The Strumbellas
Feb 26, 2021
The Strumbellas new single “Greatest Enemy” is the first release from the Canadian 6-piece since their fourth album, RATTLESNAKE, was released via Glassnote in 2019. Lead singer Simon Ward said, "'Greatest Enemy'" is about how sometimes the toughest battle is the one you have with yourself. THE STRUMBELLAS had a rough start to 2020 with cancelled tours and mental health struggles, and then the pandemic happened. This is a song about facing the one fight you can't run from."
Amidst a slew of tour dates and festival performances all over the globe, Ward came to the realization that the depression he had been dealing with for the past 15 years was no longer something he could deal with on his own. Ward was hospitalized and placed under doctor supervision. The Strumbellas spent 2020 on hiatus after deciding to cancel its Canadian tour in early 2020 to give its frontman the time and space to heal. Ward spent his time focused on his mental health and finally felt the spark to create music with his bandmates, intent on weaving his personal issues into the band’s music and message. The band reconnected in person for the first time back in November to record "Greatest Enemy," a song that Ward had penned with acclaimed songwriter Stevie Aiello (Thirty Seconds To Mars, Lana Del Rey).
As a group, The Strumbellas sound invigorated on “Greatest Enemy,” which sees them reuniting with producer Dave Schiffman (Weezer, Tom Petty) who worked with the group on their 2016 album, HOPE, featured “Spirits,” a #1 on the Mediabase Alternative chart.
The Strumbellas may be unsure of when they’ll be able to play for their fans again, but there's a clear spark of optimism surrounding "Greatest Enemy." They’re intent on making the conversation around mental health integral to their narrative because it’s impacted not just Simon but everyone in the band. Touring and the rigours of the music industry affect everyone, and this year has been hard on artists, producers, engineers, and crew members. Working with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) for the single’s release, the band is hoping to help raise awareness.
The Strumbellas are Simon Ward (vocals), David Ritter (keys), Jeremy Drury (percussion), Isabel Ritchie (strings), Jon Hembrey (guitar), and Darryl James (bass). Since releasing their eponymous EP debut in 2009, The band has released four albums and brought their unique brand of folk-leaning pop to festivals including Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza.