Kristi Lane Sinclair
Photo Credit: Francesca Ludikar

Kristi Lane Sinclair – Five Questions With

Kristi Lane Sinclair shares new video for “End Of The Rope” from the acclaimed album Super Blood Wolf Moon

Kristi Lane Sinclair recently released “End Of The Rope,” the latest single from the acclaimed album Super Blood Wolf Moon, available now on all digital platforms.

Kristi is an artist completely unafraid to plumb the depths of darkness in search of a glimmer of light. That’s precisely what she does on Super Blood Wolf Moon, an awe-inspiring 12-song collection that reflects the harrowing experiences women suffer at the hands of domestic abusers.

With grinding guitars and soaring strings accentuating the album’s roller coaster ride of emotions, Sinclair brings together all the elements that have distinguished her work to this point. But with its overall concept fuelling the explosive performances, Super Blood Wolf Moon stands on its own as Sinclair’s formal introduction to the wider world of alternative rock.

“I think, to boil it down, anger and love are the two main forces at the heart of this album,” she says. “I wanted it to be a true account of how it feels to live with domestic violence and PTSD. And it’s not only about what I’ve been through, but also what I’ve learned from women I’ve encountered in many areas of my life.”

Super Blood Wolf Moon was recorded during sessions at Jukasa Studios in Ohsweken, Ontario, and Arc Studios in Hannon, Ontario, overseen by producer Terra Lightfoot, herself a Juno-nominated singer/songwriter and guitarist. Her sonic vision pulls everything into sharp focus and heightens the drama at just the right moments, aided by a band that includes some of Canada’s top female musicians: drummer Dani Nash, bassist Anna Ruddick, keyboardist/guitarist Robin Hatch, and string players Praise Lam and Blanche Israel. The concept of having women both in front and behind the board was fully realized by the work of engineer Jill Zimmerman, with mastering engineered by Grammy winner Emily Lazar.

As a Haida/Cree artist, Kristi embraced writing the album as part of her personal healing journey. A prime example is the album’s opening track “Break,” which features a vocal part by Kelly Fraser, an acclaimed Inuk pop star who was tragically lost too soon. She and Sinclair shared many circumstances all too real to the Indigenous community, which adds to the power of “Break,” sadly just a taste of what the two could have done together. Sinclair’s rage is only surpassed in the song “End Of The Rope,” a truly chilling moment that fully lives up to its title.

Until now, Kristi’s sound has evolved from an equal love of classical and hard music—“classical grunge” as she likes to call it—all driven by an admiration for strong female voices such as Cat Power and Kim Gordon. With Super Blood Wolf Moon, Kristi has made an album that tears off society’s veneer to expose a long-suppressed collective consciousness, just as the best rock and roll songwriters have always done.

First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?

I’m Kristi Lane, I’m a songwriter.  I’m a six-foot-tall Haida/Cree making classical grunge music. I live four minutes from the ocean but my favorite place in the world is Haida Gwaii. I’m obsessed with my dog. My partner is a hip-hop phenom. I drive a 2015 Kia as well as a ‘99 Dodge Black camper van named Wanda. 

Tell us a bit about your most recent release.

It was a long haul with this record, Super Blood Wolf Moon. I think it took five years, top to tail to release. It’s really great to see it come out, to be able to perform it, and hear that it has touched people. It was a hard record to execute but pretty cool in that I got to take my time with it. But yeah, wild ride! It was all women on this record, both in the studio and behind the board. The talent and connection I think is something you can hear both in the music and meticulous production. Also, having Terra Lightfoot as your producer can’t hurt. The mastering of Emily Lazer—who collects Grammys like they’re Beeny Babies—is incredible and hard to describe with words. All across the board, the energy was contagious and powerful. The actual point is for my band to finish my sentences musically, to be transcendent and when you hit that on the head—in a room with six women—dude, it is super sick. I would be lying if I said there weren’t group cries and hundreds of chicken wings consumed.  

Do you have any upcoming shows you’d like to tell us about?

I’m actually back in Campbell River, B.C. on a writing hiatus for the next record but I may be guesting on a Jeremy Dutcher show here in Campbell River on October 19.

If given the chance, which Canadian artist would you love to work with in the future?

Ohhh man… Florent Vollent,  Ron Sexsmith, Neil Young, The Weeknd, Peaches, SHANIA TWAIN!

What’s your goal for 2024?

Are we back to having goals?  I think meticulously working on the next record with my producer Stevie Salas and just really honing on the sound we are going for. Oh, and to be the person my dog thinks I am.

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