Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan [ tickets ], who hasn't released a new studio album since 1997's eight-times platinum "Surfacing," drops a new set titled "Afterglow" on Nov. 4.

The forthcoming album's first single, "Fallen," is currently the No. 1 single at the Apple iTunes Music Store, and is also the second-most-added song at the Hot AC radio format, according to Arista Records. McLachlan is filming a video for "Fallen" with director Paul Fedor (Santana's "The Game of Love," P.O.D.'s "Youth of the Nation") in her hometown of Vancouver.

In a press release, McLachlan describes "Afterglow" as a "transitional" album that comes in the wake of her mother's death from cancer in 1997 and of the birth of her daughter India five months later. The set was written over the last two-and-a-half years, and recorded at the home studios of McLachlan and producer Pierre Marchand.

"['Afterglow' is about] love and loss," McLachlan said. "That's my truth. It's honest, and it brought me to a much happier place. I'm loving music again."

McLachlan has won three GRAMMY^® awards over the course of her career, and has sold more than 25 million records worldwide, according to Arista. She spearheaded the Lilith Fair festival tours of the '90s, which spotlighted female artists and raised more than $7 million for charities.

On Oct. 15, McLachlan will appear on the bill of "One Night with Lite," a radio-festival concert at New York City's Theatre at Madison Square Garden that will also feature Rod Stewart, Seal, Simply Red and others to be announced.

According to a recent posting on her official website, McLachlan plans to "tour extensively" in 2004 to support her new album.