Lookout Tower Release Soul-Stirring New Single “Valley Song” – Out Now
From the misty hills of Cape Breton Island comes a song as timeless and yearning as the land itself. Lookout Tower — the genre-defying Americana, soul, blues, folk-rock, and alt-country band — has officially released their new single, “Valley Song,” out now.
Written during the heart of a Cape Breton winter, “Valley Song” captures the delicate tension between clinging to lost love and embracing the freedom of letting go. It’s an evocative journey through emotional valleys, where lush string arrangements by Blue Lobelia and heartfelt harmonies reminiscent of The Band blend seamlessly into Lookout Tower’s signature Winter Swamp Sound.
“Valley Song” was recorded deep in the woods at the band’s own Foxglove Studios and mixed by Grammy-nominated Nashville engineer Jon Estes (Langhorne Slim, John Paul White). The result is a track that feels both intimately handmade and timeless, a song that could have emerged from the Laurel Canyon scene of the 1970s just as easily as it could soundtrack a misty Cape Breton morning.
The band’s core lineup features four musicians whose chemistry is as natural as the tides: Rankin MacEachern (vocals), Bryan Picard (guitars, vocals), Franzi Habith (bass, vocals), and Bethany June (guitar, banjo, vocals). Together, they weave elements of folk, soul, blues, and rock into something deeply their own, blending old-time influences with modern storytelling.
Rooted in the vibrant cultural landscape of Baddeck, Cape Breton Island, Lookout Tower draws from hard times, coastal memories, and Acadian roots to create their distinct sonic identity. They call it Winter Swamp Sound — a no-holds-barred approach where soulful ballads, rousing blues rock, hypnotic funk, and old-time harmonies meet.
If you’re a fan of artists like The Band, Jason Isbell, Nathaniel Rateliff, Shovels & Rope, or The Felice Brothers, Lookout Tower belongs squarely in your musical collection. Their songs are built on the belief that heartache, hope, and joy all occupy the same room — and “Valley Song” is the perfect key to open that door.
The lyrics to “Valley Song” reveal the full emotional sweep:
“Gone are the days, trapped inside the horrors of my mind / Found are the ways to leave the thoughts of you so far behind”. It’s a raw, relatable depiction of learning to find freedom in moving forward, even when part of you longs to stay behind.
In their own words, Lookout Tower says:
“There is beauty in relationships, even once they have run their course. ‘Valley Song’ is our ode to love which once was, and the fear of what is to come.”
Beyond the studio, Lookout Tower has built a strong reputation on stages across Atlantic Canada, playing festivals like Cavendish Beach Festival and Blueberry Jam, and even organizing their own annual event, the Middle River Stomp. Their live performances are a celebration — soulful, communal, and impossible to forget.
Fans will have a chance to experience “Valley Song” and more as Lookout Tower hits the road this year, with a run of shows across Nova Scotia:
- June 7 – Maritime Mania – Margaree, NS
- June 21 – Fish Out of Water – Margaree, NS
- July 26 – Island Folk – Sydney, NS
- September 19 – Iona Heights – Iona, NS
- October 25 – Bearly’s – Halifax, NS
- November 22 – The Middle River Stomp – NS
Lookout Tower invites listeners everywhere to step into the swirling, soulful world they’ve created — one where sorrow and salvation dance hand in hand, and every note feels like a memory you never want to lose.
“Valley Song” feels steeped in the emotional weight of letting go — was there a particular moment, relationship, or winter memory that sparked its creation?
We had a friend going through a difficult breakup, the kind of breakup that comes as a shock to everyone who knows them, the kind of breakup that saddens a community. Then we began to recall past failed relationships, the ones that didn’t work out for the better, and the ones that you still miss the person. Take all those things and combine them with a cold, dreary winter day, and perhaps the lack of Vitamin D, and you get our first real love song.
You describe your sound as “Winter Swamp Sound.” Can you unpack that a little? What does it mean sonically, spiritually, and culturally to you as a band from Cape Breton?
“Winter Swamp” is a term we came up with to describe our sound. We’ve been described by others as Americana, or Northern Soul, or Riverboat Music, which in Cape Breton, all of these musical genres terms would already make us a bit of an anomaly, but our stories are definitely inspired by the Maritimes. Our area is steeped in Celtic, Acadian, and Mi’kmaq culture, so we tread off the beaten path with our style. Winter Swamp is a culmination of nothing being off the table musically, combined with our early 70s southern musical influences.
There’s a strong sense of place in your music — how does the land, the weather, and Cape Breton’s identity shape the emotional texture of your songs?
Cape Breton draws you in quite like no other place, and we as a band are a result of this. Bryan comes from New Brunswick, Bethany is from Ontario, and Franzi is from Austria. We all have a story of our journey to Cape Breton, but we all pretty much said the same thing when we arrived: it felt like we belonged. Rankin is the only one born and raised on the island; he left for a long time and returned. He says, “Cape Breton is the only place calling for you to return, even if you haven’t been there yet.” There is no way the island can’t affect the way we write music, from the sense of community, to the rolling hills, to the beautiful oceans. It’s a songwriting paradise. The Cape Breton culture is steeped in storytelling – either with a cup of tea or a shot of rum.
With an annual event like the Middle River Stomp and a growing presence on the East Coast circuit, where do you see Lookout Tower going next?
Swamps the limit! We want to have fun, collaborate with artists we love, and keep writing and recording songs independently, the way we think sounds good. Where it brings us doesn’t matter much, as long as we are staying true to ourselves.