Norine Braun delivers Cannonball, the fourth release from the acclaimed Henhouse Pop-Up Sessions — a high-wire recording project where artists are given just one hour to track a song with an all-star house band, capturing raw, unfiltered magic in the moment. Produced by Braun alongside the Henhouse team, engineered by Juno Award-winner Sheldon Zaharko, and mastered by Adam Popowitz, Cannonball takes the shape of a slow, swaying waltz that combines the intimacy of folk storytelling with the quiet force of a protest anthem. Braun’s rich, soulful vocals lead a powerhouse lineup: Steve Dawson (guitars, pedal steel, band leader), Darryl Havers(keys), Liam MacDonald (drums), Jeremy Holmes (bass), and Alice Fraser (harmony vocals). The arrangement moves with a graceful 6/8 sway, giving space for every lyric to land with weight and resonance. Lyrically, Cannonball is a rallying cry for unity and courage in the face of deceit, manipulation, and abuse of power. The song opens with an “old man” shaking his head at “where people are being led” before urging listeners to “pull all together” so “if they push in the powder, we’ll let the cannonballs blow.” With lines like “Fear not reason walking in the door / The bully does boast” and “We’ll light the cannonball’s fuse,” Braun weaves an image of truth and justice rolling forward — steady, deliberate, and unstoppable. With its slow-waltz cadence, Cannonball marries the elegance of a dance with the determination of a movement, echoing the diversity, creativity, and resilience of the people.