Judging by the boldness of their choices, you’d never guess the Trews are 1… Read Full Bio ↴Judging by the boldness of their choices, you’d never guess the Trews are 10 years, five studio albums and thousands of gigs into their highly celebrated career. Clearly, someone forgot to tell them that bands are supposed to become more predictable as the years go by, not less so.
And yet, evidence of a stubborn refusal to play it safe abounds, most notably in the East Coast-bred, Toronto-based rock squad’s eponymous, electrifying new disc, The Trews. It tallies so many firsts that even band members Colin MacDonald, John-Angus MacDonald, Sean Dalton and Jack Syperek cop to being a smidge flabbergasted by their own achievements, 14 Top 10 Canadian radio singles (including two #1s) notwithstanding.
There is, first and foremost, the assured manner in which it was written (through the lens of real life), underwritten (by fan support) and recorded (super-fast alongside marquee producer Gavin Brown). Guests bring flourish – witness Serena Ryder’s smoky vocals on ‘In the Morning,’ a contemplative almost-ballad with lyrics co-written by singer/guitarist Colin MacDonald and his pal, songwriting dynamo Simon Wilcox and buoyed by cellist Anne Bourne’s melancholic accompaniment.
Add in the fact that of late the Trews have been piling up the accolades touring acoustically despite being certified rock brawlers and the net result is something you just don’t see every day: proverbial old dogs issuing some seriously new tricks.
“I think with every record, you are kind of re-applying for the job,” chuckles guitarist John-Angus MacDonald. “There are so many bands out there, so many good ones, the fact that we get to keep going is a privilege. And as much as you get better and wiser with your craft, you still have to be ear-to-the-ground competitive. There is pressure in that.”
There are also wicked-cool rewards in that, none greater than the Trews’ daring and wildly successful PledgeMusic campaign which offered their loyal fans coveted and highly unique access to the band and its recording process in exchange for financial backing.
Everything from Skype chats to drum lessons, lifetime guest list privileges to adding vocals and hand-claps in-studio to songs like ‘New King,’ ‘The Sentimentalist,’ ‘Age of Miracles,’ and ‘Under The Sun’ was snatched up by supporters during the roughly year-long PledgeMusic drive.
“It was so much fun bringing fans into the studio, putting 20 people around a microphone,” Colin MacDonald enthuses. “This whole campaign was a great way to have an even deeper connection with the people who have been supporting us all these years.”
Adds John-Angus MacDonald, “I’d be lying if I said we didn’t have some trepidation at the onset. But it was all about the fan experience. We got to tailor those pledges to what we thought our fans might like, and at the end of it, we got to make a record for fans while giving them access they couldn’t possibly have had otherwise.”
Of course, the whole PledgeMusic exercise would be academic if the Trews weren’t making freaking phenomenal rock and roll full of the hairpin stylistic turns you’d expect from four guys who’ve been playing together daily pretty much all their adult lives.
Take the new album’s blazing first single, ‘What's Fair Is Fair’ which Colin MacDonald describes as “A song I wrote about a relationship falling apart. Sometimes when you cross a line you can't come back.”
And then there is the quaking, spit-drenched ‘New King,’ a biting indictment of bullies on digital pulpits. “We were pissed off and we wrote a song about it. I mean, if you can’t use your rock and roll to tell somebody to go shove it,” John-Angus MacDonald howls, “what the hell good is it?”
At the other end of the sonic spectrum is ‘65 Roses,’ a song inspired by former Trews booking agent Paul Gourlie, who succumbed to Cystic Fibrosis last May at age 37. It is, says John-Angus MacDonald, an illustration of the band feeling comfortable turning the volume down thanks to their acoustic touring, and an example of the impact producer Gavin Brown (see Metric, the Tragically Hip, Billy Talent) had on the new disc.
“The song ‘65 Roses’ was originally presented as an upbeat and rollicking song but the subject matter is quite sad,” the guitarist confirms. “Gavin was really insistent on that song being played as an acoustic number without drums. He saw us performing at Paul’s memorial and I don’t think he would even consider it being anything else.”
Indeed, Brown brought a whole new way of working to bear when he gathered with the Trews – including long-time keyboardist Jeff Heisholt - last fall in their rehearsal space for pre-production before moving the show to Toronto’s Noble Street Studios for “a concentrated two-and-half week session with some additional recording in November, mixing in December and mastering in January,” Colin MacDonald recalls.
“Gavin takes awesome bands and makes them awesome-r,” the singer cracks playfully. “And I think with our band, self-production would be a one-way ticket to divorce. We all respect each other but it’s always good to have that sounding board. Gavin is a giant personality who works quickly with such precision. So we entered that orbit and it made for a really interesting time. I’d do it again tomorrow.”
“For us, working quickly is a function of having our material together,” John-Angus adds, noting that the group amassed some 30 songs between January and May 2013 despite all members “doing a lot of other things. Life was being lived, we were traveling, but I think that fed the writing.
“From there we went about arranging it and making it sound great in the studio which, in my opinion, is much easier than songwriting. With Hope & Ruin” – the Trews’ chart-topping 2011 release cut with Hip bassist Gord Sinclair – “we were writing and recording at the same time and that record took seven months. Taking a kind of church and state approach to writing and recording this time worked really well.”
“I think we are getting better at pinpointing when a song is good and when it’s not,” Colin MacDonald says. “That’s what happens when you make five albums and tour all the time – you can tell a timeless idea from one that rocks hard but gets old fast. If I have to sing these songs 200 nights a year,” he smiles, doubtless envisioning the Trews’ itinerary for the foreseeable, “I want them to be good.”

Makin' Sunshine
The Trews Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tomorrow's always far away
When you are stuck in yesterday
And this old town keeps you locked up and lost inside
It draws the lines upon you face
It makes you old before your day though it's rainin'
Don't stay in
No escaping
We are dancin'

My heart is not the type to sway
Its good for any other day
So if you say that you will stay
And you'll be mine oh I'll make everything ok
I'll push the hurt of world away though it's rainin'
Don't stay in
No escaping
We are dancin

I'm right on time
I'm makin' sunshine
I'm makin' sunshine
I'm right on time
I'm makin' sunshine
I'm makin' sunshine

There was a time I was afraid
I let my strength or spirit fade
But now's the time to stand aware and take what's mine
The lessons from my dues are paid

I'm right on time
I'm makin' sunshine
I'm makin' sunshine
I'm right on time
I'm makin' sunshine
I'm makin' sunshine
I'm right on time
I'm makin' sunshine
I'm makin' sunshine
Sunshine
Sunshine
Sunshine

Sunshine
Sunshine

Overall Meaning

The Trews's song "Makin' Sunshine" is an inspiring and uplifting song about moving past one's fears and struggles to create a brighter future. The lyrics suggest that dwelling on the past and being weighed down by the hardships of life will only hold one back from achieving their full potential. The line "And this old town keeps you locked up and lost inside" represents the idea of feeling trapped in one's circumstances, while "It draws the lines upon your face, it makes you old before your day" refers to the toll that stress and worry can take on a person's appearance and vitality.

However, the chorus reveals the hope and determination to overcome these obstacles: "I'm right on time, I'm making sunshine." The singer is committed to pushing the "hurt of the world away," and finding someone to share the journey with. The line "My heart is not the type to sway" suggests strength and resilience, while the promise to "make everything ok" demonstrates the desire to provide comfort and support.

The final verse seems to speak directly to the audience, urging them to recognize their own potential and take charge of their lives. "There was a time I was afraid, I let my strength or spirit fade, but now's the time to stand aware and take what's mine..." The uplifting chorus repeats, emphasizing the idea that it's never too late to turn things around and make a better life for oneself.

Overall, "Makin' Sunshine" is a powerful song about perseverance and hope. It encourages listeners to break free from the chains of the past and create a brighter future, filled with love and hope.

Line by Line Meaning

Tomorrow's always far away
Looking ahead to the future always feels like a distant prospect.

When you are stuck in yesterday
Being preoccupied with the past can prevent one from moving forward.

And this old town keeps you locked up and lost inside
Living in a stagnant environment can cause feelings of confinement and confusion.

It draws the lines upon your face
The stressful nature of one's surroundings can have physical effects, such as wrinkling and aging.

It makes you old before your day though it's rainin'
Living in a dreary place can feel like it's aging one prematurely.

Don't stay in
Don't allow yourself to remain trapped in an unfulfilling situation.

No escaping
There may be challenges to face, but one must confront them in order to move forward.

We are dancin'
Life is a continual journey, and we must find ways to make the most of it and keep moving forward.

My heart is not the type to sway
I am resilient and steadfast in my convictions and emotions.

Its good for any other day
My heart is strong enough to face any challenge or heartache.

So if you say that you will stay
If you make a commitment to me, I will do anything to ensure your happiness.

And you'll be mine oh I'll make everything ok
I will do whatever it takes to make our relationship a success and bring joy to your life.

I'll push the hurt of world away though it's rainin'
No matter what struggles or obstacles we face, I will stand strong and protect us from harm.

I'm right on time
I am where I am supposed to be in life, and I trust that everything will work out as it should.

I'm makin' sunshine
I am creating happiness and positivity in my life and those around me.

There was a time I was afraid
There have been moments in my past where I felt scared or unsure of what the future held.

I let my strength or spirit fade
During those times, I allowed my confidence and self-assurance to diminish.

But now's the time to stand aware and take what's mine
Now, I am more aware and assertive, and I am ready to claim my own success.

The lessons from my dues are paid
I have learned from the struggles and hardships in my past and am stronger for it.

Sunshine
A reminder to embrace positivity and optimism in life.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Colin Macdonald, Iain Macdonald, Jack Syperek, John Macdonald, Sean Dalton

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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