How a wildfire evacuation out of Flin Flon became the unlikely spark for C.C. Trubiak’s new classic country album Jukebox In Exile
As Manitoba wildfire evacuees streamed out of Flin Flon in bumper-to-bumper traffic, singer-songwriter C.C. Trubiak fled with his husband, two frightened cats and barely any belongings — an experience that would later become the foundation for his new album, Jukebox In Exile.
Trubiak says he and his husband left their northern Manitoba home on short notice with only a suitcase each, leaving behind most of their belongings — including his guitar.
“At one point I actually fainted in the passenger seat from the sheer panic of it all,” he said.
But amid the fear and uncertainty, Trubiak says his songwriting unexpectedly returned after a long creative dry spell.
“What surprised me most was what happened next,” he said. “In the middle of all that fear, my songwriting came back to life. I thought the well had run dry, but suddenly I needed to turn the chaos into something I could hold. And even though we were all scattered across the province, my community showed up for me every single day — checking in, sharing stories, cheering me on as I posted little pieces of the songs I was writing.”
Without access to his usual record collection, Trubiak leaned on a handful of CDs packed in the truck during the evacuation, including music from Emmylou Harris, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Dolly Parton and Olivia Newton-John. He says those artists helped shape the album’s classic country and honky-tonk sound.
Trubiak says the record reflects themes of resilience, displacement and recovery, while also marking a personal resurgence.
“Jukebox In Exile is a tribute to my community. Flin Flon has given me so many stages to sing on, so many friends to collaborate with, and an audience that has supported me from the very beginning,” said Trubiak. “This album is for them — especially the ones who love classic country as much as I do. It’s also a symbol of my own healing and resurgence as a queer northern artist.”
He hopes listeners will find comfort and joy in the songs, much like the feeling he gets listening to old country records.
The album rollout includes several singles ahead of release. “Old Country Songs” is out now, while “Being Rich” arrives May 17. Earlier this year, Trubiak’s song “Outlaws Meditation” reached No. 28 on the Canadian Indie Country Countdown. He also has a CBC interview scheduled this month.
Jukebox In Exile is out June 5.
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You can find C.C. Trubiak’s music on his web site https://cctrubiak.ca/ and on Spotify, YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.
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