To find oneself in a strange paradise means to explore the depth of feelings between wild abandon and poignant despair—you might call them peaks and valleys, or ups and downs, or ebb and flow. Another word for it? Love.
On Strange Paradise, Halifax indie-folk upstart Braden Lam explores a relationship in its entirety, an independent redemption story that takes his lived experience and expands it into a fictional narrative that traces the early blush of infatuation to the hard-won moment of acceptance that it’s over. After multiple singles with Colin Buchanan, on this project Lam has added producers Daniel Ledwell and Joshua Van Tassel, and co-writers Adelle Elwood (aka Keeper E.), Blanche Israël (Jeremy Dutcher), and Jordan Coaker (of Quote the Raven) to the team. While too many cooks can make a record sound disjointed and wandering, here Lam pulls his collaborators into a cohesive album that keeps his lyrical prowess, honey vocals, and catchy melodies as its center, while nudging out toward the margins with lush arrangements and surprising darkness. Much like the record's theme, this approach strikes a unique balance between experimental naivete and the ever-familiar comfort sounds of Canadian folk and rock.
credits
released April 7, 2023
Offering, Second Wind, Death Threat, and Linen Sheets Written by Braden Lamoureux (SOCAN). Don’t Let Go written by Braden Lamoureux and Adelle Elwood. White Dress written by Braden Lamoureux and Jordan Coaker
Produced by Colin Buchanan (1, 3-6), Braden Lam (1,6), Daniel Ledwell (2). Mixed by Joshua Van Tassel (1), Howie Beck (6), Daniel Ledwell (2), and Colin Buchanan (3-5). Engineered by Colin Buchanan, Braden Lam, Daniel Ledwell, Joshua Van Tassel. Mastered by John McLaggan of Parachute Mastering
Album Artwork Designed by Devin Wilson
Featuring Photography by Griffin O’Toole
Lead Vocals - Braden Lam
Backup Vocals - Braden Lam, Kinley Dowling (3), Fai Moureux (6)
Guitar - Braden Lam, Bruce Rooney (3,4), Justin Lamb (2)
Drums - Josh Langille (1, 3-6)
Drums/Percussion - Joshua Van Tassel (2)
Piano - Aaron Comeau (4), Braden Lam (1)
Cello - Blanche Israël (1,5)
Violin/Viola - Kinley Dowling (3,4)
Keys - Colin Buchanan (1, 3-6), Daniel Ledwell (2)
Bass Guitar - Colin Buchanan
Pedal Steel - Daniel Ledwell
Mandolin - Andrew Sherriff
Special Thanks to Paul Atwood, Craig Mercer,
Mombo Productions, Tara Thorne, Kari Zalik,
David Tysowski, Symphonic
Blending authentic songwriting with modern indie flare, Braden Lam is forging the path to a new 21st century folk. The young ECMA-nominated artist from Halifax, NS sounds like if The Lumineers and Phoebe Bridgers met at a campfire in Canada.
West Virginia country-folk singer-songwriter Trae Sheehan aims to find a balance between the traditional and the modern on his new LP. Bandcamp New & Notable Sep 29, 2020
Charming German indie pop with the keen melodic sensibilities and melancholic undercurrent of some of the style's best practitioners. Bandcamp New & Notable Jan 26, 2021
Despite its themes of isolation and loneliness, Caroline White's latest batch of folk-pop confessionals is an LP brimming with confidence. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 7, 2019
“Write The Soil Lighter” is full of beguilingly mysterious folk-adjacent music, shrouded in shadow and atmospherics. Bandcamp New & Notable Apr 30, 2023