Allen Dobb Writes Toward Understanding and Shared Humanity on “At the Bridge,” Announces New Album, The Afterlife Sessions (OUT 4/24)
Pursuing a long-held talent for literate, place-based songwriting, singer-songwriter Allen Dobb unveils his new single “At the Bridge,” a Canadiana-leaning folk and roots composition inspired by the life and legacy of James Teit. Teit was a Shetland-born, self-taught anthropologist who formed deep relationships with Indigenous communities in British Columbia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The first single to be shared from Dobb’s forthcoming album, The Afterlife Sessions (out April 24th, 2026), “At the Bridge” was sparked after attending a performance by longtime friend and songwriter John Gogo, whose work often brings historical figures vividly to life. “After the show, a friend suggested I try writing a song about James Teit,” Dobb recalls. “I was familiar with him through Wendy Wickwire’s biography (the song’s namesake), but felt it would be challenging to bring his life story into song given Teit is a largely unknown historical character. Still, I was inspired by the suggestion and his remarkable life.”
While writing the song, Dobb traveled to Merritt, British Columbia, where Teit is buried in a cemetery overlooking the town and where a small archive dedicated to his life is kept. Visiting the gravesite proved formative.
“It was impactful and ultimately inspired the lyrics,” Dobb says. “Those moments, along with stories shared by a friend whose mother worked as a health practitioner among Indigenous communities in the Nicola Valley, all figured into the song in subtle but meaningful ways.”
Musically, “At the Bridge” unfolds with a gentle rise and fall, ultimately resolving into a place of calm acceptance. The recording captures a particularly organic energy, highlighted by Ryland Moranz’s playing on Dobb’s 1927 Martin 00-21 guitar.
“It’s light as a feather; Brazilian rosewood and delivers such character and bass response for its size,” Dobb notes. “It was perfectly placed.”
At its core, “At the Bridge” is a testament to trusting the songwriting process.
“I was curious how a song with broader appeal might emerge, given all the rich details of the story that were there to work with,” Dobb admits. “But it makes me feel peaceful and at ease, ultimately, that means it’s right. All the pieces work together; the melody is persistent and once it has you, it’s hard to escape.”