Kat Harlton
Photos: provided via artist / PR team
Roots/Americana band Dirt Road Opera, recently released their new single ‘Where The Chicory Grows.’
Dirt Road Opera’s music speaks for itself in a band with two JUNO nominees, both lead singers, and two multi-instrumentalists. Their songs encompass a variety of genres ranging from original ballads like Hard to Find to the hillbilly rock of Nowheresville. Three-part harmonies, great songwriting, and stellar musicianship are the essence of this roots/Americana band hailing from Kelowna, BC.
I had the opportunity to chat with members of Dirt Road Opera about their new single, their musical journey, and more.
Kat: Can you share the inspiration behind your latest single, “Where The Chicory Grows”
Rachel: The inspiration for this song was the story of how my Grandparents uprooted my mom and her four siblings from their home in Saskatchewan and moved west to Keefers, British Columbia. It had been a railroad town in the late 1800s, but was close to abandoned when my family came to look after the land. It ended up being the place where my parents met, and my first home. For years, generations of our family grew up, lived, and spent so much time together in Keefers. It became a huge cornerstone of our families history. Sadly, in August of 2023 it was all lost to a forest fire. I guess that is what ultimately inspired me to write “ Where the Chicory Grows” to honor and remember the place we all hold so dear.
Kat: What do you hope listeners take away from this heartfelt track?
Rachel: Well, like the resilient Chicory plant, that grew stubbornly on that land, even in the toughest conditions, it is possible to find hope, even in the face of loss. My hope is that listeners find something meaningful in the song. Any type of loss can be heavy, and all consuming. For me and hopefully for others, focusing on the times that you felt happy and content, can help to move forward with gratitude.
Kat: What challenges did you face while creating this song, given its personal nature?
Rachel: Honestly the creative process for this song was one of the least challenging for me. It was one of those songs that just flowed out of me. I had pretty much written the majority of the song in one afternoon while I was at work haha. It was however a bit of a struggle to revisit some of the memories. Finding the right words to convey the sense of loss without it becoming too heavy was tough at times.
Kat: Being recently inducted into the BCCMA Hall of Fame with The Cruzeros, what has been a highlight of your journey, and what have you learned along the way?
Rachel: Being inducted into the BBCMA Hall of Fame, has been such a humbling milestone in my career. I did my first project with the Cruzeros when i was 13 years old. To have had the opportunity to continue to be a member of that musical family for most of my life, has been and honor that I can hardly put into words! This journey has shown me the power of perseverance, and the importance of staying true to yourself, and the people around you.
Barry: We’ve been nominated for two JUNO Awards, which was a very exciting time for us. We didn’t win, but it was a great boost to our confidence and determination. We went on to take home dozens of awards both Provincially and Nationally, which led to playing larger festivals and concerts, including a live performance on the Canadian Country Music Awards. The lesson learned? Never give up!
Kat: With the new single out, what’s next for Dirt Road Opera?
Barry: We’ll be in the studio for the next few months finishing up our second record. After that, a short working vacation in our favourite little town in Mexico and then back home to hopefully tour and promote the new album.
Connect With Dirt Road Opera
Instagram: @dirt_road_opera
Facebook: @DirtRoadOpera
Website: https://www.dirtroadopera.ca