Canadian singer Bryan Adams has announced his new studio album How's It Goin', a personal project dedicated to Canada set for release on November 6, 2026.
The album represents a shift away from traditional songs about breakups or life on tour, focusing instead on the landscapes, historical events, and real stories that have shaped Canadian identity and Adams's own life.
Having sold more than 100 million records worldwide over a career spanning nearly five decades, Adams chose to explore his roots rather than rely solely on nostalgia or his established catalog of classic hits.
Origins of the project
The album did not originally begin as a full-length record. The project was sparked when Adams began writing a song for Canada's Wild Eastern Edge, a documentary focused on the eastern coast of Canada.
His research for the film led him to discover local histories, figures, and places that inspired further songwriting. One track led to another until he realized he had developed a standalone album.
Adams said that the initial concept was simply to create a record about Canada. He explained that the process began while writing a song for the documentary, adding that the research inspired him to continue writing songs about the country while taking his music into a slightly different direction.
Historical events and Canadian landmarks
The track list for How's It Goin' functions as a geographical and historical tour across Canada, featuring songs named after specific locations and historic events.
Key titles on the album include Highway 16, Lake Ontario, When Canada Joined Newfoundland, and The Battle of Lundy's Lane.
Highway 16, also known as the Yellowhead Highway, is a major interprovincial route spanning Western Canada. Lake Ontario is one of the five Great Lakes of North America, while Newfoundland officially joined the Canadian Confederation as a province in 1949. The Battle of Lundy's Lane was a major engagement fought in July 1814 near Niagara Falls during the War of 1812.
Among the tracks, the song 51st State was released to coincide with Canada Day. The track uses irony to address the longstanding political debate regarding potential integration between Canada and the United States. Canada Day is celebrated annually on July 1 to mark the country's confederation in 1867.
Tribute to Terry Fox
One of the most personal tracks on the album is The Ballad of Terry Fox, dedicated to the Canadian athlete who ran thousands of kilometers on a prosthetic leg to raise funds for cancer research before becoming a national icon.
Adams recalled that in 1980, when he was 20 years old, he was touring Canada and performing in small venues while Fox was capturing the attention of the entire nation. Fox, who lost his right leg to osteosarcoma, embarked on his Marathon of Hope in 1980 to raise money for cancer research.
Adams noted the profound impact Fox had at the time, remembering how the runner succeeded in uniting millions of people around a common cause.
Musical style and release formats
While Adams remains known for his guitar-driven sound, memorable choruses, and classic rock style, How's It Goin' incorporates folk and country influences into his signature rock sound.
The musical blend is intended to reflect open landscapes, long highway journeys, and storytelling rooted in Canadian culture.
The album will be released across several physical and digital formats, including a hardcover book edition containing photographs, complete song lyrics, and visual materials accompanying each track to emphasize the narrative character of the project.
Known for international hits such as Summer of '69 and (Everything I Do) I Do It for You, the Canadian rock musician has spent more than 40 years performing across the globe. With How's It Goin', Adams continues to find new milestones by dedicating an entire record to the country where he was raised.
