频檝e never done.
CP: While you haven91裸聊视频檛 been absent from the music industry 91裸聊视频� you released a 2016 Christmas album, hosted the 2019 Juno Awards and continue working with your music school charity 91裸聊视频� there91裸聊视频檚 been little new music from you lately. What happened?
McLachlan: I don91裸聊视频檛 really have an excuse. With COVID, everything ground to a halt, and I didn91裸聊视频檛 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. It91裸聊视频檚 one of those things where I need to get outside and my partner was a big skate skier. It91裸聊视频檚 been a new lease on winter for me.
CP: Now there91裸聊视频檚 the making of an album in the mix. You91裸聊视频檙e working with producer Tony Berg, who91裸聊视频檚 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: Let91裸聊视频檚 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. We91裸聊视频檙e kicking each other and laughing and taking the piss constantly. He91裸聊视频檚 like my older brother. And now as soon as I finish this call, I91裸聊视频檓 jumping in the car, heading to the airport and going back to L.A. I91裸聊视频檝e got another 10 days in the studio. And it91裸聊视频檚 just been so much fun to explore.
CP: What are you writing about?
McLachlan: Oh the end of the world. Fun stuff. No, I91裸聊视频檓 kidding. Am I kidding? Eh91裸聊视频�
CP: I don91裸聊视频檛 know, I can91裸聊视频檛 tell!
McLachlan: I91裸聊视频檓 not sure myself. A lot of it is just about where I91裸聊视频檓 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. It91裸聊视频檚 like, where is my place in all of this? What is my continuing purpose? What91裸聊视频檚 my new purpose? Why am I still making music? These are questions that I91裸聊视频檓 asking myself. I don91裸聊视频檛 have any solid answers yet. But the music will speak for it, eventually.
CP: You91裸聊视频檙e coming back in a very different cultural climate. You mentioned being a woman today, and I assume you91裸聊视频檙e referring to the stripping back of abortion rights in the U.S. You91裸聊视频檙e also among more than 300 artists who signed Tegan and Sara91裸聊视频檚 open letter opposing anti-transgender legislation in some Canadian provinces.
McLachlan: Anybody who91裸聊视频檚 different is under threat and that typically is marginalized societies. We are living in very precarious times. We think in Canada we91裸聊视频檙e so much more advanced than the states, but we91裸聊视频檙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 haven91裸聊视频檛 been out and around for a bunch of years. I91裸聊视频檝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 you91裸聊视频檙e still in the process of figuring this all out.
McLachlan: I haven91裸聊视频檛 had a lot of conversations about this other than with close friends and family. And they don91裸聊视频檛 know how to counsel me because, they91裸聊视频檙e like, 91裸聊视频淛ust don91裸聊视频檛 say anything.91裸聊视频� And I91裸聊视频檓 like, 91裸聊视频淚 can91裸聊视频檛 not say anything.91裸聊视频� I think it91裸聊视频檚 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 there91裸聊视频檚 so little forgiveness. I say: Look, we91裸聊视频檙e all learning. We91裸聊视频檙e all trying to figure out how to be in this new world. And it91裸聊视频檚 going to be messy.
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91裸聊视频� This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
David Friend, The Canadian Press
