The Rural Alberta Advantage have announced their new album, The Rise & The Fall, will drop on October 6th via Paper Bag Records/Saddle Creek. The LP features the return of original band member and multi-artist Amy Cole, alongside Paul Banwatt (drums) and Nils Edenloff (lead vocals, guitar, keyboard). With the news, the band have shared album track “Conductors,” dedicated to the universal question of why we run from the things we love.

Edenloff explains the genesis of the song: “There is so much I love about being in a band. But one of its most fundamental aspects causes me more mental anguish than anything else, and that’s actually writing songs. When I’m able to tune out the doubting voice in my head and get it done, there’s no greater feeling. But often the devil wins and it’s easier to just run away.”

Edenloff continues: “Paul and Amy know about this struggle, and are usually very supportive. But when the world was first getting swept up in ChatGPT and we were deep in the songwriting process, Paul found it hilarious to ask the bot to create lyrics in the style of ‘The Rural Alberta Advantage’. I guess being reminded that you’re easily replaceable got me thinking about why I run from something I know can, and often does, bring me so much joy. I can say with total honesty none of the lyrics Paul coaxed from the AI made it onto the record, nor did any particularly move me. So for now, good old fashioned sweat, pen to paper inspiration still won the day for us.”

The video for “Conductors” was inspired by the work of director Adam Curtis. Edenloff added, “I’ve been a fan of Adam Curtis’ documentaries for a while. I’m not sure if it’s the message, the archival footage or the soundtrack, or maybe it’s a combination of the three, but there is something hypnotic and engrossing in his work I love, and for me, it’s perfect to watch on tour.

Says Amy Cole, “The last couple of years really tested us as a band, and made us ask ourselves: Why do we want to make music right now? And I think the answer is that, when the three of us get together, something happens that we now know is rare and special. We made this record so we can share this feeling, and bring others into that experience with us.”

The Rise & The Fall is the product of the band’s navigating the pandemic and its aftermath: songwriting over Zoom meetings, collaborating on demos online, distanced rehearsals in borrowed warehouses, and never giving up on the hope that the day would finally come when the band could share new music on stage together again. Along with a few smaller tour runs in 2022, the band returned to the studio with Gavin Gardiner (Born Ruffians, The Wooden Sky, Evening Hymns).

Pre-order The Rise & The Fall HERE