Canadian Singer-Songwriter Ian North Releases Driving New Instrumental Single, “Malahat”
Ian North, the celebrated Canadian folk-rock artist, returns with a fresh and energetic instrumental single, “Malahat.” Named after the scenic highway on Vancouver Island, this driving track captures the spirit of adventure and the joy of the open road. The instrumental piece is a celebration of both the beauty of the Malahat drive and the personal journey that led to its creation.
Produced by Chris Gartner, “Malahat” takes listeners on a sonic journey that moves between soaring crescendos and subtle, intimate moments. With intricate finger-style guitar, the track builds in intensity before returning to a quiet yet reflective finish, capturing the unique ebb and flow of the Malahat highway itself.
The song’s title holds personal significance for North, whose family has deep roots in British Columbia.
He explains,
“The Malahat is the highway that runs down the east coast of Vancouver Island from Nanaimo to Victoria. I’ve driven it many times, and the cover image of the song is a photo I took of my daughter walking along a wall at a lookout on that very highway.”
North continues,
“I wanted to develop the song beyond a simple acoustic guitar piece, and working with Chris Gartner helped me achieve that. We worked together to create a sound that matches the scenic beauty of the Malahat with energy and motion.”
The video, produced by North’s wife Jennifer Claveau, and using footage from Library and Archives Canada, includes some of the earliest scenes of the Malahat highway shot in 1912, when the road was still unpaved. The visual captures the breathtaking views of the Saanich Inlet, Peninsula, Gulf Islands, and the mainland mountains, reinforcing the song’s themes of exploration and wonder.