Canadian singer-songwriter Ian North — poetic, literate storytelling wrapped in folk, roots, blues and modern electric experimentation.
July 24, 2025
Canadian singer-songwriter Ian North unveils his latest single, Cliffs of Portugal, a haunting folk ballad steeped in historical allusion, personal loss and the quiet ache of memory. Featuring harmonies by Jennifer Claveau and atmospheric soundscapes by Chris Gartner. The acoustic guitar and lead vocals were engineered by John Stuart Campbell. The song hit radio and streaming platforms on Thursday July 24th, 2025.
May 22, 2025
A three-part harmony track that explores the emotional complexity of a family's decision to start over. Co-written with visual artist and writer Jennifer Claveau, the song follows a young couple and their children as they leave the city behind in search of a simpler life in northern Ontario, guided by hope, heritage, and the belief in something better. The song, music video, and cover artwork were produced by Chris Gartner, music engineered by John Stuart Campbell.
March 25, 2025
Canadian folk-rock artist Ian North unveils his latest instrumental single, “Malahat”, a sweeping and cinematic guitar piece that celebrates the raw beauty of Canada's landscapes and the open road. Named after the iconic highway on Vancouver Island, the track is a sonic postcard of Canadiana, blending intricate finger-style acoustic guitar with soaring crescendos.
February 4, 2025
Ian's single “Antarctica” was released on February 4th and is available on Spotify, Apple Music and all other digital streaming platforms. The song is inspired by stories of Antarctic explorers. His wife Jennifer has also come out of musical retirement to sing three-part harmonies on this haunting track. A quiet storm of fear, longing and perseverance, its refrain — “In Antarctica, oh the cold will kill you / You got to be prepared to suffer” — highlights the stark reality of pushing beyond limitations, whether on a frozen continent or in a hospital ward.
December 4, 2024
On December 4th, 2024, a new version of “Beautiful City” from Ian's first album “Emptiful” was released on all digital streaming platforms. 2024 marked the 30th anniversary of when Beautiful City was first written.
August 4, 2024
Ian North's album is a fresh blend of melodic songs that stick in your head. It is full of lyrical and poetic imagery set against a backdrop of contemporary soundscapes, electric lead guitar solos and harmonies. Ian sees and shows us the charm of life from “both sides now.”
Ian North wrote this song about a magical place where everything is wonderful all the time. It was inspired by the stories his wife told him about her childhood, growing up in Toronto and playing in the ravines and wooded areas of East York, around Taylor Creek Park. She spent much of her time building treehouses, creating secret gardens and imagining that she was in her very own forest.
After a decade-long break from the music industry, Ian came back from the brink of death and began releasing music again in 2024. After surviving a double-pulmonary embolism, North had to learn to walk, sing and play guitar again. His own brand of “Fallen Angel Folk-Rock” is a blend of traditional folk, roots, blues and jazz with modern electric experimentation.
Singer-songwriter, guitarist and music collector Ian North delves deep into his vinyl record collection, bringing us deep tracks as well as popular sounds, interesting stories and musical connections from the past. New tracks are added to the Spotify playlist weekly.
