The Songs Behind: Great Lake Swimmers
Discover the songs that shaped and inspired Tony Dekker, founder and vocalist of beloved Canadian folk outfit Great Lake Swimmers, as they prepare to bring their stunning new album Caught Light to the UK this May.
This May sees beloved Canadian folk outfit Great Lake Swimmers make their return to the UK, bringing their stunning ninth album Caught Light with them. The record has been receiving rave reviews since its release and it is easy to hear why. Recorded in just three days deep in the Ganaraska Forest with producer Darcy Yates and engineer Jimmy Bowskill, Caught Light is the sound of a band rediscovering their spark with breathtaking results.
More than two decades into their career, Great Lake Swimmers have never sounded more alive. From the golden, open-road warmth of One More Dance Around the Sun to the jaunty, stardust-laced reassurance of Wrong, Wrong, Wrong, Caught Light is a record full of quiet clarity and unexpected beauty. It is shaped by the idea of landing somewhere other than where you planned and finding something wonderful waiting.
Great Lake Swimmers UK Tour Dates:
06/05/26 The Hope & Ruin - Brighton
07/05/26 Exchange - Bristol
08/05/26 Nice 'n Sleazy - Glasgow
09/05/26 Yes - Manchester
10/05/26 100 Club - London
I caught up with founding member and vocalist Tony Dekker ahead of the tour to hear more about the making of Caught Light and this exciting new chapter for Great Lake Swimmers, before discovering the songs that have shaped and inspired him through my Songs Behind feature.
At the end of last year you put out your ninth studio album 'Caught Light'. Now that it has been out in the world for a few months, how have you felt about the response to the record?
"The response for the record has been really great so far. I liked hearing from friends and fans that “this is music you can close your eyes to” and that it’s an easy one to listen to on repeat."
How inspiring did you find recording the album in the Ganaraska Forest?
"The sound of the place definitely left an imprint on the album. The Ganaraska Recording Co. is essentially in a century-old farmhouse surrounded by acres of rolling hills and trails, so it was nice to be in a somewhat secluded, self-contained environment to develop the songs."
What has been the highlight of this album campaign so far?
"We went to number one on the CBC (Canadian) music charts with the song ‘One More Dance Around The Sun,’ and it’s been a while since we’ve charted anything so that was an unexpected highlight. The touring for the record has also been really good. Our fans are really showing up for this one."
How different was the writing and recording process of this album to the earlier releases yourselves put out?
"This one was different because the writing and recording was done very quickly, without being too precious about trying to perfect the sound or edit small mistakes. We took an approach that moved very fast and the whole thing was recorded in three days, with two additional days of overdubs. It was a much more immediate and urgent process. I put a lot of faith into my friend and co-producer Darcy Yates, as well as the engineer and multi-instrumentalist on the album, Jim Bowskill."
With a UK tour coming up in May, how excited are you to bring these songs to the stage and see how they evolve in a live setting?
We are very excited to return to the UK with this set of songs. They have been translating live really well, and we have been playing as a trio which has really opened up the space in the songs and has allowed them to breathe in a way. There’s an intensity and almost a fragility to the live shows lately which I think has suited the new record. It’s created more of a focus on the lyrics and the harmonies.
Favourite Song to Play Live:
'Caught Light' & 'Your Rocky Spine' by Great Lake Swimmers
“From the new album, the title track ‘Caught Light’ has been interesting because it seems to turn out different every night. There’s lots of room for subtle variations on that one. From the back catalogue, ‘Your Rocky Spine’ also never stops being fun to play."
Song That Reminds You of Your Childhood:
'Caught Light' by Great Lake Swimmers
“I would point to the title track again, ‘Caught Light’ because it has a backstory that goes back to my childhood being raised in a rural part of southern Ontario, Canada. One of the themes of the album I think is coming to terms with the strengths and positives of small communities after having spent some time away from them."
First Album You Brought:
'Born in the U.S.A.' by Bruce Springsteen
“I bought the cassette version of Bruce Springsteen’s ‘Born In The USA’ the year that it came out, after having heard the song ‘Glory Days’ on the radio."
Song That Made You Want to Be a Musician:
'Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye' by Leonard Cohen
"For me, being a musician means writing songs and playing with words. So lyrics are really important to me and that’s where I feel I do most of my heavy lifting. When I first heard the early songs of Leonard Cohen, especially the first album, the lyrics were like poetry and I liked how much care was put into that. ‘Hey, That’s No Way to Say Goodbye’ and of course many others from Cohen have been very inspiring."
Song That Gets You Through Hard Times:
'Hold on Magnolia' by Songs: Ohia
“Lately I have been revisiting the Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co. catalogue. The hurt in Molina’s voice can make one feel that they are less alone, especially on the song ‘Hold On Magnolia.'"
A Song You Would Have Loved to Write:
'Who Are You' by Tom Waits
Song You'd Put On at a Party:
'Let Me Down Easy' by Derrick Harriott
Favourite Song of All Time:
'To Live Is To Fly' by Townes Van Zandt
“It’s impossible to answer that definitively, but for today, let’s say ‘To Live Is To Fly’ by Townes Van Zandt."
Song You are Most Proud Of:
'Moving Pictures Silent Films' by Great Lake Swimmers
“That’s also really hard to say, but in retrospect, the first song from the first album, ‘Moving Pictures Silent Films’ really set the tone for Great Lake Swimmers as a song-writing vehicle. It manages to find a way into our set at almost every show, even after twenty-plus-years, so it feels like that one holds up to the test of time, which is really all you can ask for."
