Sarah McLachlan is searching for her purpose in this fractured world.

The Halifax-born singer-songwriter once shattered boundaries with her Lilith Fair tour by empowering a generation of female voices.

But lately, as she prepares her first album of original material in a decade, she is questioning how to voice her opinions on social and political issues.

害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檝e always considered myself to not be political, but I害羞草研究所檓 not sure any of us have the luxury anymore,害羞草研究所� she said in a phone interview from her Vancouver home.

害羞草研究所淚 just want to be thoughtful in what I say. I want to let the music speak for me.害羞草研究所�

McLachlan is still figuring out exactly what that means to her. She害羞草研究所檚 currently in the studio with producer Tony Berg, known for his work on the Boygenius album, to shape her ideas into a record.

She害羞草研究所檒l also embark on a North American tour next month that celebrates the 30th anniversary of 害羞草研究所淔umbling Towards Ecstasy,害羞草研究所� performing the album in its entirety. The shows kick off in Vancouver on May 23 with additional Canadian dates in Toronto on June 19 and Montreal on June 20.

McLachlan spoke with The Canadian Press about revisiting her 1993 album, recording a new one, and deciding when to speak out.

CP: Playing one of your albums front-to-back is something you haven害羞草研究所檛 tried before, and it makes sense to pick 害羞草研究所淔umbling,害羞草研究所� since it includes 害羞草研究所淧ossession,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淗old On,害羞草研究所� and fan favourite 害羞草研究所淚ce Cream.害羞草研究所� But what made you want to hit the road for this one in particular?

McLachlan: There害羞草研究所檚 a ton of nostalgia around it for me and probably a lot of people. I think it害羞草研究所檚 my favourite record. It was certainly the easiest record I ever made. And there was a lot of joy and fun attached to it. I know so many people who害羞草研究所檝e said, 害羞草研究所淭hat record got me through university.害羞草研究所� And, I think every song has a certain importance. So playing it in its entirety will be a lot of fun and something I害羞草研究所檝e never done.

CP: While you haven害羞草研究所檛 been absent from the music industry 害羞草研究所� you released a 2016 Christmas album, hosted the 2019 Juno Awards and continue working with your music school charity 害羞草研究所� there害羞草研究所檚 been little new music from you lately. What happened?

McLachlan: I don害羞草研究所檛 really have an excuse. With COVID, everything ground to a halt, and I didn害羞草研究所檛 have a huge deadline to finish it. So I just allowed other things to intervene. I learned how to skate ski, which is really fun. It害羞草研究所檚 one of those things where I need to get outside and my partner was a big skate skier. It害羞草研究所檚 been a new lease on winter for me.

CP: Now there害羞草研究所檚 the making of an album in the mix. You害羞草研究所檙e working with producer Tony Berg, who害羞草研究所檚 a frequent collaborator with Phoebe Bridgers and was involved in the Boygenius album. How did that come about?

McLachlan: I had been writing and had enough material that I thought: Let害羞草研究所檚 get into the studio and see what happens. I absolutely love Phoebe Bridgers and Boygenius and there was a list of producers and his name was at the top. I met him and we connected right away. We spent five days together. We害羞草研究所檙e kicking each other and laughing and taking the piss constantly. He害羞草研究所檚 like my older brother. And now as soon as I finish this call, I害羞草研究所檓 jumping in the car, heading to the airport and going back to L.A. I害羞草研究所檝e got another 10 days in the studio. And it害羞草研究所檚 just been so much fun to explore.

CP: What are you writing about?

McLachlan: Oh the end of the world. Fun stuff. No, I害羞草研究所檓 kidding. Am I kidding? Eh害羞草研究所�

CP: I don害羞草研究所檛 know, I can害羞草研究所檛 tell!

McLachlan: I害羞草研究所檓 not sure myself. A lot of it is just about where I害羞草研究所檓 at in my life, reflection on parenting, and being a woman in our times. The demise of society. A lot of possible scenarios are creeping in. It害羞草研究所檚 like, where is my place in all of this? What is my continuing purpose? What害羞草研究所檚 my new purpose? Why am I still making music? These are questions that I害羞草研究所檓 asking myself. I don害羞草研究所檛 have any solid answers yet. But the music will speak for it, eventually.

CP: You害羞草研究所檙e coming back in a very different cultural climate. You mentioned being a woman today, and I assume you害羞草研究所檙e referring to the stripping back of abortion rights in the U.S. You害羞草研究所檙e also among more than 300 artists who signed Tegan and Sara害羞草研究所檚 open letter opposing anti-transgender legislation in some Canadian provinces.

McLachlan: Anybody who害羞草研究所檚 different is under threat and that typically is marginalized societies. We are living in very precarious times. We think in Canada we害羞草研究所檙e so much more advanced than the states, but we害羞草研究所檙e not, really. And I think these things have to be talked about. That is a lot of contemplation for me as an artist when we (discuss) my place. I haven害羞草研究所檛 been out and around for a bunch of years. I害羞草研究所檝e been living my career quietly. I never liked fame, and being constantly asked for my opinion. I just know how I feel and that things can be quietly heading in a really bad direction.

CP: It sounds like you害羞草研究所檙e still in the process of figuring this all out.

McLachlan: I haven害羞草研究所檛 had a lot of conversations about this other than with close friends and family. And they don害羞草研究所檛 know how to counsel me because, they害羞草研究所檙e like, 害羞草研究所淛ust don害羞草研究所檛 say anything.害羞草研究所� And I害羞草研究所檓 like, 害羞草研究所淚 can害羞草研究所檛 not say anything.害羞草研究所� I think it害羞草研究所檚 scary for anybody to stand up and take a strong stance because you have people on the opposing sides, the right and left, or the fundamentalists on either side. And there are so many threats of violence (against) someone saying the wrong things and making a stupid comment. And there害羞草研究所檚 so little forgiveness. I say: Look, we害羞草研究所檙e all learning. We害羞草研究所檙e all trying to figure out how to be in this new world. And it害羞草研究所檚 going to be messy.

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害羞草研究所� This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

David Friend, The Canadian Press