Everything about the new video from Tara MacLean exudes quality: the songcraft, the delicate playing, the mesmerising melody and the quietly compelling rhythm. The instrumentation is subtle and understated and MacLean’s smooth vocal is delivered with grace. ‘Sparrow’ is a heartfelt song with a simple message, a beautifully composed reflection on life, love, loss and moving on: “But you left before I said that you could go…All along I was just missing a song // I had everything I needed all this time // Somehow I am // Finally myself.”
‘Sparrow’ is linked to MacLean’s new memoir and she says of the song: “This song is the thesis for the book ‘Song of the Sparrow’. It invites the idea that nothing is unforgivable, which is all I’m trying to peddle. Written on my new Martin Guitar right after my divorce, I felt free and alive deep in my heart when I wrote this. Like an arrow in a bow. I love sending new songs into the world.”
The video feels intimate and personal, thanks to the locations and the quality of the footage. MacLean explains: “I really wanted Catherine MacLellan to direct this music video and I was thrilled when she agreed! I am such a fan of her music and filmmaking; she and I are like sisters. Some of the footage for ‘Sparrow’ was partly filmed at Lake Echo, Nova Scotia by Melanie Stone the previous spring. She captured powerful moments of creating the recording with Daniel Ledwell. Back on PEI, Catherine and I spent a day together walking along the shoreline, and sitting by the fire. We wanted to capture me in my natural habitat, comfortable and at home. She spliced that together with Melanie’s studio footage and voilá! I am so happy with this video as I feel it is the most honest capture yet of who I really am.”
MacLean has released six solo albums and two with her JUNO-nominated band Shaye during her 25 years in the music business. She has also picked up a SOCAN songwriter of the year award as well as Solo Recording of the Year for her last album ‘Deeper’ at the PEI Music Awards. A multi-talented artist, MacLean also wrote, produced and directed her own theatre show, ‘Atlantic Blue – The Stories of Atlantic Canada’s Iconic Songwriters’, that ran for three summer seasons. ‘Sparrow’ is the title track from her new album, due for release on 31st March 2023, a collection that acts as a soundtrack to MacLean’s first book ‘Song of the Sparrow’, available for pre-order here. Prior to the new record’s release, you can catch the Canadian singer-songwriter at UK Americana Music Week later in January. Enjoy.
