What if your most enduring relationship… was with suffering?

On his evocative new single “Bride of Suffering”, Victoria, BC-based artist Tobacco & Rose (aka Richard Moody) takes us on a poetic and emotionally immersive journey through the human condition—where sorrow is not only familiar but wedded. Following the meditative grace of “Tara,” this latest release is another stunning entry from the forthcoming debut Tobacco & Rose album, due April 25, 2025.

Equal parts folk ballad, cautionary tale, and spiritual metaphor, “Bride of Suffering” conjures the image of a woman bound by love and loss to a partner named pain. Written in one of those rare, inspired outpourings of pen-to-paper clarity, the song came to Moody in a flood: “I came up with the idea of being married to suffering—a character literally walking through life as the spouse of sorrow. And from that, the verses just spilled out.”

Listen on Spotify here: open.spotify.com/artist/4Ir1EhQbLo5rHcsMANmCaU

It’s the kind of song that wears its heart like a black veil. And yet, it’s not without hope. Like Leonard Cohen sitting in a forest clearing, Moody delivers line after line that resonates with hard-won wisdom and a trace of humour in the darkness:

 You are the bride of suffering / And yes, you wear it well
Till death do you part / Your suffering and you

Inspired loosely by a real-life friend—someone whose outward success masks a deep undercurrent of struggle—the song doubles as a mirror held up to us all. It reflects the parts of ourselves that cling to familiar pain even when we know better, and the paradoxical comfort of what we already know, no matter how heavy it is to carry.

With acoustic intimacy and cinematic sweep, Moody’s delivery calls to mind the lush melancholy of Nick Drake, the emotional edge of Richard Thompson, and the lyrical poignancy of Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan. The recording is bare, raw, and haunting in all the right ways—a sonic embodiment of the song’s themes. You can feel the echo of the vows, the weight of the dress, and the yearning for release.

Despite its sorrowful tone, the track never loses its sense of light. As Moody sings:

We’re waiting here with our hearts clear / Ready to see you again
When it’s time for your choice to return

“There’s an arc to the story,” he says. “Even though the bride walks in darkness, she has free will. There’s a feeling that one day, she’ll come home to herself.”

As with the rest of the Tobacco & Rose project, “Bride of Suffering” is deeply rooted in Moody’s years-long journey through music, meditation, and plant-based healing. A classically trained violist turned folk troubadour, Moody has toured globally with artists like Deva Premal, Miten, The Wailin’ Jennys, and The Bills. He’s also studied yoga in India, performed with psychedelic plant shamans in Peru, and emerged with a voice uniquely his own.

The forthcoming Tobacco & Rose album features collaborators like Luke Doucet, Barry Mirochnick, Joey Smith, Scott White, Joby Baker, and more. Each track is a window into Moody’s rich and reflective world—a place where healing, spirituality, and songcraft intertwine.

“Bride of Suffering” is a revelation. And it’s another reason to keep your eyes—and ears—on Tobacco & Rose.

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