If Dawson City was ever short a theme song then it’s got one now. Braden Lam has just released “Dawson City,” the second single from his sophomore EP Driftwood People, a whole album about the shifting intangibles of life, recognizing the merits of experience over substance, and the disconnect of life on the road.
Lam draws in some heavy guns to back him up on the album, and more than just the guitar solo by Matt Steele of Matt Steele & The Corvette Sunset. “Dawson City” draws inspiration from literary greats like “Bard of the Yukon” Robert W. Service and Jack London. But, as Lam explains, nothing is so inspiring as the history of the city itself. He built the concept of the song around the city’s gold rush and, riches or rags, the sensation of participating in a great moment in time.
“Going to the Yukon is the kind of trip that really puts you in your place,” says Braden Lam. “Everything is so large and just vast untouched beauty. It was quite a humbling experience realizing how insignificant many material things in my life were compared to this bigger picture that was revealed there in the mountains.
So, I wrote the song to capture those feelings. I put myself in the shoes of someone at the end of their life reflecting on their time in the gold rush and coming to realize that the fame and wealth of striking it rich were not actually the greatest outcome of their life, but it was in fact the experience and place itself that was the true prize. For me, my bigger picture was reconnecting with all the relationships in my life that had slipped away due to being away, or not making time. This theme of re-connecting with myself and the people in my life is a recurring theme throughout my upcoming album. I’m just glad Im realizing all of this now and not at the end of my life.”
Driftwood People will be available September 14th, 2018, with the official release show on October 4th at The Carleton in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In the meantime, Braden Lam will be touring with his band across the Maritimes.
Tour Dates:
08.17.18 – Halifax, NS – Sniggly Wiggly’s
09.20.18 – Moncton, NB – Plan B
09.23.18 – Charlottetown, PEI – Baba’s Lounge
09.28.18 – Antigonish, NS – The Golden X Inn
09.29.18 – Sydney, NS – Governor’s Pub
10.04.18 – Halifax, NS – The Carleton (Release Party)
10.05.18 – Truro, NS – Belly Up