September 19, 2003

Publication title: CanWest News, vol. -, Iss. -, pg. –
Place: Vancouver
Writer: Unknown

Interview with Sarah McLachlan, who unveils new album on Nov. 4

VANCOUVER – Sarah McLachlan’s last studio album was titled Surfacing, but she did the exact opposite following its release.

McLachlan has laid low these last five years since Surfacing, wrapping up Lilith Fair and starting a family. Three Grammys, 22 million albums sold, and the founding of the first major, all-female summer-touring festival took their toll.

Just when she was poised to descend on the U.K., she took a break.

“Lilith Fair was a big undertaking and a lot of work, but I always thought the pros far outweighed the cons,” said McLachlan, who was on the phone at her West Vancouver home, curled up on the couch while her daughter napped.

“I ended up carrying a lot of the responsibility. I thought I wouldn’t, and that was part of the reason I did it in the first place _ just to go out and play some shows and have some fun, and not have to carry the whole show on my shoulders. And as it turned out, I had to carry a lot more than just the show _ I carried the whole torch for the feminist revolution or whatever the hell everybody thought it was,” she said, laughing.
Following Lilith Fair and the media blitz that surrounded it, McLachlan opted to have a life, especially since her mother was dying of cancer, and she wanted to start her own family. Her daughter India was born four months after her mother died.

But McLachlan’s new album, Afterglow _ to be released on Nettwerk on Nov. 4 _ doesn’t delve into her profound year of death and birth so much as it reflects on transition.

“Give me five years to go there,” said McLachlan. “It takes me a lot of time to process it all.”

McLachlan fans have long awaited this new album, and the sample tracks released to media indicate she’s stuck to the recipe of vocal-driven ballads, sparse arrangements and melodies to soothe the most frenzied soul. Her new single is called Fallen, but it is a delicate piano song called Answer that is the standout. It is McLachlan’s personal favourite as well. So why isn’t it the single?

“Well, nor was Angel, right? and look what happened to that,” she said. “If I had a dollar for every time I said, `There is no way that song is ever going to be a single.’

“So who knows? I am never a good one to pick those kinds of things anyway. I like all the songs, so I am really happy with whatever they think is going to get put on the radio.”

First, she’s got to work hard to get it to radio and keep it there. After creating four records, McLachlan knows the score. She must get through the next 18 months of promotion and touring _ the relentless smiling and greeting fans and radio deejays and talk show hosts.

“The album is easy to make, the promoting is the next three months E a different city every other day, which is the most daunting thing,” she says.

“Most times it is easy because I enjoy people and I am a very social person, but it definitely doesn’t leave much at the end of the day for anybody else. It is scary,” she said, laughing again.

She is also grateful for the support of her husband and drummer, Ash.

“He totally gets it, and he is really patient.”

This time out, they will bring their daughter on the road with them, to television appearances, interviews and shows. McLachlan has been doing photo shoots, hunting for video directors, helping design her album cover and doing interviews, but she’s also been searching for a nanny.

“It is a new experiment for all of us, and I just hope we can make it work and not mess her up too much. She is young, so she is resilient,” she said.

McLachlan’s new record re-unites her with longtime collaborator Pierre Marchand, who produces the album and plays keyboards, guitar, bass and percussion. McLachlan began work on the album a year ago but was doubtful about the timing of the release. She says Marchand had a breakthrough with a couple of the songs, however, and only two months ago they decided to go for the November release date.

“It was so hard to make the decision to go for it, and all that it means, leaving (home). That is the big thing. And yeah, it is hard. But it is all part of the game. And I want to get this record out there, and I want people to hear it, and this is what you do. This is part of it.”

Part of getting ready for the new album meant a new look for McLachlan. Gone is the short pixie haircut with little barrettes all over. Her new promo shots show her with long, raven hair, looking uniquely earthy and glamorous.

She’s got the album, she’s got the look. In the next year, McLachlan will find out what her fans think, having waited for her return to the stage and her spot behind the piano.

“I never quite know what to expect. I feel like I have been gone for such a long time,” she says.

“I live in a bubble, and I never hear about that stuff much. It is always a pleasant surprise when somebody says, `Everybody is really excited about this record _ they can’t wait for it.’ And I’m like, `Cool, I’m glad. You haven’t forgotten about me.”‘