Waverly Radio
Review of Rain from the Master Plan
A big thankyou to Catherine at CJC promotions for bringing to our attention Engage who come from Canada and their new single Rain from their album Masterplan.
Emerging from the rich musical landscape of New Brunswick, Engage is a dynamic folk-rock and country-influenced band driven by storytelling, authenticity, and a deep-rooted passion for original music. Formed in 2020 by Carla Bonnell and Rick Bartlett, the band began as a collaborative songwriting project and quickly evolved into a full-fledged musical force with a distinctive and evolving sound.
Blending elements of folk, country, and roots rock, Engage creates music that resonates with emotional honesty and lived experience. Their songs explore themes of love, resilience, self-discovery, and human connection—crafted through a balance of strong lyrical narratives and rich musical textures.
The band are
CarlaBonnell
Rick Bartlett
Greg Mansfield
Vernon Daigle
What a fabulous single and what a great introduction to the band. This is a proper song both lyrically and production terms. Ok so the band are tight, no issues with that, but that is only a fraction of the story. Sometimes simplifying things is the best way and in a nutshell, Intro Verse 1, Verse 2, Refrain, Outro with a smattering of storm sound effects to start and to end whats not to like. Its a magical 2 mins 35 secs of folk/pop from honest and sincere musicians, we hope its a hit, it should be.
Its a 10/10 from us.
It is of course available on Spotify along with much more of their music give them a listen its well worth it.
Engage- Guitar Strings #1 Position for the week of June 22nd, 2026 Thank you all for your wonderful support!
“Reflecting on the recording process, Bonnell noted: "We were definitely finding our sound in this album, and we think we are just getting started because we can't box ourselves in, we write because we love to, and whatever that ends up being is cool with us." This sense of freedom is the record’s greatest strength; ‘The Master Plan’ succeeds because it feels like a band playing for the right reasons. It is a solid, engaging step forward for one of Atlantic Canada’s most promising acts.” - Broken 8 Music
“The album benefits from a crisp production style, engineered by Bonnell herself and polished by Jim Zolis in Toronto. It is a record of two parts, incorporating the previously released ‘Side Eh’ tracks into a larger, more ambitious narrative. Bassist Vernon Daigle describes the project as being "out of the ordinary with a vintage sound," and that assessment holds water. ”
