Newbridge Chronicles Love, Longing, and the Maritimer’s Journey on New Album, Past Lives, Featuring the Reflective Focus Track “Iroquois”
Halifax rock/Americana outfit Newbridge returns with Past Lives, a richly woven album rooted in storytelling and East Coast tradition. Its focus track, “Iroquois,” captures the heart of the record—a folk-infused reflection on longing, love, and the spaces between.
Inspired by a summer spent in Iroquois, Ontario, and shaped by the Maritimes’ seafaring spirit, the song speaks to the journey of those who leave home in search of something more. With warm Nashville production and harmonies from Shannon McNally, “Iroquois” blends Canadiana and Americana with the emotional weight of lived experience.
We caught up with Newbridge to chat about Past Lives, their connection to place, and the stories behind the music.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Sure! Keith Maddison songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist in Newbridge.
Past Lives is a record filled with storytelling and evocative soundscapes. What inspired you to explore the theme of the searcher’s spirit—the drifter caught between adventure and belonging?
Yeah for sure and great observation by the way. I think this is something in me and something I’ve always identified with. I grew up in a Navy family and we moved around a lot. I think this lead me to be more aware of my surroundings, of different people, different settings. I was always drawn to people that are more like characters in a story – they are so connected to the place they live in that you can’t imagine them anywhere else, probably because I wasn’t strongly rooted in my maritime heritage as a kid, moving around so much.
The album seems to pull from both personal and historical experiences. How do your Maritime roots influence the songs on Past Lives, and how did you weave those influences into the sound and lyrics?
Many of these songs are rooted in personal experience but as an old Newfoundlander friend once told me “Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.” Ha! So a lot of the songs are rooted in personal experience but then expanded upon. Some are completely made up but are strongly rooted in the Canadian experience. Canada has been criticized for being culturally light but I couldn’t disagree more. Canada has many distinct regions and cultures that intersect and create a fantastic setting for songwriting.
“Iroquois” blends folk, country, and Americana beautifully. How did you approach blending these genres, and how did your time in Nashville influence the final sound of the track?
Thank you! We identified early on that this song was a perfect fit to be recorded in Nashville. It has a bit of a Neil Young Harvest vibe going on and with the alt-country/indie vibe in the studio and the fantastic collaborations with the Nashville musicians, we knew we had a great fit.
Shannon McNally’s harmonies on “Iroquois” are stunning. What was it like collaborating with her, and how did her presence elevate the song?
She did such a good job eh? She’s an old friend of Producer Robbie Crowell and we were honored to work with her. With her, and all the guest musicians we had in, we just let her do her thing. It was amazing to watch and listen to her work. She’s such a professional and an accomplished songwriter in her own right.
Looking ahead, how do you see the sound of Newbridge evolving as you continue to explore both personal and historical themes in your music?
We are really, really happy with the record. Everyone came together on it and I think for the first time in my songwriting career I have something to build upon. We’re actually already working on the next record and we are working on exploring many of the same narratives and musical themes but now that we have our foundation we can build upon Past Lives and make something really special.