Chris Antonik brings back that Clapton love in his latest Pilgrim

NASHVILLE, TN (July 8, 2022) — Chris Antonik, the blues-rock, guitar wielding, singer-songwriter from Canada has just gone through a five-year process of personal growth and self-compassion building — and he wears his stories on his sleeve across the 14-track Morningstar (out August 5 via Second Half Records, in partnership with Moon Dog Music). The album’s lead single, “Waves of Stone” (released June 3), debuted at #6 on Roots Music Report’s Blues Singles Charts in the U.S. and #1, respectively in Canada. The blistering song hits like a thunderbolt on a musical and emotional level. Musically, it’s riff-driven blues-rock showcasing Antonik trading searing lead guitar solos with American counterpart, the 3x-Blues Music Award nominee, Jarekus Singleton.

Catch Chris Antonik Live:

July 27 The North Street Cabaret Madison, WI

July 28 Granada Theatre Minneapolis, MN

July 30 Fargo Blues Festival West Fargo, ND

July 31 Storm Cellar Lincoln, NE

Aug 1 National Blues Museum St. Louis, MO

Aug 2 The Stable Music Hall and Lounge Bloomington, IL

Aug 3 PJ’s Lager House Detroit, MI

Sept 10 The Soundbank Phoenixville, PA

Sept 11 Jus Sum Jazz Lounge Syracuse, NY

The album’s sophomore single, “Pilgrim,” — out today — is a nod to late-80's Clapton that also charts its own modern sonic course, featuring big riffs, soaring lead guitar work from Antonik and retro synthesizers. Penned prior to the pandemic about the importance of building community and connecting with others, the track was inspired by Carl Jung’s theories on human priorities in the “second half” of life: becoming more conscious and re-connecting with the human tribe. The song’s theme could not be more relevant in 2022.

"When I started this song, I was a pilgrim embarking on a new life as a single parent — quickly realizing the importance of community, building connections outward, and cherishing your tribe,” says Antonik. “My co-writer Ben Fisher and I wanted to address these ideas and create a positive blues-rock anthem for them…and this was all before the pandemic fractured our communities. I am really happy to be releasing this song now, as we all come back together again."

“In 2017, I had started a new life after a divorce,” recalls Antonik on the catalyst of Morningstar. “I made the mistake of getting into another relationship too soon. Driven by a fear of being alone and to soothe my grief from the divorce, I dove in. The relationship didn’t last long. The pain and anguish that I experienced when it ended was compounded by the fact that I was still grieving divorce. ‘Waves of Stone’ is a snapshot of how heartbroken and frustrated I felt in the last few weeks of the relationship and right after the breakup. The song gets the anger stage of grief out of my system so I can move onto the other 13 songs on Morningstar which are about hope, re-building, community, new beginnings and love.”

Antonik, like most, arrived at new challenges during the global pandemic and in addition to the weight of that, he also found himself navigating a divorce, finding sobriety and being a single parent. Co-produced by Juno Award-winning producer Derek Downham and the 3x-Maple Blues Award-nominee, Antonik, Morningstar takes listeners on a sonically-layered journey rooted in blues and blues-rock, with intriguing byways taken via routes of soul, future-funk, psychedelia, late-1980’s-Clapton/Robbie Robertson/Daniel Lanois and experimental turns into blues-based modern rock and hip-hop territories. Morningstar also features guest appearances by 2x-GRAMMY Award-winner Mike Mattison (Tedeschi Trucks Band, Derek Trucks Band), multiple-Maple Blues Award-winning guitarist Paul Deslauriers, and Juno Award-winner Alison Young.

Morningstar — the fourth studio album from Antonik — tells a cohesive story of his experiences as he enters mid-life. The last few years’ worth of life, love, loss, and growth are synthesized into an epic collection of songs about new beginnings, building community, mindfulness, self-compassion, Antonik’s sobriety, and the power of home. Through it all, Antonik plays his guitar with unbridled ferocity and passion, mining his soul deeper than he ever has before.

“I wanted to do two things with this record,” says Antonik, “one: push the boundaries of modern blues and blues-rock, and two: tell a sincere story about the human experience that others could relate to. I believe we achieved both. While each song can be heard as a stand-alone piece, together the tracks comprise an even greater connected saga.”