Wildfire evacuation inspires new album from Northern Manitoba singer-songwriter C.C. Trubiak

FLIN FLON, Man. — After months of anticipation, singer-songwriter C.C. Trubiak officially releases his new album Jukebox In Exile today, a project born from personal upheaval, creative renewal and a deep love of classic country music.

The album arrives one year after a wildfire evacuation forced thousands of residents to leave Flin Flon, including Trubiak and his husband, who fled the community with little more than a pair of suitcases and their two cats.

What began as one of the most stressful experiences of his life ultimately became an unexpected source of inspiration.

“Everything felt uncertain,” Trubiak said. “We were leaving home, we didn’t know what would happen next, and I thought the last thing I’d be thinking about was songwriting.”

Instead, the songs started arriving.

“When everything felt out of control, songwriting became the one thing I could hold onto,” he said.

Written during and after the evacuation, Jukebox In Exile marks a creative resurgence for the queer northern artist, who says he rediscovered his voice at a time when he believed his songwriting well had run dry.

“This album wouldn’t exist without the evacuation, and that’s still a strange thing for me to say,” he said.

The album explores themes of displacement, resilience, distance and identity through a classic country lens, drawing inspiration from both northern Manitoba life and the storytelling traditions of artists such as Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, George Jones and Waylon Jennings.

Without access to his usual record collection during the evacuation, Trubiak found himself repeatedly listening to a handful of CDs packed in the truck.

“I started imagining what kind of songs I would write if I was pitching them directly to my heroes,” he said. “That really shaped the direction of the record.”

A Canadian singer-songwriter from Northern Manitoba, Trubiak has spent more than a decade performing across the region as both a solo artist and a member of several long-standing bands. He began his independent recording career in Ottawa in 2010 before returning to Manitoba, where he continued developing his voice as a songwriter rooted in prairie life, memory and small northern communities.

A self-taught musician, registered SOCAN member and member of the Canadian Country Music Association, Trubiak has built a steadily growing presence within Canada’s independent country and folk music scene through a series of self-released recordings.

His work has earned provincial and national recognition, including being named a Manitoba Emerging Artist and placing in the Top 5 of CBC’s Searchlight competition with his song “Raven.” His single “Outlaws Meditation” also entered the Top 40 of the Canadian Indie Country Countdown.

In recent months, Trubiak has attracted broader media attention surrounding the release of Jukebox In Exile, including coverage across CBC platforms and independent prairie music publications.

While the album reflects personal experiences of displacement and uncertainty, Trubiak says it is ultimately a celebration of community.

Throughout the evacuation, supporters followed his songwriting journey online, offering encouragement and helping him stay connected to home while displaced.

“People checked in every day,” he said. “They shared stories, cheered me on and reminded me why community matters.”

Trubiak describes Jukebox In Exile as a love letter to Flin Flon, a city that has supported his artistic journey for years through local performances, collaborations and audiences who embraced his music from the beginning.

“There are a lot of love songs on this album, but at its heart it’s also a love letter to Flin Flon,” he said.

“Flin Flon gave me my first stages, my first audiences and so many opportunities to grow as an artist. I wanted to make something that reflected the spirit of the people who live here.”

As Jukebox In Exile reaches listeners, Trubiak hopes the songs offer the same comfort and sense of connection that classic country records have long provided him.

“This record is about finding your footing again when the ground underneath you suddenly changes,” he said.

“If people can find some comfort, some joy or even just a reason to smile, then I’ve done my job.”

Jukebox In Exile is available now on streaming platforms.