Pigeon Spins Featuring an Interview with Highroad No. 28

Highroad No. 28 - Thistroubledsoul  

Highroad No. 28 returns with their powerful second single “Thistroubledsoul”, a dark and emotionally charged alternative rock release distributed worldwide via The Orchard (Sony Music). Blending cinematic guitars, brooding atmosphere and raw, vulnerable vocals, the track explores themes of inner conflict, endurance and emotional survival.

For this release, frontman Andrew JC performed all instruments and lead vocals as a deliberate solo chapter before Highroad No. 28’s new live lineup launches for 2026 shows. The song continues the journey toward their upcoming third album, The Will to Endure, due December 2025, following the release of first single “Ache”.

Interview with Highroad No. 28

Thistroubledsoul is emotionally charged. What personal experiences shaped its themes of inner conflict and endurance?

That’s for me to know and for you to interpret! I think one of the may beautiful things about music is that everyone can find their own story in it.

Performing all instruments and vocals yourself for this single must have been intense. How did that process affect the emotional expression of the song?

It was actually one of the easier songs, but still required a lot of work. Doing everything myself made it more personal, yet if the other guys had played on it, it wouldn’t have been less emotional. For me, the emotional weight is carried mostly in the vocals, and I would always have done those anyway.

How does this track reflect the journey and growth of Highroad No. 28 over the decades?

I wrote the song many years ago, after the “Stumbling to Divinity” album tracks. It’s simply a natural evolution in my songwriting from around 2008—it reflects that ongoing progression.

The song balances haunting atmosphere with melodic intensity. How do you translate your own struggles into that sound?

That’s a great description, thanks! Translating struggles or emotions into sound isn’t something I approach formulaically—it just happens. It’s more about feeling than thinking. Intuition takes precedence over reasoning when it comes to creating anything authentic.

After a long hiatus, what was it like reconnecting with the band’s core identity through this solo chapter?

Amazing.

Which lyric or musical moment in Thistroubledsoul feels the most raw or cathartic for you?

I can’t specify one moment—I love the whole song. On one day a certain section might hit me the hardest, and on another day a different part will.

How does this single set the emotional tone for the upcoming album The Will to Endure?

Thistroubledsoul is one of the songs on the album, so it doesn’t so much set the tone as it forms part of the overall emotional landscape.

Endurance and resilience are recurring themes in your music. How do those ideas shape your life as well as your art?

In everything I do.

What did the time away from the spotlight teach you about vulnerability, growth, or creative expression?

I was never really in the spotlight! But during the years when I wasn’t playing gigs or focused heavily on music, life naturally brought many experiences—and those taught me a lot.

Looking ahead to the new live lineup and 2026 shows, what emotions or experiences do you hope to share most with your audience?

I just want them to get a high from the music.

(•)> That's all, Folks! Check out Highroad No. 28 on the Pigeon Spins Playlist