Newgrass Trailblazer Claire Lynch’s Album Reunites Old Bandmates

Almost nine years after recording her Grammy-nominated album North by South, Claire Lynch, a three-time IBMA Female Vocalist of the Year Award winner, is back with new songs.

“This project is all original. I have either written solo or co-written every song on the album, which is something I have never done,” shares the singer during a recent interview.

“I started co-writing when I signed with Polygram Music Publishing on Music Row, and later on with Universal Music Publishing,” recalls Lynch, who was hired as a staff writer by both companies. “When I entered the Nashville world of writing, co-writing was just a thing we all did.”

Traveling between the U.S. and Canada left the singer little time for anything else, especially recording, says Lynch, who has been out of the spotlight. “I was touring, and I had two bands. I had a U.S. band and a Canadian band because I had moved to Toronto. It was incredibly difficult to tour in two bands. It was wonderful but tiring.”

Like most artists, she was affected by the pandemic. “As for COVID, we had longer restrictions than in the U.S. We were out of commission for three years,” remembers Lynch, who relocated to Ontario with her husband.

Lynch hopes to release the album by the end of 2025.

“Fans have been asking for more music, plus I have been working with wonderful songwriters. I felt that I had an obligation,” explains Lynch. “I also recorded it as a treat for myself.” [laughs]

Lynch feels that touring to promote the album is unnecessary. “I honestly don’t see the point, because I’m not pushing a big career or trying to get tour dates. I’m like, here is my record!

“I will warn you that several songs on the album are swing,” shares the former Tennessean. “It’s something I feel, after all these years, I have the privilege of doing. I had people ask me to do a whole swing album for years, but I wasn’t able to because the record company didn’t want me to.

“It’s still a Claire Lynch record,” reveals the veteran singer-songwriter. “It’s a mixture—I would call it mostly Americana. There’s gospel, but there are a lot of original songs.”

Lynch, who traveled to Ben Surratt’s studio in Nashville to record, enjoyed reconnecting with friends. “It was great! I got to work with Missy Raines, who played with me for many years. It was a wonderful reunion being with her again. And my old bandmates, Jim Hurst and Matt Wingate, were there too. It was like a party! I think listeners are going to be able to feel that on the tracks.”

Not all of the record was recorded in Nashville, explains Lynch, who joined members of her Canadian band—Shane Cook, Joe Phillips, and Darrin Schott—at Casa Wroxton Studios in Toronto. “I also have Andrew Collins, who is a very renowned mandolin player up here [Canada], and Don Rooke,” adding, “He is a lap steel/dobro player but plays alternative music.”

Although she misses the people in Nashville, Lynch admits she is happy to be in Canada. “In Ontario, we don’t have as many bugs! I’m in the city, so I have never seen a snake up here [laughs]. I do like the big city. There are also millions of people here with different ethnicities, plus the policemen are friendly. It’s a relaxed society, which is refreshing!”

She feels welcomed in Canada. “I found that Canadians appreciate and accept Southerners with a sweet kind of respect.”

Passing the torch to a new generation, Lynch likes the direction in which younger musicians are taking the music. “I’m behind them one hundred percent! They are doing cutting-edge stuff, like we [The Front Porch String Band] were in our time. The older people wanted us to keep it their way, without innovation.”

Lynch wants to continue writing music. “I would like to stay in touch with friends and fans. I would be happy to pitch songs to other people. As far as money is concerned, there isn’t a whole lot left for songwriters, but as far as the pleasure of sharing, I would like to keep doing it.”