The Strumbellas are a Canadian rock band from Lindsay, Ontario, formed in 2008. Their music has been described as alternative country, indie rock, and gothic folk. Formed in 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, the band’s original lineup consisted of songwriter Simon Ward on vocals and guitar, David Ritter on vocals and keys, Jon Hembrey on lead guitar, Isabel Ritchie on violin, Darryl James on bass guitar, and Jeremy Drury on drums. Hembrey, James, Drury and Ward are all originally from Lindsay, Ontario, while Ritter and Ritchie joined after Ward posted a call for additional musicians to Craigslist.
Burning Bridges Into Dust feels like both a rebirth and a reflection for The Strumbellas. What inspired this next chapter in your sound and storytelling?
This album was born out of a deeply collaborative process. We drew from many of our common life experiences to inspire the songwriting on this album. We wanted to have songs with a simple strumbellas melody, but experiment with new textures and sounds. Chad Copelin really helped us push the sonics of the EP.
The EP was produced by GRAMMY-nominated Chad Copelin, known for his work with artists like Sufjan Stevens and Avril Lavigne. How did his creative influence help shape the emotional depth and sonic evolution of the record?
It was so fun working with Chad in studio in Norman, Oklahoma. He has such a deep knowledge of the sounds that come out of his gear and studio. We got to experiment with lots of new sounds and ways to use our instruments.
This project leans into darker textures and unflinching honesty while maintaining the band’s signature sense of hope. How do you manage to balance those contrasting emotional tones so naturally?
I think the contrasting emotional tones are a hallmark of our sound that comes naturally to us. We want to be honest emotionally in our lyrics and songwriting, while still playing upbeat and fun music people can dance to. So i think the balance of the lyrics and music naturally balance eachother out!
The focus track, “Hanging Out In My Head,” explores the restless loop of overthinking. Can you share how that song came together and what personal experiences might have informed it?
I think the sentiment is something a lot of people can relate to. I think it’s easy to get overwhelmed by self doubt, and feeling you should be doing more, or should be doing better. That you havent reached your goals, or havent made the right goals in the first place. It was something a lot of us were thinking about and it came out naturally in the songwriting session.
Songs like “Skin of My Teeth” and “Hard Lines” carry a cinematic urgency and scale. Were you consciously aiming for a more expansive and atmospheric sound this time around?
We knew Chad Copelin would help us bring that sound to the EP. We wanted to have really good and intense textures to the album and he helped us get us there. Theres a lot of urgency and thoughtfulness in the lyrics of this album, and we wanted that to shine through in the sounds as well.
The title Burning Bridges Into Dust is evocative and symbolic. What does that phrase represent for the band at this stage of your journey?
We took the name from a lyric in our song Hard Lines. Hard Lines, like many of the songs on this EP, ended up being about this feeling of doubt about yourself and the future. What Burning Bridges INto Dust means to us is doing your best to leave everything that’s holding you back in the past. Whether its your own self doubt, people who are holding you back, or really anything that is stopping you from living a full and happy life. It’s about overcoming your own personal struggle and pushing through to something better.
The EP has already earned widespread critical praise, with many calling it a “triumphant return.” How does it feel to see that reception after more than a decade of evolving as a group?
We feel so lucky to have so much support from our fans. They have stuck beside us on this journey over the last ten years and we’ve experimented with new sounds and new lineups. Honestly we just feel really lucky that we get to be doing this every day as our job.
You’re heading out on a North American tour this fall, known for your high-energy and emotionally charged performances. What can audiences expect from the new live show?
Audiences can expect a high energy show. We always play the fan favourites, but stuck in a couple fun B sides as well that people will recognize from past albums. And of course getting to play the new EP live for the first time is going to be a blast.
Looking back on your career — from My Father and the Hunter to the global success of “Spirits” — how do you think The Strumbellas have grown the most as artists and as people?
I think we have learned to be collaborative both internally, but also externally. We have been able to surround ourselves with great people on our crew who help us be the best versions of ourselves in the studio and on the road. And we’ve gotten to collaborate with great songwriters and producers. We’ve learned to be more open to new experiences both individually and as a band.
At its core, Burning Bridges Into Dust feels like an album about resilience and renewal. What message or feeling do you hope listeners take away when they reach the end of the EP?
Though we didn’t intend to write this EP with any sort of concept at it’s core, it does feel like an album about resilience. I hope that listeners take away a feeling of hope when they listen to the album. That though the future is always unknown, it holds so much potential
