Canadian Alt-Country Act Cuff The Duke Reconcile One Chapter Ending and Another Beginning on “Leaving It All Behind”

After a 10 year vanishing act, JUNO-nominated roots rockers Cuff The Duke’s comeback album, Breaking Dawn (out September 6th), reflects frontman Wayne Petti’s process of coming to terms with his mental health, capturing the various stages of his journey. The musical interludes throughout the record serve as a representation of the ever-present anxiety that Petti has learned to navigate. At the same time, the songs themselves offer a sense of relief and catharsis.

On the record’s nostalgic new single, “Leaving It All Behind,” Petti comes to terms with his decision to put the band on hiatus, which meant abruptly not playing music anymore and how that left him scrambling to figure out his next move.

I felt like I failed because music would no longer be my sole focus. The line “I bought the lie that I told myself, now it’s coming back to haunt me” reflects how young musicians can become overconfident, believing their success will never end. But every artist faces ups and downs, and when reality hits, it can be a nightmare. Saying “I’m getting ahead of it by leaving it all behind” was the headspace I needed to be in, to move forward as one chapter ended and another began. – Wayne Petti

Recorded over two years, Breaking Dawn showcases the band’s growth and maturity, both as musicians and as individuals. The collaborative effort of Petti and his talented bandmates (Paul Lowman, Andrew Johnson, François Turenne, and Thom Hammerton) has resulted in a work that is deeply personal but distinctly Cuff The Duke.

Poised to once again cross musical borders as effortlessly as a game of hopscotch, their return is not just another chapter in their discography; it’s a homecoming celebration of their enduring legacy, and the love of getting together with old friends and playing music.