Paul Brandt shrugs off comments about controversial post

Singer Paul Brandt won't say if he's for Alberta independence after a social media post. Meanwhile, a separatist rally drew more than 3,500.

Country music star Paul Brandt has shared more details about a recent controversial post viewed by many as a reference to Alberta separatism.

On Saturday evening, Brandt posted an image on X of himself superimposed with the lyrics of his hit song ‘Alberta Bound.’

One line was highlighted in the centre of the frame: “Yeah, I’ve got independence in my veins.”

Though there was no text with the post, some believe it was a show of support to the Alberta Prosperity Project, a group that is gathering signatures to effort a referendum asking Albertans if they want to leave Canada.

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Brandt was in Calgary on Tuesday, speaking at an event to promote the work of his Not In My City organization, a group whose goal is to end human trafficking in Alberta.

He didn’t confirm or deny anything about the post itself, but he said while he’s been on tour in recent weeks, he’s been singing his hit in a different tone.

“We’re living in very challenging times, politically and otherwise,” he said.

“I’d come out on stage and announce that I’m going to play ‘Alberta Bound’ and I’d kind of try and feel the room and it was pretty warm and I would talk to the audience and tell that that I’ve been playing this song a little bit differently these days.”

Brandt said that tone is more like a hymn and “more reverently.”

“When I sing it, I think about what kind of a city, what kind of a province and what kind of a country I want this to be.”

• Singer Paul Brandt teases support for Alberta separatist movement
• Alberta separatists rally for independence, collecting signatures in Calgary

He admitted that Canadians are living in a time where a lot of people have “grievances.”

“It’s not up to me to make political statements to try and get people to move one way or another. I go out and live by example and I do the work that I do,” Brandt said.

“I think the example I’ve shown - the network we’ve created across the country of Canada - speaks for itself.”