ENVIRONMENTAL CAUSES STRIKE A CHORD WITH SARAH HARMER

SINGER/SONGWRITER ADDRESSES URGENCY OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND OTHER ISSUES ON LATEST ALBUM

It was February 2020, a month before the pandemic struck, when Sarah Harmer released "Are You Gone," her first new album in a decade.

More than two years later, the singer/songwriter and environmental activist is bringing these deeply personal songs to the stage, along with others from her well-loved catalogue.

Harmer spoke with Simcoe.com in advance of a May 21 performance at the Orillia Opera House.

Q. YOU RELEASED THE ALBUM A MONTH BEFORE THE PANDEMIC STRUCK AND HALTED PLANS FOR THE SUPPORTING TOUR. DID YOU TURN TO LIVESTREAMED PERFORMANCES TO CONNECT WITH AUDIENCES? A.

"I did one right in the early days of the pandemic from my kitchen table, which was really actually quite satisfying, it was fun — some technical issues aside."

Q. HOW HAVE YOU COPED IN THE LAST TWO-PLUS YEARS? A.

"My day to day really didn't change that much.

I'm a bit of a homebody; I like to garden and plant trees and do lots of stuff outdoors and stay put, so I was pretty content."

Q. THE SONGS ON YOUR LATEST ALBUM SEEM ESPECIALLY RELEVANT AS WE CONFRONT THE URGENCY OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS. HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE PERFORMING THEM NOW? A.

"It feels really good. I always think of music as part of the service industry, and it feels like that, going out, making music and kind of being vulnerable on stage. On these Ontario shows, we have Environmental Defence and the Reform Gravel Mining Coalition. They've got a table in the lobby, so at intermission people can learn about

Ontario environmental issues.

"We are entering an election in a few weeks and our environmental protections are on the chopping block, and they have been with this government for the last bunch of years."

Q. IT CAN FEEL OVERWHELMING TO CONFRONT ISSUES LIKE CLIMATE CHANGE AND WONDER WHAT WE, AS INDIVIDUALS, CAN DO. ANY ADVICE? A.

"There's nothing like acting within your community on something that needs your love and attention. That kind of small-scale action with your community really gives you a bit of a purchase on being engaged and alleviates some of

that overwhelming feeling."

This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.