“This Is Not America”: Halifax’s The Glowing Hearts Project Offer a Stirring Anthem for a Nation in Crisis
In a time of geopolitical uncertainty and rising tension across North America, a newly formed Canadian music collective has stepped forward with a clear, emotional declaration: “This Is Not America.” Out now, it aims at the days after the U.S. president’s shocking call for Canadian statehood and an aggressive escalation of tariffs, the track arrives not as a rebuke, but as a deeply patriotic reflection—a reminder of who Canadians are and what makes their country distinct.
“After generations of close friendship and cooperation with our closest neighbours to the south,” the band explains, “Canadians awoke a few weeks ago to a starkly different reality.”
Formed in Halifax, The Glowing Hearts Project is made up of four long-time musical collaborators: fronted by the keyboardist, lyricist and powerhouse vocalict Rob Cribb, guitarist and bassist Kevin White, producer Josh Kelly, and rounded out by Ally Cribb—named the 2024 grand prize winner of the Write Out Loud competition—this song is both a lament and a call to arms. Their years of musical kinship come through clearly in the cohesion and heart behind This Is Not America. It’s a work of both musicianship and meaning—a song that isn’t just timely, but timeless.
Rob Cribb, a veteran journalist and musician, wrote the song in response to growing fears of cultural and economic annexation. With studio sessions captured on April 11 amid headlines from Washington and Ottawa, the song is grounded in both real-time reaction and generational memory. This Is Not America was released just days later—on the very same day the White House press secretary doubled down on the president’s controversial remarks.
The track itself is a slow-burning, harmony-driven anthem that blends folk-rock sensibilities with gospel-like urgency. It opens with a refrain that pulls no punches:
“This is not America / We’ve seen beyond the fantasy / This is not America / It’s the true north strong and free.”
More than a protest, this is a love letter to Canada. The song’s verses speak to shared military sacrifice, 9/11 solidarity, and the heartbreak of a long-standing alliance strained by politics. And yet, This Is Not America never veers into hostility. Instead, it doubles down on identity, anchoring itself in the places, culture, and values that define the Canadian spirit.
“It’s the Down East brand of kindness / And the Bay of Trinity / This is not America.”
The lyrics—raw, resonant, and unmistakably patriotic—have sparked powerful reactions from early listeners. “We hoped to inspire Canadians to reconnect with what makes this country special,” the band says. “And in the first few days, we’ve heard from people who say they were moved to tears. The video on YouTube has struck a nerve. We believe this moment calls for reflection and resolve.”
The track’s emotional core culminates in a moving bridge:
“With every ounce of strength in me / I will stand on guard for thee.”
Ally Cribb’s soaring vocals—already recognized nationally from her acclaimed solo work—lift the track into the realm of national hymn. It’s a song meant for arenas, living rooms, and parliamentary playlists alike.
This Is Not America isn’t just a song. It’s a cultural moment. In a year where national borders feel more contested and national identities more critical than ever, The Glowing Hearts Project have offered Canadians something invaluable: a soundtrack for unity, dignity, and self-definition.
As global markets sway, American politics intensify, and social media fills with chaos, Canada now has a calm, steady voice in response. Not one of outrage, but of resolve.
Because this—this—is not America.
Hi Glowing Hearts! Good to meet you! Care to introduce yourself to the readers?
We are a collective of East Coast musicians who came together in early April to give musical voice to the national discussion happening across the country. This Is Not America is a song that we felt captured our own feelings — and those of many Canadians — amid the dramatic political events escalating between Canada and the U.S. It is a remarkable moment in the history of our countries and the outpouring of response from Canadians inspired music and lyrics that we hope captured the both the sadness and patriotism still unfolding.
What was the emotional tipping point that led you to write This Is Not America—was there a specific moment or headline that made it feel urgent?
Repeated declarations from the U.S. President to make Canada the 51st state were certainly the mobilizing moment. At first, it felt like an offhanded jest. But it became clear that it is, for the president, an expression of manifest destiny. The imagery conjured a lot of deeply felt anxiety. Kevin White, a long-time musical partner and legendary Halifax guitarist, pushed the idea of recording the song and volunteered to lend his genius to it. Halifax producer Josh Kelly cleared his schedule and threw his heart into it. And my daughter, singer/songwriter Ally Cribb, stepped up to lend the grace and power of her voice. It was a beautiful, organic coming together around a cause in a way that has mirrored what is happening across the country. As usual, Kevin was right. Music is often the most powerful way of expressing ideas that hit differently than they do in news stories or public debates. When we finished the recording session, we all sat back and listened. There were smiles all around. I knew we had to share it with the world.
The song is deeply patriotic without being antagonistic. How did you strike that balance between love of country and criticism of political realities?
Writing the lyrics for This Is Not America was a delicate process of balancing of two very different emotions at the same time. Like most Canadians, we have deep respect for Americans and the United States. The history of cooperation and support our nations have shared is an example to the world. It has been a mutual strength and a blessing. That was important context that needed to be conveyed in order to express the nuanced dilemma we’re in. That complexity is also what makes the deep expressions of anger and frustration from Canadians so palpable. It has triggered such strong patriotism because it feels like such a sudden and striking betrayal of what we all believed to be a bond of trust and mutual respect.
Rob, you’ve spent years as a journalist. How did your reporting background shape the way you approached writing this song?
I’ve always straddled the two very different realms of music and journalism. Both are powerful tools for conveying ideas. But they do it in very different ways. Journalistically, I’ve watched what is happening from a fact-based lens that focuses on the political machinations, motivations, and power plays. As a songwriter, the expression is very different. This Is Not America is designed as a love letter to Canada, an anthem celebrating the collective emotions behind a level of Canadian patriotism unlike any I think I’ve witnessed in my lifetime.
What does it mean to each of you, right now, to be Canadian?
I’ve been thinking about this a lot since we decided to record this song. I was reworking lyrics right up until the moments we rolled tape in the hopes of getting them right. In the end, I think the song attempts to answer that elusive question through the connection Canadians clearly feel toward a country that they instinctively feel is unique and distinct from its much larger neighbour. Our own “special meaning” — as the song references — is rooted in feelings many of us have when we return here after being away. The opening verse captures a real moment I’ve experienced many times returning to Canada — a feeling of instant reconnection to a place of safety and humanity, where the interests of the collective shape public policy, and the breathtaking landscape and unique culture shape our vision of home.
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