The title track of Dover Lynn Fox’s debut EP is about the optimism and intrigue in everyday life and how with age, this can become muted. “Life is full of surprises, some happy, some sad,” she explains. “And when these things hit you, your emotions seem beyond your control.” The single and EP project as a whole offers a window into the young Burlington and Toronoto-hailing artist’s world.

Indebted to the sounds of the ‘60s and ‘70s music she grew up on, Lynn Fox blends indie-pop, folk and rock in her work, with vintage artists comprising most of her listening habits. This has taken in the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Stevie Nicks and Neil Diamond, as well as more recent acts like Travis, Mazzy Star and the Jayhawks. Perhaps due in part to this musical nourishment, Lynn Fox emerges as a deft storyteller on “New Seasons” – wistful in reminiscence and reflection, but with clear intent as an artist of the future.

Learn more by reading our chat with Dover Lynn Fox right now and listen to the “New Seasons” EP below…

Hey Dover Lynn! How are you today? Describe life for you right now in three words.
I’m doing well, thank you. Three words, let’s go with: quirky, creative and intriguing.

Congratulations on “New Seasons”! As your debut EP, how do you feel now that it’s finally out in the world?
I feel excited and actually quite relieved. I started working on the EP, prior to the pandemic. It was a long process and it feels great that the music is finally out.

Tell us about the initial sessions when making the project. Where does one even start when crafting their debut body of work?
It all starts with a story for me. The initial sessions took place in my own little makeshift studio. I realised I had written a few songs that were thematically cohesive and seemed to flow. So, I went with those songs and they became the “New Seasons” EP.

You have a real knack for storytelling in your work. How do you think your ability for building narrative has developed?
Thanks! Literature is a huge influence for me. I have always paid attention to the way stories are told and the themes/symbols that authors carry throughout their work. I strive to do the same with my songs. I re-read a few of my favourite books while writing “New Seasons”. Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury; Larry McMurtry’s tumultuous and epic, Lonesome Dove; the uneasy and gothic, We Have Always Lived in a Castle by Shirley Jackson, and C.S. Lewis’, Until We Have Faces. It is stories like these, and many many others, that have provided me with the foundation for building a narrative.

You’ve got an affinity for music from the ‘60s and ‘70s. How did these vintage sounds become such a mainstay on your playlists?
My grandmother had an old reel-to-reel stereo component that she passed down to my parents. These old reels were loaded with ’60s and ‘70s music. Everything from Linda Ronstadt, Elvis Presley, The Mamas and the Papas, Del Shannon, Neil Diamond – the list goes on. I grew up listening to a great mix of music and I never grew tired of it. I love plenty of new artists and the reel-to-reel is long gone, but I always come back to the old classics.

The track “New Seasons” is about losing optimism in the simplicity of everyday life as we age. What drew you to that theme?
Life is full of surprises, some happy, some sad and when these things hit you, your emotions seem beyond your control. I do think a lot about free will and choice. Regardless of the event or set of circumstances, there are times you almost have to fight to find a silver lining. There is a quote by one of my favourite philosophers, “If you want to be happy, be!” For me, the trick is you just have to look for happiness, it’s not always easy but it’s a pretty good habit to get into. This idea is the theme for “New Seasons”.

You grew up in Burlington and Toronto. What did you like about where you were raised and what did you not like so much?
They were two very different experiences. In Burlington, I liked the fact that nature is right next door and there is plenty of green space, lots of trees, riding stables, orchards-all sorts of things for a quirky, nature nut like me. What I don’t like so much? Big box stores. I’d be more frightened of getting lost inside a Walmart than I would a forest.

What would be the ultimate accolade or milestone you would like to achieve in your career?
That’s a tricky one. At this point, I think more about small accolades, little rewards, such as the thrill of hearing one of my songs on the radio, playing a cool venue, and things like that. I envy athletes when asked this type of question, as I’m just taking it day by day, doing my best. I’m just playing my game. That’s actually closer to the truth for me.

Now your debut EP is out of the way, what’s next for you?
I’m still very in touch with “New Seasons” and promoting it. Once I have given “New Seasons” all of the attention I can, I am going to throw a saddle on a horse, go for a ride and possibly never come back. Actually, I will come back. I have started writing and I have a load of songs. I will go through the process of choosing the best ones and getting into a recording studio with my Aquarian producer, Chris Stringer.