Cambridge, Ontario-based Folk sensation Jay Linden tells a tale about life’s promise and the potential perils lurking in the melancholic title track from his upcoming album, “Ordinary Sunrise.”
Inspired by Folk legends like Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger, through Bob Dylan and Willie P. Bennett, Jay’s style on “Ordinary Sunrise” is unabashedly acoustic and folk-rooted with lyrics that leave plenty of room for listeners to stamp their own meaning in between the lines – solidifying Jay’s philosophy that a song’s meaning is in the eye of the beholder.
The result is a record brimming with melodic depth, wit, and Linden’s signature warmth. “Ordinary Sunrise” sounds both timeless and timely, a reminder of the folk and roots records of days gone by that, as it unfolds, whether a song is two years old or twenty, is clearly rooted in the present.
It’s a document of Jay Linden’s inner dialogue and perceptions of the world around him. A testament to himself as a musician and songwriter and proof positive that well-considered, thoroughly lived-in songs can sound far fresher and taste sweeter than the flavour of the moment while filling your heart with truth.
“Ordinary Sunrise” reflects a purity of intent that’s thin on the ground these days – a product of Jay’s no-nonsense vocal delivery and masterful playing, the standout contributions of the players assembled on record, and the process itself.
When working on “Ordinary Sunrise,” Linden found inspiration while rummaging through old music. “I found a stack of audio cassettes with pieces of songs that had potential. So, I went through them, catalogued them, and spent a bunch of time padding around the living room (listening) and playing guitar. But I wasn’t thinking, how many songs do I need for an album? I was just making songs,” says Linden.
While the title track is sure to connect with those that appreciate substance in their music, the entirety of the upcoming album, “Ordinary Sunrise,” paints a scene so vividly, you’d swear it’s right in front of you. Songs like ‘Boat On A River’ make it obvious Linden’s not trying to be anything other than honestly and authentically himself. Something abundantly clear on the album opener, ‘10 Dollar Show,’ a sparse earworm that sets the album’s tone and ends up playing in your mind for hours after the first listen.
Plenty of songs on “Ordinary Sunrise” will allow the listener to go deeper should they so choose. From contemplative tracks like ‘Time Higher The Mountain’ to slice-of-life tunes such as ‘Dreamers On A Sailing Ship’ that capture everyday moments in such sharp relief they tend to make the listener see their own surroundings in greater clarity.
Produced, engineered, and mixed by Colin Linden, Jay’s brother, at Pinhead Recorders in Nashville. The process began with Jay recording over Thanksgiving weekend 2021 – the first time the brothers had seen each other in person since the pandemic shut down the US/Canada border. As Colin puts it, sessions played out “like a series of candid photos, not a posed portrait,” Colin explains. “Jay singing and playing guitar, banjo, and harmonica.”
Later, Colin added some bits himself and invited a crack group of Nashville session players to give “Ordinary Sunrise” an extra kick. Featured artists include multi-instrumentalist Jim Hoke, bassist Johhny Dymond, drummers Gary Craig and Jerry Roe, Janice Powers on B3 and keys, and Fats Kaplin on Violin.
Jay Linden’s last album release, “Under The Radar,” came out in 2009, following his 2006 debut, “Satchel.” This is because Linden doesn’t rush or pressure himself into creating. “I’ve always had periods of time where I was playing a lot, and things were coming out of me. So, if I liked them and thought they were good enough to share, I made a record.”
Linden has worked in the music industry across a variety of other capacities. Some gigs include being a writer for the storied Canadian music trade publication RPM Magazine, a music publicist, and, for many years as an IT Architect. During the ‘80s and ‘90s, he took a lengthy break from songwriting and playing, only picking up the guitar again after quitting smoking, partly because it gave him something to do with his hands in 2001.
When he started playing again, he did so with enthusiasm, collecting and honing his chops on various instruments. From the relatively common (banjos, mandolins, dulcimers, and autoharps) to the more esoteric (the cümbüş, saz, cuatro, tres, bajo sexto, Spanish laúd, and even a tiple). He spent relatively little time playing guitar at that point, he explains but did find time to pick up Harmonica, which figures prominently on “Ordinary Sunrise.”
Jay Linden’s introspective new title track, “Ordinary Sunrise,” is available now.
