Spindle Radar: Amanda Marshall Dishes On Her New Music Chapter And Upcoming Return To The UK stage

After decades away from UK stages, acclaimed Canadian singer-songwriter Amanda Marshall is making a long-awaited return, and fans couldn’t be more ready.

In an exclusive conversation with Spindle, Marshall opens up about stepping back into the spotlight, reconnecting with audiences across the Atlantic and the emotional pull that keeps bringing her back to London. From the stories behind her return to music to her reflections on a career that has captivated listeners for generations, she also hints at what’s still to come in an exciting new chapter ahead.

After more than two decades away from releasing new music, what did stepping back into the studio for Heavy Lifting feel like?

Sort of like getting the keys to your first car – thrilling, mildly terrifying. You can go anywhere you want, but there’s also the chance that you could take a wrong turn and get lost, or crash.

Is there anything you rediscovered about yourself as an artist during the making of Heavy Lifting? Did your hiatus change the way you write, sing or understand your voice at all?

Everything changed. The hiatus was the best thing that ever happened to me. I became who I was always supposed to be, personally and professionally. The specific addition of “Hope She Cheats” changed the direction of the album because Marsha’s (Ambrosius) lyrics were funny, direct, and cutting. That song made me re-evaluate my own writing. I’d always written sort of…earnestly? Suddenly, I was like, “Just say the thing, stop taking yourself so seriously”.

Your album Heavy Lifting moves through heartbreak, humour, social commentary, and deep personal reflection. How did you navigate writing an album with such a wide emotional range whilst keeping it cohesive?

It’s funny, I didn’t really think about that – in an era of playlists, does album cohesion even matter? I will say, the last song on the album is a ballad called “Honest”. We kept it to just a drumbeat, vocal, organ and a mournful sax solo. I wanted there to be one song that you could fall asleep to with headphones on.

You’ve spoken about Jeff Healey’s influence. Is there something he taught you that you still carry with you today?

Play. Be around other musicians. Jeff was this massive, once-in-a-generation talent, but he wasn’t precious about that at all – he’d jam with almost anyone, because he genuinely liked to play. When I was starting out, making crappy little demos, Jeff would finish some giant show and then come to the studio and hang out until 3 a.m., playing on random songs of mine. It made a huge impression on me – this guy at the height of success, who could live a completely insular life if he wanted, chose to seek out places where he could be creative. And yeah, some of it was just about meeting girls and partying or whatever, but at his core, he loved music, and he wanted to play.

Do you have a track you particularly resonate with from your album Heavy Lifting? If so, why?

“Hope She Cheats” for all the reasons I mentioned earlier. I love “Built This House” because I always wanted to write a decent blues song, and it’s where the album title came from. Speaking of Jeff, he would’ve killed that song.

When a song carries heavy subject matter, like ‘Rainbows in Gasoline’, how do you protect your own emotional space whilst still telling the truth? Do you ever feel vulnerable?

That song is a sequel to “Birmingham”, a single from my debut album. The whole notion of “When you know better, you do better”. I’m not a domestic abuse survivor, but I really wanted to explore that story from an older, wiser perspective. I love the idea that she’s got a whole new life but sees an old pattern emerging and nips it in the bud.

This London show marks your first UK performance in years. Why London? What does it mean to you to return to a city that was part of your early international success?

London is of great personal and professional significance to me. My mom lived there for years before immigrating to Canada; I have family there. I grew up hearing all about London. I still remember my aunt sending me Pete Townshend’s “White City” album because I couldn’t get it in Canada! It was also the very first international showcase I ever played. On the day my then-manager called to tell me that my first album had gone platinum, I happened to be standing outside the Tiffany & Co. flagship store in London, and I didn’t have any real money yet, but I walked in and bought myself a piece of jewellery to celebrate.

You’ll be performing both your classic hits and songs from Heavy Lifting. How did you approach weaving both those eras together into one show?

The songs from Heavy Lifting merge seamlessly with the older songs. Plus, this show is an acoustic show; I love a stripped-down backdrop, it’s where the rubber meets the road. It’s just you, the songs, and the audience. It’s going to be great.

Are there songs from your early catalogue that feel completely different to sing now, with the life you’ve lived since?

Of course, all of them! Music is the physical expression of emotional experience. I mean, I was 21 when I recorded “Beautiful Goodbye”. That lyric was way beyond me then, so there’s a charming naivete to that performance. It’s a perfect reflection of where I was at the time. But you know how flavours intensify when you marinate things properly? Everything gets richer and better.

What do you hope listeners take away from this new chapter of Amanda Marshall?

The title “Heavy Lifting” has a dual meaning: The album itself was a ton of work, but I can’t overstate what a gift it is to get the opportunity to really come into your own, creatively and personally. It’s a huge weight off. The story of how I came to be absent is not new. Lots of musicians have legal problems that derail them, often permanently. But it was an invaluable education. It made me smarter, happier, and a thousand times more capable in every area of my life.

To see how impactful the older songs have been amazing. People have marked major milestones with my voice – births, deaths, graduations, weddings, breakups – that’s extremely moving to me. I know I’m lucky. I’m a better singer, writer, and performer now than I ever was. I’m more appreciative of my talent and the people around me, and I don’t sweat the small stuff. I’m not chasing anything, and people can tell when you’re happy and comfortable in your own skin. That’s what matters.

Check out Amanda Marshall’s latest album Heavy Lifting here or below.