Orillia singer and songwriter Ian North has risen from the dead to release his new album. This thing is incomplete.
North, a native of Ottawa, began playing guitar at age 14 and began performing at age 17. Now 70, the folk-rocker has released two CDs and toured Canada and the UK.
“I think of myself as a writer rather than a musician in some ways. I focus on the Delirium,” he said. “I’ve always loved music too and have played guitar all these years. It’s just a pleasure to play.”
North has performed on stages such as the Red Rock Festival, Toronto City Roots Festival and the Junction Arts Festival.
Although being a musician wasn’t always North’s primary source of income, it was his greatest passion. In 2022, North almost lost his passion – and his life.
While living near Bracebridge, North collapsed in his backyard. Luckily, he made it back to the house, where his wife, Jen, called an ambulance. After trying to sleep off his intoxication, Ian collapsed again the next morning.
“The last thing I remember is getting into the ambulance,” he said. “Apparently I was being treated for quite a long time.”
North was transported by helicopter from his home in Muskoka to Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH). He remained in a coma for a week, battling blood clots in his lungs.
“I was technically dead and was on a ventilator for 15 minutes in Bracebridge,” he said. “I don’t remember the helicopter ride.”
This experience gave North a new lease on life; it also changed his attitude toward death.
“It wasn’t that hard, it just happened,” he said. “In a way, it reduced my fear of it.”
North says he has spoken to several people his age who “dread” the moment when life ends.
“It’s not so scary for me now,” he said. “I’ve been through it all before.”
Jen thanks the OSMH staff for saving her husband’s life.
“We would also like to express our thanks and appreciation to the emergency personnel,” she said. “They did everything humanly possible for Ian and saved his life.”
While Ian was unconscious, Jen said she had to deal with her emotions and the drama of the experience.
“The staff there was phenomenal and they took as good care of me as they did of him,” she said. “It’s an excellent hospital. I can’t say enough about the nurses and doctors.”
After returning home, Ian made it a point to document the songs he had written that had not been recorded for a decade.
“I rewrote everything a little bit,” he said. “Some of these songs are more sketches than actual songs, and I kind of reworked them and rewrote them.”
This thing is incomplete will be available initially on vinyl at AlleyCats Music & Art in downtown Orillia on August 4. The album will also be available digitally here.
“I feel like he came back to write this album,” Jen said. “That experience influenced the decisions about everything on this album.”
On August 4th, Ian will also be performing at the Couchiching Brewery from 1pm-4pm. Once the dust settles on the new album, he will focus on the next one as he has even more stories and songs to tell.
