Ontario’s Ian North Shares Official Video for Plaintive Folk Singer-Songwriter Track “Why We Build Houses,” Taken from Recent LP ‘Everything is Incomplete’

We all need to protect ourselves – from nature’s wild elements, from our own turbulent hearts. This is the central theme to “Why We Build Houses,” taken from Orillia, Ontario songwriter Ian North’s recent album, Everything is Incomplete.

The introspective and harmonic ‘fallen angel folk rock’ tune was sparked by a conversation with a friend where the song’s title struck North as a universal truth. “It’s a poem about fragility and the reference to a physical house is a metaphor for emotional and spiritual protection or self-preservation as well,” North explains.

The video was filmed on and around his forest property in Muskoka, featuring a concept that echoes the delicacy at the song’s core. “The waterfalls symbolize the turbulence of life and our own hearts,” North details. “The song starts with the image of ‘When the wind blows, it blows everywhere, through the town, takes the leaves and the lawn chairs.’ We wanted to shoot the film in the outdoors and highlight the beauty that comes from understanding ‘how small is life.’”

Everything is Incomplete is a powerful collection of melody-rich and image-laden songs that will stick in your head. It’s an eclectic, sophisticated layering of modern sounds, blending electronic-folk, roots, pop and jazz. His lyrics are smart and his message is sharp and edgy at times, covering a wide range of topics, from lost love to politics to existential theory.

With a scathing take on the world, tempered by occasional musings on life in utopia, Ian North offers unique perspectives and poetic insights on subjects surrounding the human condition. At the same time, he provides a measured glimpse into the nature of the man behind the poetry.

1. What did you enjoy most about the recording process of this new release?
Hearing the songs become fully realized and working with Chris Gartner. As many know, I had suffered a double pulmonary embolism at the end of 2022. I had to regain my motor skills after being in a coma for seven days. The process of learning to walk, play guitar and sing again took a little over a year and overlapped with the recording process. Healing from that trauma and re-discovering my vocal range and guitar playing abilities was rewarding and reassuring.

2. Share a nugget of advice that has resonated with you most over the years.
There is no writing, only rewriting. And also, there are no wrong notes as long as you know what to play next. Also, in lyric writing, show, don’t tell. What I mean by this is to use your lyrical powers to build images.

3. Who would be your dream artist/band to co-headline a tour with?
Neil Young? Blue Rodeo? Crowded House? I couldn’t just pick one.

4. What sets your music apart from others in your genre?
I’m told my voice is distinctive. Also, the songwriting, both the changes and the imagery in the lyrics.

5. Tell us what your favourite song is at the moment and why.
Lately I’ve been listening to Lori Cullen’s Blood Wonder album, the song Go Climb. She sings on my record. I always like to have a dose of Grateful Dead’s Dark Star on regular rotation as well.