Canadian band The Strumbellas explore heavier emotions and a more expansive sound in their new EP ‘Burning Bridges into Dust,’ without losing the heart that made fans fall in love.

Stream: ‘Burning Bridges into Dust’ – The Strumbellas

Jimmy Chauveau’s laugh echoes through the stairwell on a call during a quick break from a studio session. There’s a warmth to him – the kind that makes you feel like you’re already mid-conversation, maybe even mid-pint, at a cozy pub.

Since joining The Strumbellas as lead singer in 2022, Chauveau’s brought a magnetic energy to the group. He’s now part of a close-knit lineup that includes longtime members Isabel Ritchie (violin), David Ritter (keyboard), Jon Hembrey (lead guitar), and Darryl James (bass) – each adding their own spark to the Ontario-based band’s evolving sound. Behind Chauveau’s easy laugh is a pull of something deeper, drawing listeners in with every note on Burning Bridges into Dust, their recently released EP.

Burning Bridges into Dust - The Strumbellas — Burning Bridges into Dust – The Strumbellas

Produced by GRAMMY-nominated Chad Copelin (LANY, Sasha Sloan, Colony House), the album blends their signature singalong anthems with a moodier, more emotionally layered sound.

“We didn’t sit down and say, ‘Let’s reinvent ourselves,’” Chauveau says. “We’d be in a room with different writers, and sometimes a song would turn into an aggressive rock track. Other times, a folk-driven acoustic singalong. We just let the songs go where they wanted.”

Where they went was straight into the messy heart of being human.

The lead single, “Hard Lines,” is part folk stomper, part cathartic release, with lyrics that feel like ripping off a bandage to expose something you’ve been trying to ignore: “I’m trying to keep up with the good times / Draw another / Hard line / I’m trying to live it up while I’m numb inside / The sentimental type / To crack another smile.”

It sets the tone for the rest of the record, where emotional honesty takes center stage.

That same raw vulnerability carries through from “Skin Of My Teeth” (the kind of song that demands to be shouted back from a sweaty crowd) to “Back Around,” with lyrics that hit hard precisely because they come from places of discomfort and truth.

This growth extended beyond the lyrics. The band embraced a collaborative writing process, exchanging ideas across Toronto, Nashville, Vancouver, and L.A. – letting the distance fuel creativity instead of limiting it.

The new record builds on a career that’s already packed with milestones. The Strumbellas broke out internationally with their 2016 hit “Spirits,” which topped charts around the globe and went multi-Platinum in Canada. Their third album, Hope, earned them a JUNO Award for Single of the Year, and they’ve since become staples of the folk-rock scene, known for turning emotional struggles into shout-it-out choruses. With Burning Bridges Into Dust, they take a deeper look at tougher feelings while keeping the sense of hope that’s always been central to their music.

Fans will be able to hear it for themselves when the band kicks off a 41-date tour, starting in Waterloo on November 13 and wrapping up in Detroit on March 21, 2026.

Before hitting the road, Atwood Magazine caught up with the infectiously spirited Chauveau to talk about the band’s evolution, jamming with his best mates, and the magic that happens when The Strumbellas hit the stage.

— —

:: stream/purchase Burning Bridges Into Dust here ::

:: connect with The Strumbellas here ::

— —

“Come Back Around” – The Strumbellas

A CONVERSATION WITH THE STRUMBELLAS

Atwood Magazine: Hi, it's great to talk with you! I hear you’re in the studio … what are you working on?

Jimmy Chauveau: Super-secret plans. [laughs] You heard nothing!

Okay, we’re focusing on Burning Bridges Into Dust is what I heard! So let’s talk about the new album. Softball question: If you had to pick one song from the new album that really sums up where The Strumbellas are now as a band, which one would it be?

Jimmy Chauveau: Honestly, for me, it would probably be “Hanging Out in My Head.” That one sticks out because it’s very familiar to our old sound but also pushes things a bit. Even though it still sounds like us – because, well, it is us – we’ve really tried to push the boat out a little with our sound. It’s about not limiting ourselves. Like, if Izzy plays a violin part, it’s going to sound like her no matter what genre we’re in.

What prompted that change?

Jimmy Chauveau: It was actually really organic. It wasn’t something we planned. We’d get in rooms with different writers and sometimes the song would naturally turn into more of an aggressive rock indie song. Other days, it’d be a folk-driven acoustic singalong. It was nice to just let the songs go where they wanted to go.

A lot of songwriters use their music to process emotions. Did anything change in how you saw things during the writing of this album?

Jimmy Chauveau: Absolutely. I think everyday changes how I see things when you’re in a creative space. We didn’t set out to write a concept album – we just chased the songs we liked. But when I got the mixes back, I realized, “Oh, this is a piece about self-acceptance.” Some days you’re angry, some days you’re working on yourself. It’s about trusting the process of who you are now and where you’re headed, instead of focusing on what you’re not.

I’ve never written a song myself, but even publishing articles makes me nervous sometimes. Are there ever songs you write that feel are too personal to release?

Jimmy Chauveau: Definitely. There’s one on the new EP where I’ll have to call my brother and explain the line isn’t about him; it’s about me. It can feel super personal. But I think the world needs that. One of my favorite bands ever is Frightened Rabbit. I remember hearing the pain in Scott Hutchison’s voice and thinking, “Wow, someone else feels this way too.” If you’re not vulnerable, you miss the chance to connect like that.

That’s beautiful. You mentioned collaboration earlier, were there any collaborators on this album who brought something special to the table?

Jimmy Chauveau: Oh yeah! We worked with Brad Rempel and Ben Stennis from Nashville. Brad worked on “Hanging Out in My Head.” They were fantastic. It’s so cathartic working with people who are total pros but still get excited about the lines you write. “Back Around” and “Take Me Down” were also collaborations. It just felt like a community of people who all wanted to make the best music possible.

And Tom D’Arcy! We did “Maybe It’s Me” with him, and that session was such a blast. Then “Hard Lines” was with Trent Dabbs and Mohika. They really helped us verbalize what we were trying to say. Every session was magic in its own way.

Can I ask you about “Skin Of My Teeth”? That one’s intense.

Jimmy Chauveau: It is! That one was with Trent Dabbs and Jean-Luc (who goes by Mohika). It started as a song that didn’t really feel like The Strumbellas at first, but then we made it our own. The line “hanging on a dream by the skin of my teeth” just hit so hard. The whole song is about those days when everything feels frustrating, but you still push through. The first line is literally “I quit.” But by the end, it’s about being okay with yourself and the process.

How do you conjure that emotion when you perform songs like that? Are you emotionally spent after?

Jimmy Chauveau: Honestly, yeah. You kind of lean on the place you were emotionally when you wrote it. When you’re recording, you really have to believe what you’re saying. So yeah, by the end of it, I’m ready for bed by 7:30 p.m. [laughs]

I’m going to take a sharp left… Your live shows feel like giant singalongs. If I were to spy on you just before you walk out on stage, what would I see? How do you get yourself amped up?

Jimmy Chauveau: [laughs] Honestly? We turn into little kids. There’s just so much excitement. We warm up, then huddle for a group hug before stepping onstage. It feels like jamming with your best mates … then you invite the crowd in. And when it clicks, there’s nothing like it. It’s magic!

Is there one moment that still gives you goosebumps?

Jimmy Chauveau: Oh yeah, Phoenix. I was having trouble getting into the moment at first. We were playing “We Don’t Know,” and I saw the stage lights glint on a fan’s tear-streaked cheeks. She was singing every word, and I thought, This is for her. I stopped whatever stupid Elvis move I was doing and just focused on making it the best it could be for her. At the end, I slipped my guitar pick into her hand just as the lights went down. Perfect timing. I’ll never forget that.

That’s beautiful. Have you ever had a moment like that as a fan?

Jimmy Chauveau: 100 percent. There’s this UK punk band called Soft Play. They have a song called “Everything and Nothing.” I found out a good friend of mine passed away around the same time that song came out. So, it’s his song for me now. I saw them live with my partner Elizabeth, and as soon as they started playing it, I just started crying. Second note. Full-on crying at a punk show. [laughs] But it was such a cathartic release. Music just hits people differently – it’s the best thing on the planet.

Is there a particular song on this album that feels especially meaningful to you when you're playing live?

Jimmy Chauveau: “Skin of My Teeth” is a big one. It’s super rocking, and I love that side of us. “Hard Lines” too – it’s very real. We’ve all had moments where we’re comparing our lives to others and getting lost in that. But honestly, the songs take on new lives once you play them live. So maybe ask me that again after the tour.

Deal. Speaking of the tour … are there any venues you’re excited to play again?

Jimmy Chauveau: I’m absolutely buzzing for HISTORY in Toronto – it’s gonna be such a fun one. And then we finish at Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, which is where I had one of my best mess-ups ever. I completely missed a verse, fell over, and let the crowd sing it. It was brilliant. I’m also excited for Vancouver Island shows, Montreal too. Honestly, the whole tour is going to be amazing.

I bought a lovely camera. I’m a terrible photographer though. I might make a separate Instagram for all the blurry shots, something like Jim’s Dodgy Photography. [laughs]

I know you have to get back to the studio, but is there anything we didn’t talk about that you wanted to mention?

Jimmy Chauveau: We’re so excited for people to hear the EP. It’s such a hurry-up-and-wait process. We’ve been sitting on these tracks and now we’re finally at the home stretch. Can’t wait for people to hear it!

— —