
Contemporary folk group Jon and Roy return with a brand new EP entitled I Can Dream. Anchoring the release is its lead single, “Maywell,” a song inspired by an annual winter pilgrimage deep into the mountains behind Victoria, British Columbia.
Each year, Jon, Roy, and close friends snowshoe through heavy terrain to a remote, rustic cabin. It’s a journey that is as physically demanding as it is emotionally rewarding. “The hike in was incredibly challenging,” Jon recalls. “We didn’t think we’d make it at times because the snow was so heavy. But once we got there, we had the most incredible time. Lots of laughs, deep talks, deep thoughts, and inspiration.”
The cabin was built by a man named Maywell, with the help of his friends, and the song stands as a tribute to his spirit; one that continues to offer refuge, joy, and perspective. Warm, catchy, and gently nostalgic, “Maywell” reflects the sense of gratitude and awe that comes from pushing forward and arriving together.
What sets “Maywell” (and the EP as a whole) apart is its recording process. For the first time, Jon and Roy recorded entirely to tape, a decision made on the spot in collaboration with their friend and engineer, David Parry.
“Recording digitally is just fine, but it does have a tendency to hinder you in the sense that you know you have an infinite ability to edit and can keep tracking as much as you want,” Jon explains. “Tape is not nearly as forgiving so it forces you to be more present and go for the performance of the song more so than anything else.”