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Two years ago, our region experienced an unprecedented drought. 2022 truly broke all records, with temperatures surpassing 41°C (105.8°F) multiple times. Birds were found dead by the thousands in our beautiful marshlands.
We lost vast areas of forest to massive, uncontrollable wildfires that firefighters battled for three weeks. The smell of smoke, the ash, everything ended up on our terrace, even though we were more than an hour’s drive away. One can easily imagine the apocalyptic scene, with an orange sky and zero visibility amidst the embers.
In June 2023, the same thing happened in Canada, but on a much larger scale, to the point where European firefighters were sent as reinforcements to North America. This is what inspired Canadian artist Wellens to write this single. Known for his beautiful, contemplative folk melodies that make you dream, he couldn’t help but pick up his pen to describe what was happening on the road.
Paradoxically, this track brilliantly blends a well-crafted, rather catchy melody with a dark and melancholic atmosphere, almost as if tinged with smoke. It’s a striking contrast that works well, and soon you find yourself closing your eyes, imagining this catastrophe. As always, the production is simple yet effective, and the vocals are perfectly executed. It’s pure artistry.
These events are tragic, and unfortunately, we will face more of them in the future. But if we can at least draw some musical masterpieces from them, then not all is lost. And since Wellens is a master of crafting such masterpieces, this one is yet another gem to add to his already impressive collection available on streaming platforms.
