After more than a decade away from releasing a full-length record, Canadian singer-songwriter Linda McLean returns with a powerful new chapter, her debut EP with Linda McLean & The Awakening. Rooted in the rich soil of rural Nova Scotia.
McLean spent the past decade turning inward, writing books and cultivating a life of reflection. Her memoir, The Importance of Being Important, explored grief, healing, and creative rebirth, and was accompanied by original music that bridged her literary and musical worlds. But it wasn’t until the songs demanded to be heard, too loud to ignore, that McLean returned fully to her first love: making music.
Recording began in 2022 with a return to Sonic Temple studio in Halifax, intending to reimagine older material. But what emerged instead was an outpouring of new songs, co-written and co-produced with husband and longtime collaborator Andy McLean. The band’s live performances are magnetic and soulful. In 2024, they sold out three nights at Halifax’s Carleton and are now expanding internationally with a headline show at London’s Green Note and a spot at Suffolk’s Americana Maverick Festival.
