A country singer from Lethbridge, Alberta, has found a unique way to promote a song about Ontario’s busiest highway.
Country indie artist Ryan Lindsay wrote the song 401 while being stuck in traffic on the highway on his way to visit his fiancé, who used to live in London, Ontario, before moving to Alberta. He has also booked an ad on an electronic billboard at a truck stop on the 401 to promote it and his new album titled Sailboat in the Prairies.
“That’s how I got the inspiration for it. I was thinking about how I could write a song for Ontarians. I feel Canadian stories and Canadian music are so important, more important now than ever,” said Lindsay.
He added it can be difficult to be proud singing about where an artist is from.
“That’s why I wanted to have this collection of Canadian stories on this record. There I was, stuck on the 401 thinking how can I connect with Ontarians and I felt it’s right here; this is it.”
Lindsay said it’s a highway that may not always feel important to people, but people’s reasons for being on it are.
“They’re making a livelihood. It’s tied to the trucking industry, and people are commuting to the GTA, so in many ways it is important, and it deserves a song.”
His fiancé and publicist, Megan Clarke, said any time the couple has shared it with family and friends in London, Lindsay will get them all to sing along.
“Everybody hates the 401,” she laughed. “Everyone gets it right away. I think for me, it’s wonderful for Ryan to be building a connection with this part of Canada and it gives us a reason to get out here more. It’s also very relatable.”
The chorus for the song is something we can all identify with.
“I don’t want to take the 401. Another day, back to London. Everybody hates this race we run, I gotta find another way.”
Lindsay said the album is a collection of songs with themes people across the country can relate to.
“I can bring that work across Canada and share it culturally with people. I’ll do a show in Alberta and get people singing along to 401 because it’s pretty common for people out there to have driven the highway at some point, so it’s something we can all connect with.”
Sailboat in the Prairies is Lindsay’s fourth album and features songs he wrote while on the road, infused with influences from folk and Canadiana music.
“The album was recorded live-off-the-floor in a barn-converted studio in rural Texas. If you pay close attention, you might notice a subtle east coast rhythm or an oddly specific line that offers a lens into a stranger’s life,” he explained.
You can listen to 401 and the rest of the album on Lindsay’s website or on your favourite music streaming service.
