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'Our ambition is to continue doing what we love': 54-40 reflect on 36 years of making music

Canadian band 54-40 discuss their new stripped down record, La Difference: a History Unplugged, and how they maintain their longevity as a band.
Canadian band 54-40 with Ali Hassan in the q studio in Toronto, Ont. (Cathy Irving/CBC)

After 36 years, 17 releases and thousands of performances, 54-40 is still writing and recording music. Their latest release, La Difference: a History Unplugged, takes a moment to look back. 

Transforming a number of old songs into stripped-down numbers, the band was excited to put a new spin on their biggest hits. "I was looking at ways to reinterpret the songs we did every night," member Brad Merritt reveals. "They're different but we wanted to challenge our listeners and keep things fresh."  

This week, 54-40 will be inducted into two Halls of Fame: one at the 17th annual Independent Music Awards and another at the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards.

— Produced by Ty Callender