Through their expansive discography, Whitehorse have left no emotional, personal, fantastical, or political stone unturned. Their upcoming LP, I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying, is no different. Due out on January 13, 2023, I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying finds the pair venturing deeper into classic country music touchstones than ever before; a move that is both a homecoming and an evolution of their sound. A twist on the ever-present “pandemic album,” Whitehorse distilled and transcended the gloom and uncertainty of the time with a collection about heartbreak and loyalty; getting by and going crazy; and shaking things up and hunkering down. The resulting twelve-song collection is playful yet profound; masterfully simple and timeless.

Today, Whitehorse share two songs from I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying: “Division 5” and “Leave Me As You Found Me.” “Division 5” is a cleverly spun story about a man trying to enlist the help of Mounties to reclaim his lost love. “It was just a funny turn at the idea that someone would file a missing person’s report on themselves,” says Doucet. Accompanied by a beautifully Travis-picked guitar and bottleneck slide flourishes, “Division 5” showcases both Doucet’s and McClelland’s tasteful guitar prowess as well as their ability to turn such a wild idea for a song into an uplifting tale for all “sad sacks,” far and wide.

“Leave Me As You Found Me” finds McClelland taking lead vocals on a pedal-steel-tinged country number. “I feel like these classic country songs just write themselves,” she says. “As soon as you get the melodic or lyrical hook, it just comes out.” Sparked by McClelland remembering sex-advice columnist Dan Savage and his “campsite rule”—if you date someone who’s much younger than you, leave them better than you found them. With that general rule of thumb stuck in her head, McClelland took to writing this waltzing heartbreak number. “Don’t leave your rubbish, your baggage behind / Don’t leave these thoughts in the back of my mind / Dust off my heart, won’t you please just be kind / And let me let you go,” she sings.

Listen to “Division 5” and “Leave Me As You Found Me” today here and pre-order or pre- save I’m Not Crying, You’re Crying ahead of its January 13th release here.

Whitehorse play City Folk Festival in Ottawa with Orville Peck before heading out for shows Winnipeg to Victoria. For show details and tickets visit whitehorsemusic.ca/tour

TOUR DATES

NASHVILLE, TN: AmericanaFest, Sept 15
OTTAWA, ON: City Folk Festival, Sept 16
WINNIPEG, MB: Park Theatre, Sept 27
SASKATOON, SK: Broadway Theatre, Sept 28
REGINA, SK: The Exchange, Sept 29
CAMROSE, AB: Bailey Theatre, Sept 30
ST. ALBERT, AB: Arden Theatre, Oct 1
CALGARY, AB: Bella Concert Hall, Oct 2
RED DEER, AB: Bo's Bar & Grill, Oct 3
CRANBROOK, BC: Key City Theatre, Oct 5
TRAIL, BC: Charles Bailey Theatre, Oct 6
SALMON ARM, BC: Song Sparrow Hall, Oct 7
VANCOUVER, BC: Hollywood Theatre, Oct 8
COURTENAY, BC: Sid Williams Theatre, Oct 9
VICTORIA, BC: Upstairs Cabaret, Oct 11

ABOUT WHITEHORSE

Whitehorse is the prolific partnership of Melissa McClelland and Luke Doucet. Uninhibited by expectation, boldly adventurous and categorically talented, Whitehorse’s signature sound is always guitar-heavy, harmony-plentiful and lyrically deft.

With an expansive run of records that freely and thrillingly dip in psychedelic country, pop noir, squalling blues rock and celestial folk, Whitehorse have pushed their musical identity into new realms and sounds for over a decade. As attested by five consecutive JUNO Award nominations in many different genre categories, Whitehorse do a lot of things, and do them well.

The duo’s remarkable staying power through eight full-length albums and multiple EPs is a defining feature of their partnership. What began as a risky idea, channeling two successful solo careers into one, has grown into a full-blown creative union with odds- beating longevity.