Between the Blue Line and the Blues: Tryg Strand Finds His Voice in “Love & War”
By Christian Lamitschka for Country Music News International Magazine
There is a specific kind of resonance that only comes from a life lived in two different worlds. For Tryg Strand, those worlds are the high-stakes adrenaline of professional hockey and the vulnerable, smoke-filled rooms of the singer-songwriter circuit. His latest single, “Love & War,” serves as the definitive bridge between the two, offering a sound that is as physically commanding as it is emotionally transparent.
The Artist: A Journey of Heart and Grit
Before he was commanding stages across Western Canada, Strand was navigating the rugged beauty of British Columbia’s Columbia Valley. His musical roots run surprisingly deep; while most middle schoolers were struggling with algebra, Strand was touring BC and Hawaii in a ukulele band. It’s an endearing image—a young performer finding his footing in the Pacific breeze—but it laid the foundation for a lifetime of live performance.
However, the stage had to share space with the rink. Strand’s “grit” isn’t just a stylistic choice; it’s a practiced discipline. He chased a hockey career from the local rinks of BC to a university scholarship, eventually landing a professional roster spot in Sweden. Throughout the grueling travel and the physical toll of pro sports, his guitar remained his constant companion—a silent witness to a songwriting craft that was sharpening in the shadows of his athletic career.
When the global pandemic brought the sports world to a grinding halt, Strand didn’t just pivot; he accelerated. He traded his skates for a permanent spot behind the microphone, refining a sound that refuses to be pinned down to a single genre.
The Sound: Where the Genres Collide
“Love & War” is the culmination of that transition. It’s a track that feels heavy in all the right ways, blending:
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The Raw Power of Rock
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The Melancholic Soul of the Blues
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The Storytelling Roots of Country and Folk
The single is anchored by expressive guitar work that mirrors the internal conflict suggested by the title. There’s a “push-and-pull” dynamic here—the music swells with a rock-infused energy before pulling back to let the soulful, hook-driven vocals carry the emotional weight. It sounds like an artist who has spent years observing the world from different angles and is finally ready to speak his truth.
From the Rink to the Festival Stage
You can tell “Love & War” wasn’t written in a vacuum. It carries the “earned” quality of an artist who has paid his dues at open mics and sharpened his teeth on the festival circuit. Having already made waves at Flats Fest, Snowflake Festival, and Steamboat Mountain Music Festival, Strand has built a reputation for a live show that matches the intensity of his recordings.
“Tryg Strand’s music doesn’t just ask for your attention; it commands it with the honesty of someone who has nothing left to hide.”
The Verdict
“Love & War” is a natural next chapter for Tryg Strand. It captures the transition from the “grit” of his past to the “heart” of his future. For listeners who appreciate music that feels weathered, honest, and undeniably catchy, this single marks the arrival of a formidable voice in the Canadian music scene.
Strand has successfully traded the roar of the arena for the roar of the crowd, and if “Love & War” is any indication, he’s exactly where he’s supposed to be.