Bywater Call Releases New Single "How Long"

Canadian roots, rock, and soul band Bywater Call offers a preview of their forthcoming fourth studio album.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Canadian roots, rock, and soul band Bywater Call has released their second studio single of 2026, "How Long," offering another preview of the group's forthcoming fourth studio album, which is scheduled for release in July 2026. The single is described as a slow-burning, contemporary soul and R&B inspired song, drawing influence from artists such as Black Pumas, Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes, and Amy Winehouse.

Why it matters

Bywater Call has continued to gain international recognition in recent years, with the band being nominated for the UK Blues Award for "International Act of the Year" in 2025 and 2024. The release of "How Long" is an important step in the band's musical evolution and their effort to blend classic influences with modern sounds.

The details

"How Long" features lush instrumentation, soaring horns, lead synths, raw vocals, and a hypnotic guitar feature. According to lead singer Meghan Parnell, the track explores deeply personal themes of "guilt, fragility, and the fear of becoming the very thing you never wanted to be." The song was recorded at Palace Studios in Toronto and was captured and mixed by Patric McGroarty and mastered by Kristian Montano of Montano Mastering.

  • "How Long" was released on March 6, 2026.
  • Bywater Call's fourth studio album is scheduled for release in July 2026.

The players

Bywater Call

A Canadian roots, rock, and soul band known for their dynamic and emotionally charged performances.

Meghan Parnell

The lead singer of Bywater Call, who wrote the lyrics for "How Long" and describes the track as a "raw and introspective song that wrestles with guilt, fragility, and the fear of becoming the very thing you never wanted to be."

Patric McGroarty

The engineer who captured and mixed "How Long" at Palace Studios in Toronto.

Kristian Montano

The mastering engineer at Montano Mastering who mastered "How Long."

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What they’re saying

“How Long is a raw and introspective song that wrestles with guilt, fragility, and the fear of becoming the very thing you never wanted to be. Lyrically and melodically, we tried to convey the vulnerability and self-reflection of someone living in the fragile space between remorse and repetition.”

— Meghan Parnell, Lead Singer, Bywater Call (bluesrockreview.com)

What’s next

Bywater Call will support the new music with an extensive tour across Canada, the United States, and Europe throughout 2026.

The takeaway

Bywater Call's release of "How Long" showcases the band's continued evolution and their ability to blend classic soul and R&B influences with modern production, cementing their reputation as a dynamic and emotionally charged live act.