London, Ont., singer-songwriter Stephen Ingram is examining the complicated relationship between identity, memory and hometown roots with “Leaving Song,” the second single from his upcoming sophomore album, “Silly Things,” due Sept. 25.
The track reflects on Ingram’s move from Hamilton to London and the unexpected ease with which he established a life in his adopted city. That experience prompted the musician to reconsider why Hamilton, despite being the place where he grew up, never completely provided the sense of belonging traditionally associated with home.
Following lead single “Sour Candy,” which focused on Ingram’s personal development, “Leaving Song” expands the album’s themes of change and self-understanding while grounding them in the geography of Southwestern Ontario.
‘Leaving Song’ Reflects on Hamilton and a New Life in London
Ingram wrote the song about leaving Hamilton for London, where he has now lived for more than a decade. His parents divorced when he was young, and although Ingram says they worked to minimize the impact, his eventual move brought unresolved feelings about his childhood home back into focus.
The lyrics move between urban and natural imagery, including references to Hamilton’s escarpment and bay.
“Oh I’m coming to the city, and this time I’m gonna stay, have a laugh with the escarpment, race the tide across the bay,” Ingram sings.
The chorus then captures the central tension between having a hometown and feeling connected to it: “Never lost nor found, never feeling settled down, never felt a part of this town, couldn’t teach myself how.”
Rather than presenting departure as a clean break, the song considers how people can continue carrying their relationship with a place long after physically leaving it.
Acoustic Arrangement Shapes Ingram’s New Material
Musically, “Leaving Song” uses the roots-oriented acoustic approach that runs through “Silly Things.”
Ingram plays banjo, while Peter Karle contributes acoustic guitar, Aidan Wasse plays bass, Anna Grigg performs cello, Mark Swan handles drums and Jesse Grandmont contributes mandolin.
Ingram and Dean Nelson co-produced the track, with Nelson also responsible for mixing. Kristian Montano handled mastering. The same production team worked across the forthcoming album, helping provide continuity between its varied songs.
‘Silly Things’ Builds on Personal Change and New Perspective
Ingram began developing “Silly Things” after receiving an ADHD diagnosis, using the project to revisit daily experiences, relationships and past events from a different perspective.
The album was written and recorded entirely in London and incorporates locations and experiences from Southwestern Ontario. Several songs began as voice memos recorded around campfires, lakes or while hiking, reflecting Ingram’s connection with nature and the role outdoor settings play in his creative process.
His professional background in live theatre also influences his songwriting method. Ingram typically develops lyrics and melodies before constructing the instrumental arrangement, resulting in songs that emphasize narrative and character development.
“Leaving Song” follows that model, with its narrator moving through both physical locations and changing ideas about belonging.
Live Theatre Career Led to Songwriting Under His Own Name
Originally from Hamilton, Ingram relocated to London more than a decade ago to study at Western University’s Don Wright Faculty of Music.
He subsequently developed a career largely in live theatre, working as a music director, musician and performer before expanding his focus to recording original material under his own name.
In 2023, Ingram released his debut album, “Fridge Magnet Symphony,” establishing a new phase of his career as a singer-songwriter.
His music draws from a Canadian songwriting tradition associated with artists such as Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, John K. Samson, Alanis Morissette, Sarah Harmer and William Prince, combining detailed personal observations with broader themes of identity, relationships and place.
Second Album Continues Ingram’s Focus on Growth and Change
“Leaving Song” provides another indication of the direction Ingram is taking on his second album. While its subject is rooted specifically in Hamilton and London, the track addresses a broader experience: the difficulty of defining home when personal history and a sense of belonging do not necessarily align.
With “Silly Things,” Ingram is continuing his transition from a career centred primarily on live theatre toward a broader body of recorded songwriting, while retaining the narrative techniques developed through his stage work.
The album is scheduled for release Sept. 25, with “Leaving Song” serving as its second advance single and another chapter in Ingram’s exploration of how past experiences continue shaping the person who moves beyond them.