“None of us get out of here alive” is an ominous way to open a song in 2020, but rather than a dire Thelma and Louise cliff-side scenario, Tony Ronalds is singing about the rest of his life. Originally from Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia, the singer-songwriter’s new track, “Go” is inspired by his own life-changing moment in which he made the decision to move to Sydney, Australia. The single has already hit #5 on the AMRAP chart, just behind Australian legends The Hoodoo Gurus.
“Once you realize you are not promised another day, you quickly begin to appreciate the days you are given,” says Ronald. “‘Go’ is about escapism and commitment and unbridled dedication and a whole lot more.”
Ronalds explains that “Go” was laid out as a done deal long ago, even if it wasn’t yet a song. When his then-girlfriend raised the point that she’d have to eventually return to her home in Australia and asked if he’d consider returning with her. Ronalds says that he replied as you do when you are newly in love: “Tell me when you want to go.”
“We continued dating and things got more and more serious. Engaged after a year and a bit and then married,” says Ronalds. “One day last year she said it was time. I did not hesitate to say yes.”
As a result, “Go” is Ronalds’ first release since landing in Australia.
Many will recognize his work as a member of ’90s Nova Scotian folk group Kilt and Three Finger Shot. The single, originally intended for a Three Finger Shot album, came with a fairly obvious and inevitable expiration, however, and Ronalds found himself headed for the other side of the planet, he had to speed things along.
“I left the band and took the songs I wrote and decided I would really put a drive on to get them completed,” says Ronalds. “I wanted to respect the time, effort and relationship with Eric Eggleston, my producer and co-writer on ‘Go’. He flew out to Calgary for two songwriting sessions and ‘Go’ was a part of one of those sessions.”
His burgeoning music career in the southern hemisphere has amounted to a single show, thanks to COVID, but an abundance of radio coverage. Ronalds says that he has no regrets.
“I think fear certainly enters your mind when you are in your late forties and you are now moving to the other side of the world to ‘start over’ – literally learning how to play instruments, record my own vocals, taking production courses. And at the time looking to ‘start over’ as a solo artist.
“Nothing about really connecting with my heart, and following this dream of a new life based on love and music can be thought of as dreaded though.”
Despite being on the far side of the planet Ronalds continues to work with Michael S. Ryan of Nova Scotian legends, The Town Heroes, who also appears on the track.
“Michael S. Ryan is and has been a major influence in my personal development in more ways than just musically,” says Ronalds. “Funny enough, back in the early 2000’s Michael Ryan was living in the house next door to me and would be asking for singing tips, I am glad he didn’t listen to me.
“Things with us have gone full circle, both he and Bruce Gillis are a big reason I am still doing music. These guys believed in me when I had written off music as a possibility. Seriously, they have kept me going and led by example; Michael with his words and Bruce with raw sexuality.”
Tony Ronalds new four-song EP, also titled Go, is expected to be released in November as an extremely limited run. In hopes of creating something particularly special for his fans, only 31 copies of the album will be made available at a cost of $200 apiece. Each copy will, however, come with a special live one-on-one streamed performance. For the more frugal fans, the songs will also later appear on Ronalds’ upcoming LP, titled Tsunami. Both the EP and LP can currently be pre-ordered online.