UP AND DOWN
The Strumbellas’ hit song ‘Spirits’ came from a dark place,
After eight years and 500 live shows, Simon Ward’s folk-fuelled rock act the Strumbellas cracked the mainstream this spring with their chantalong single “Spirits.”
“We’re going down to the States and going across to Europe, and people are singing along to our songs,” Ward said over the phone from his hometown of Lindsay, Ont. “It’s really fun to watch, to be honest.”
The single hit No. 1 on Billboard’s U.S. alternative chart and was No. 1 for seven weeks on Canadian alternative radio. Shazam ranked it fifth on a list predicting the almighty song of the summer, reporting that over a million people have used the app to identify “Spirits.”
While the catchy chorus captures the brightness of the summer season, the tune sprang from a dark place. Ward wrote it during a period of depression during a seven-week North American tour away from his wife Amy, son Theo, 5, and daughter Frances, 2, who was then just a newborn.
“I was going through an exceptionally hard time and this song and most of the record was just about, ‘I’m not happy,’ ” he said.
“I felt like a loser. A lot of doubt, a lot of lack of self-worth. ‘Spirits’ and most of the record ( Hope) is just about, ‘I feel down, I don’t feel like a good person, I don’t feel like I’m doing a good job, but I’m going to try.’ ”
The message clicked with fans, who have seen their own experience reflected in Ward’s lyrics.
“I had a guy email me and say, my wife passed away last year and literally when people ask me how I feel, I just want to play them ‘Spirits,’ ” he said.
“I’ve had a lot of people in the military email me and say this song is helping me through post-traumatic stress. The general overall theme is people that are going through hard times in their head.”
With the song destined for dock parties and campfires throughout cottage country this summer, Ward is enjoying the success but can’t help associating it with his ongoing offstage struggles.
“I think the record came out really cool, but I had to go through a lot of years of sadness,” he said.
“Would I trade being a happy person for not writing music? Maybe, because I’m not a happy person generally. I’m so happy that the music is connecting with people, but I’ve got to go through a lot of stuff myself.” The Strumbellas play the Pandamonium Fundraiser in Toronto on June 23, the KOI Music Festival in Kitchener on June 25, Mississauga’s free Canada Day Celebration on July 1 and The Queen’s Plate at Woodbine Race Track on July 3.