Multiple JUNO Award Nominees Whitehorse Announce Classic-Country-Tinged New Album I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying
Out January 13th; Hear “Division 5” and “Leave Me As You Found Me” today
September 7, 2022 – Nashville, TN – Through their seven full-length albums, prolific Canadian duo Whitehorse—Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet—have left no emotional, personal, fantastical, or political stone unturned, and their upcoming LP, I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying, is no different. Due out on January 13, 2023, I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying finds the pair venturing deeper into classic country music touchstones than ever before; a move that is both a homecoming and an evolution of their sound. A twist on the ever-present “pandemic album,” Whitehorse distilled and transcended the gloom and uncertainty of the time with a collection about heartbreak and loyalty; getting by and going crazy; and shaking things up and hunkering down. The resulting twelve-song collection is playful yet profound; masterfully simple and timeless.
Today, Whitehorse shared a couple of tracks from I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying: “Division 5” and “Leave Me As You Found Me.” “Division 5” is a cleverly spun story about a man trying to enlist the help of Canadian Mounties to reclaim his lost love. “It was just a funny turn at the idea that someone would file a missing person’s report on yourself because you’re such a lost bag of sh*t, and, you know, trying to invoke the strong arm of the law to help get your girl back,” says Doucet. “I love the idea that you’re getting laughed at, by this squadron of police officers, until one of them pulls you aside, pulls out a guitar, and sings you a country song.” Accompanied by a beautifully Travis-picked guitar and bottleneck slide flourishes, “Division 5” showcases both Doucet’s and McClelland’s tasteful guitar prowess as well as their ability to turn such a wild idea for a song into an uplifting tale for all “sad sacks,” far and wide.
“Leave Me As You Found Me” finds McClelland taking lead vocals on a pedal-steel-tinged country number. “I feel like these classic country songs just write themselves,” she says. “As soon as you get the melodic or lyrical hook, it just comes out.” Sparked by McClelland remembering sex-advice columnist Dan Savage and his “campsite rule”—if you date someone who’s much younger than you, leave them better than you found them. With that general rule of thumb stuck in her head, McClelland took to writing this waltzing heartbreak number. “Don’t leave your rubbish, your baggage behind / Don’t leave these thoughts in the back of my mind / Dust off my heart, won’t you please just be kind / And let me let you go,” she sings.
Fans can hear “Division 5” and “Leave Me As You Found Me” today at this link and pre-order or pre-save I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying ahead of its January 13th release right here. Whitehorse’s next tour stop is in Nashville, Tennessee, for AMERICANAFEST 2022 on September 15th. A full list of tour dates and ticket information can be found at whitehorsemusic.ca/tour.
I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying Tracklist:
If The Loneliness Don’t Kill Me
I Might Get Over This (But I Won’t Stop Loving You)
The Road
Division 5
Manitoba Bound
Bet The Farm
Leave Me As You Found Me
6 Feet Away
I Miss The City
Sanity, TN
Lock It Down
Scared of Each Other
More About Whitehorse: Whitehorse is the prolific partnership of Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet. Uninhibited by expectation, boldly adventurous, and categorically talented, Whitehorse’s signature sound is always guitar-heavy, harmony-plentiful, and lyrically deft.
With an expansive run of records that freely and thrillingly dip in psychedelic country, pop noir, squalling blues rock, and celestial folk, Whitehorse have pushed their musical identity into new realms and sounds for over a decade. As attested by five consecutive JUNO Award nominations in many different genre categories, Whitehorse do a lot of things and do them well.
On their new record, Whitehorse venture deeper into classic country music touchstones than ever before, a move that is both a homecoming and an evolution of their sound. I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying is an immaculate collection of 70s country-inspired songs that showcase Whitehorse at their absolute best.