Catching Lightning: Norine Braun’s "A Hero in the Wind"
In the rain-swept heart of Vancouver, where rain and rhythm are one and the same, Norine Braun has always had the courage to do something that nobody dares to do—tap the raw pulse of creation itself. "A Hero in the Wind, her latest offering that was unleashed on November 6, 2025, is more than just an album; it is an revelation". Made during Steve Dawson’s Henhouse Pop-Up Recording sessions where she would record her one-hour take-right unplugged perfomrances with her band, this was the culmination of taking sponteneity to a sacred ritual. Each song was taking shape within one hour—no cuts, no editing—just taking that extra step to transform flaws to art.
For Braun, this bold strategy was anything but limiting; it was liberating. A songwriter known and revered for incorporating roots rock, soul, blues, and folk to weave full-bodied and emotionally complex tapestries, she finds herself literally dancing with the passage of time. “There’s no need to overthink and perfect,” she explains. “You just throw yourself in and trust the song.” It’s clear that she has done just that with this body of work.
The title track—"A Hero in the Wind"—is the essence within the musical offering to Braun’s real father, who had recently departed just after Christmas. The musical rendition was derived from her recently discovered bond with her late father and has taken flight with the aid of ‘love, loss, and the process of healing.’ The song has become an inspiration to those searching ‘for roots after all these years of wandering’ since Braun herself has ‘finally discovered her Métis roots.’ Around her are ‘brilliant musicians’ such as Steve Dawson’s soulful guitars and pedal steel, gentle keys by Darryl Havers, drum beats that pulse with the heart’ by Geoff Hicks and Liam MacDonald, with Jeremy Holmes firm bass line and radiant vocals by Sarah Alexy Fraser that were captured by Sheldon Zaharko in Vancouver’s fabled Warehouse Studio.
“A Hero in the Wind” concludes with the trio of extra tracks produced by Adam Popowitz that are “Bird With a Song to Sing (Remix),” “Eye of the Hurricane,” and “2020 Reprise,” each song radiating with hope and reflection. The artwork on the album cover featuring the visuals by Katarina Thorsen—inspired by a photo of Braun’s father—brings the story full circle with strokes of remembrance and movement. “A Hero in the Wind” sings about learning to trust in the moment—when it comes to music and in every area of life, Braun reflects. “Sometimes the best takes are the first ones, when you’re fully in the flow.” It is within this fearless flow that Norine Braun sings—that she flies.
Instagram
Comments
Post a Comment