Canadian Folk Artist Shane Pendergast Shares New Album, Winter Grace, Featuring Reflective Focus Track “Candle on the Sill”
Behind the name and the music is Canadian folk singer-songwriter Shane Pendergast, a Maritime storyteller known for his heartfelt songs rooted in community and tradition. His new album, Winter Grace, delves into themes of loss and resilience, with its reflective focus track “Candle on the Sill” offering a poignant glimpse into the album’s emotional core.
Inspired by the tradition of leaving a candle on the windowsill as a beacon of safety, “Candle on the Sill” takes on an intensely personal meaning. Shane reflects on the loved ones he has lost, imagining leaving a candle in the hope that they might return, even knowing the impossibility of that hope.
Recorded live with pianist Aaron Comeau, a member of the Skyddigers, the track achieves an intimacy that captures its essence. Shane credits the album’s engineer, Adam Gallant, for crafting the perfect mood in the studio, even setting a candle nearby to create the right atmosphere.
Shane shares,
“I like to reference old folk traditions and sayings in my songwriting. In this song, I use the expression “the last hurrah” to convey the idea of celebrating life’s fleeting moments instead of succumbing to sadness. The last verse especially resonates deeply for me as it recalls a bittersweet night spent with my grandmother, near the end of her life.”
Winter Grace represents Shane’s most personal work to date. Born from a relaxed and deeply thoughtful studio experience, the album reflects Shane’s growing confidence as a songwriter and his embrace of personal storytelling. Every song carries a theme of grace – the ability to move through darkness and chaos while finding peace.