NEW SINGLE

Even when trapped in our busy workaday worlds, we need to take time to take it To The River. In other words, take it to the source.

Many cultures recognize water (the river) as a symbol of rebirth and renewal. A sip of water can literally renew our strength and water helps us in humdrum tasks like washing the dishes. But spiritually, going to water means washing away sorrow and pain, helping us reconnect with what matters and remembering that we belong here.

These days we see more and more anger in the world. Businesses closing, the vaccine lockdowns, protests, the threat of war; this pandemic has been tough on us and people are angry.

The song is about how anger is expressed by young men. When we read the news, look around the world, we notice that this is regrettably a universal phenomenon, though we tend to project it onto the groups we don't care much for, say, a religious group, a political party, an ethnic group or a particular country. The riff was rugged so I guess singing about angry young men was a good fit.

Following the spirit of John Lennon’s 1971 Happy Xmas (War Is Over), HemlockHotel’s 2021 release, Christmas Night, is a song for peace. Santa here is not so much concerned with consumer gift-giving but with the more important gift of peace between people, nations and a concern for the needy. Recorded at Audio Valley Studio in Canada’s national capital, Christmas Night is a message of hope in times of great uncertainty.

Sugar Tree, released Jan 8, 2021, is about trying to make a relationship survive when times are hard. Relationships can get difficult, especially when we start a family and have trouble making ends meet. It's not always easy to face those realities and sometimes we abandon ourselves to temptations and foolish things. But eventually we all need to look at ourselves in the mirror and persevere.

America is HemlockHotel's first single from their debut self-titled album released Sept. 25, 2020. The song is about growing up and wondering if you’re bound to repeat the life of your ancestors. A lot of us want to see political change but how do you go about that when you no longer have role models. The boy in the song wants a better world but he’s clearly unsure of himself and what to do.

To The River

Release date: May 30, 2022

Christmas NightHemlockHotel

00:00 / 02:26

AmericaHemlockHotel

00:00 / 03:50

"if you like Americana rock and appreciate skillful songwriting. You’ll find their eponymous seven-track debut a treat."

DivideAndConquerMusic.com

"I love the way the album sounds. I think you got a really nice tone to the whole album - quite nice to listen to"

Jeff Laroque - CKCU Tuesday Morning Blend

ALBUM NOW AVAILABLE

Recorded at Raven Street Studios and mixed at Studio Mandragore, HemlockHotel's debut record is a no frills work of art. In recording this album, the band retains the raw energy of a live performance, always staying connected to the core elements of folk Americana songs.

The band’s philosophy is rather simple. Write heartfelt songs that people can dance and singalong.

RECORDED AT Raven Street Studios
ENGINEERED BY Burke Johnson
ADDITIONAL RECORDING AT Studio Mandragore
ENGINEERED BY David Fournier
ASSISTANT ENGINEER Lionel Pezzano
MIXED BY David Fournier at Studio Mandragore
MASTERED BY Paul Edwards

PRODUCED BY HemlockHotel and David Fournier

Band Bio

HemlockHotel is from Ottawa, Ontario Canada.

With past lives in R&B, jazz, franco-rock, country and progressive rock, the members of the band have been performing and recording since the 1990s.

Working at the same multistorey office complex, Rod, Mark and Danny were introduced by their common friend when asked to perform for a lunch time charity event. The connection was so good they soon after decided to form a band.

In creating their sound, HemlockHotel weave folk, rock and country music together. Their audiences often describe them as having an Americana feel, but with Canadian roots. The band performs a mix of original and cover music in a live performance.