Kat Harlton
Photos provided via PR team
Renowned Canadian rock band One Bad Son (OBS), recently released their new single “I Come Alive” on September 29th via a newly inked deal with Known Accomplice/ Cadence Music Group.
Produced by Brian Moncarz (Alice Cooper, Our Lady Peace, Moneen, The Tea Party) and written by Shane Volk, Kurt Dahl, Tara McLeod, Ryan Kuly and Moncarz, “I Come Alive” is about the chaos of change. It’s about embracing that change and listening to the voice inside that wants you to let go and become the greatest version of yourself.
The band is also announced that they will be heading out on the road this winter. The shows will kick off in Red Deer, AB on November 21st at Bo’s Bar and Grill.
Over the span of nearly two decades, with five albums, sixteen singles and dozens of tours throughout Canada, the US and Europe, the Saskatoon hometown heroes remained a constant presence in the Canadian rock scene. They have navigated the unpredictable shifts in the rock genre by adhering to a singular principle: crafting music that holds personal significance, uninfluenced by passing fads or trends.
One Bad Son has garnered three top 5 hits, including the chart-topping 2017 anthem “Raging Bull”, which was their first ever number one single on Canadian Rock Radio. The tune’s popularity was a result in staying at the top of the charts for four weeks straight. It was then followed by a large Canadian/US tour, which led the band to happily sharing the stage with The Rolling Stones in front of 70,000 fans on their No Filter Tour.
I had the opportunity to chat with Shane Volk from OBS, about their musical journey so far, what fans can expect from the new single and more.
Kat: Can you share with us a little about One Bad Son’s music journey so far?
Shane: KD (Kurt Dahl) and I have been playing together since 2004, so this has been a nearly 20 year adventure! We built a great following in our hometown of Saskatoon, and around Western Canada in the late 2000’s, before we made a move to Vancouver. We signed with a label there, where we released 3 albums, multiple top 10 singles and a number 1 hit on Canadian Rock Radio with “Raging Bull”. In that time we went on multiple tours of Canada and the US, both headlining and opening tours (with Def Leppard, Judas Priest, Shinedown, just to name a few). At the end of 2019 we were selected as one of the bands that would play alongside the Rolling Stones on their only Canadian stop that year. When the covid pandemic hit, we decided to take a full break until we could get back in studio and on the road again. This became a very transformative period. Our guitar player (also a founding member of the band) stepped away, leaving KD and I to discuss what to do next. The decision was simple – let’s write some new songs! We added a full-time bassist, Ryan Kuly, and began writing together with our producer Brian Moncarz and Kittie’s Tara Mcleod on guitar. Together we’ve written some of the best songs of our career and are so grateful and excited for this new chapter in the OBS story!
Kat: Can you talk about the inspiration behind your new single “I Come Alive”?
Shane: I Come Alive came directly out of the pandemic. Everything we’d done as a band up to 2020 felt like a full chapter of our story. As the world began opening up, and we started to write together again, everything just felt so new. Any of the baggage of so many years together on the road had melted away and we were left with this feeling of rebirth. It was a feeling of letting go, not just of the past, but of personal pride, expectation, and self doubt. The song became the anthem of this incredible new chapter we’re in.
Kat: What do you hope fans take from the new track?
Shane: We hope they feel that same sense of “newness” that we had writing it. It’s also a banger of a Rock track, so we hope it makes them want to crank it up and band their heads.
Kat: What do you find is the most challenging part of your creative process?
Shane: We’ve always written well together, but I think we used to struggle with agreeing on ideas and what direction we wanted the band to go in. It’s so much different now. We’ve let go of all of that. Writing has been a blast, and our only struggle is having to wait to get these songs to our fans and play them live!
Kat: What has been a career highlight for you so far and what have you learned along the way that you would like to share with other aspiring artists and creators?
Shane: I’m so happy to have had SO MANY highlights in our career. We’ve played arenas and stadiums, opened for some of our favourite bands, and we’ve seen a song we’ve written become a number one hit. I can honestly say for myself that writing these new songs and the experience we’ve had recording them might just top them all. I’ve never had so much fun making music.
My advice for any aspiring creator in any artistic field is to just get started! Don’t wait. Don’t get stuck on perfectionism. Just get going and put your incredible gifts out into the world. Trust me, your life won’t truly start until you do.
Kat: What else are you currently working on now, and what can fans expect from the band for the remainder of this year?
Shane: Right now we’re focused on getting I Come Alive out into the world and spreading it to as many ears as we can. We’re prepping for live shows this fall and getting ready to celebrate 20 years as a band in 2024!
One Bad Son Tour Dates
November 21, 2023 – Red Deer, AB – Bo’s Bar & Grill
November 22, 2023 – Calgary, AB – The Palace Theatre
November 24, 2023 – Grande Prairie, AB – Better Than Freds
December 14, 2023 – Regina, SK – Casino Regina
December 15, 2023 – Saskatoon, SK – Coors Event Centre
Connect With One Bad Son
Instagram: @onebadson
Facebook: /onebadson
Twitter: @OneBadSon
Website: https://www.onebadson.com