Michelle Noftall's new album has its roots in a family love story

Michelle Noftall's second solo album, Roots in the Water, is a concept album which digs into an extraordinary tale from Noftall's family history.  

"My great-grandfather, James Inniss, was a stowaway from Barbados," said Noftall.  

"He arrived in Fortune around 1900, and he stayed there."

In researching more about her great-grandfather's story, Noftall learned that Inniss was biracial, and about 14 years old when he boarded a ship in Barbados that eventually pulled into port in Fortune, on the Burin Peninsula.

There, Inniss fell in love with and eventually married Nancy Lake, a young woman from a prominent family in Fortune.

Together, they raised seven children, including Noftall's grandfather.

Inspired by their love

Noftall said as she was researching her great-grandfather's story, the songs for Roots in the Water came quite easily to her.

She said that the story of James Inniss appears to have a happy ending.  

"His marriage to Nancy was sustaining through a lot," said Noftall.

"I like to think it was the acceptance in the community and the love that he found."

Have a listen to Michelle Noftall's conversation with Weekend AM host Heather Barrett.

Do you have a new album of music that Weekend AM should know about for First Listen? Email us wam@cbc.ca and tell us about it.

You can hear First Listen Sundays on Weekend AM from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. (5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in most of Labrador) on CBC Radio One.