May 27, 2014

Publication title: Marilyn.ca, vol. -, Iss. -, pg. –
Place: Unknown
Writer: Lexi Berkowitz

Just “Shine On”

“I’m pretty impressive” jokes Sarah McLachlan of how accomplished her morning routine makes her feel. The Canadian singer-songwriter was all smiles while discussing one of her favourite ways to start the day – with the Grouse Grind, a two mile hike up Grouse Mountain, British Columbia. The fit mother of two has more than mountain climbing going on these days. Her first album of new music in four years, the eighth to date, called “Shine On” has just been released and soon she’ll be embarking on a cross Canada tour.

The album chronicles some “big changes,” in McLachlan’s life. She separated from her management, record label, and husband and lost her father to cancer. “My dad was such an amazing teacher,” she said of the man who taught her how to embrace life. She took his lead by fully living every day and being grateful for even the smallest gestures and incorporated it into the album, “I kind of joke it’s about love, loss and forgiveness.”

She’s also put a lot of heart and soul into her non-profit afterschool program called the Sarah McLachlan School of Music which was founded in 2002. The program provides free music education to at-risk and underserved children who normally wouldn’t have received it. “It’s brutal; [the school] was a reaction to that,” said the singer of government cutbacks to children’s programming.

With everything she’s juggling it’s a wonder she has time to record new music, but “Shine On” just proves that’s she’s giving life her all.