The latest single from Canadian band The Fugitives showcases all the members’ individual musical talents, as well as their collective gift for arranging and crafting great songs. Generously full of sonic textures, Holy Strength benefits from the combination of Steve Charles’ banjo, Erik Nielsen’s bass and Carly Frey’s sweet violin. There’s a great moment when the energy builds before the instrumentation is paused, replaced by the band’s rhythmic handclaps, which will translate brilliantly to The Fugitives’ live shows.
Co-songwriter Adrian Glynn takes the lead on Holy Strength, with his pure, clear vocal following an engaging melodic path, alongside his strong strum and wailing harmonica playing. In the chorus, the band’s voices rise up together in uplifting, joyous celebration. Tuneful whistling is another memorable contribution from Glynn, who is lost in the music, utterly absorbed, during this live recording.
Holy Strength celebrates stage managers and all the other individuals who make the music happen at The Fugitives’ shows. Co-songwriter Brendan McLeod explains: “Adrian and I were talking about all the work that so many people put in behind the scenes at the theatres we play at. Helping us load gear, dial sound, hospitality. It’s about all the kindness that goes into making the music happen.”
His fellow songwriter, Glynn, adds: “More broadly, it became a metaphor for the awesomeness of humility. And how, as we get older, we try to do that more and more – as friends, family, parents. So the central metaphor is the Rose of Jericho, the resurrection plant, that doesn’t need to be constantly showered to live.”
This is the third single from The Fugitives’ new self-titled album, the seventh full-length studio release from this acclaimed Canadian folk quartet. The record was almost accidental, and the band were reluctant to write it. McLeod notes: “We really tried hard not to write it. Especially when we realised so many of the songs were about travel. We were like, Oh no. The last thing the world needs is more folk songs about dingy hotel rooms and gas station sandwiches.” To ensure their ideas were as fresh as possible, they decided to list all of the things they were not allowed to write about and pinned it on the studio wall: missing family, smelly vans, the flatness of Saskatchewan, being too tired/wired to sleep, the windshield as a metaphor for freedom.
Glynn says, “It was oddly useful because everything on that list happens quite a bit. It’s what your mind goes to first. So the songs ended up being about what’s on the other side of all that. Not just songs about space and music and friendship, but what those ideas contain.”
Band member Christopher Suen adds, “A lot of people talk about the intimacy of touring, and they’re usually referring to bandmates. But there’s also an intimacy you start to feel with the landscape. Especially one that changes as much as Canada’s. The wonder of watching it morph day by day, and what that does to yourself as a person, and to the group as a whole.” Consequently, there are many references to Canada’s ever-changing and huge, humbling landscapes, from the Fraser River to a Saskatoon parking lot. It’s a collection of songs that will transport you to these other places.
Look out for the new album, out on 29th May 2026 on Rhea Records.
