MAKING MUSIC TO PICK UP THE PIECES

Mind & Body | 2022 MAKING MUSIC TO PICK UP THE PIECES AFTER THE FIRE IN BONNY DOON

When the trauma's over, how does one restore faith?

With love a fire that can breath life into the most dismal of circumstances, Canadian-American roots-folk duo Dan Frechette and Laurel Thomsen channel its vitality in their new single, “Make Me Come Alive.” Serving as preview to 2022’s new album, After the Fire, “Make Me Come Alive” begins with a storm — a gorgeous, noisy crashing together of violin and guitar — before organizing into an easy rocking groove. Manitoba-born Frechette sings the lead, and we learn about this exciting woman who’s caught his fancy, while Monterey-born Thomasen punctuates the song with

shimmering vocal harmonies and deft, elegant violin.

I've got my hands on my destiny She's the one who heats my every chill I've got a feeling deep inside me She's always bound to be my thrill

Though some of the songs on After the Fire were written as far back as 1993, it was a 2020 storm — and then a devastating fire — that sparked the making of the longtime collaborators’ new album,

The duo had been creating music in Frechette’s home studio in Bonny Doon under California’s Covid-19 stay-athome order; they were wrapping up the recording process when a heat wave, followed by an unusual lightning storm, caused a rapid forest fire.

“Dan’s little studio burned the morning after he’d rescued the rough tracks, studio equipment, and a range of instruments we play, yet rarely have the space to bring

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Dan and Laurel in the music video for "Make me Come Alive". The single is available now on Spotify.

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with us on the road,” Thomson said. “When trauma is over, how does one restore faith and pick up the pieces?”

Having had to evacuate to a friend’s home with nothing they could do but wait for news, they ultimately decided to continue recording and added new material inspired by their current situation. They decided to highlight the rescued instruments they don’t often use on After the Fire, in addition to their usual violin and acoustic s ix-string guitar.

Each of the 10 original songs deals with a facet of the journey from setback to reclaimed hope: “Make Me Come Alive” tells the story of finding faith in the possibility of love, while the comfort of home is explored in “Beale Street.”

“Together Again” and “Money Shouldn’t Talk That Strong” emphasize the importance of community, while the need for personal strength and fortitude are explored in “If A Wave” and “Hey, It’ll Be OK.”

For anyone familiar with downtown Santa Cruz you’re sure to recognize scenes from the music video of "Make Me Come Alive," which can be seen on YouTube. Meeting in 2012 via a chance YouTube sighting and fueled by a once-in-a-lifetime musical chemistry and friendship, Dan Frechette and Laurel Thomsen are prodigious players and songwriters.

With soaring violin, diverse guitar styles, compelling storytelling, a dash of harmonica and humor, and unique vocal rapport they deliver a dynamic, engaging, polished performance. Their third album, Between the Rain, was Top 10 on Canada’s campus radio Roots charts for 2016. They have toured North America extensively. Besides the U.S. and Canada, they’ve toured several European countries, including Ireland, the United Kingdom, Denmark, France, and Germany.

Their new single “Make Me Come Alive” is available now. After The Fire is available Winter 2022.

More at danandlaurel.ca Photos from the 4-minute song video