New four-song set finds Nicolette & The Nobodies / Jeremie Albino guitarist finding his own voice
On his new EP, At Your Service, out today via ArtHaus Music, Ian James Bain is ready to step into the spotlight and join the ranks of young singer/songwriters carrying on the tradition of their honky tonk heroes. He’s already got plenty of experience in that field, serving as touring guitarist with Jeremie Albino, and as a core member of Nicolette & The Nobodies, but on At Your Service he’s found his own voice on four songs that convey hard-earned lessons.
Working closely with the in-demand Toronto producer and pedal steel guitarist Aaron Goldstein (Daniel Romano, Kathleen Edwards, Julianna Riolino), Bain’s songs seamlessly blend the past and present, updating vintage sounds in surprising ways, as on the EP’s first single “Come & Gone,” with its easy-flowing groove and unconventional chord structure.
“Church On A Hill” follows, a poignant meditation on faith and resilience that stands alongside the best recent work of Tyler Childers and John Moreland. “Devil Dance” provides an immediate contrast to that theme, with its swampy arrangement providing the backdrop for Bain to unleash the full power of his voice. “Willow” wraps things up on a heart-swelling note, proof that Bain can write a ballad with the best of ‘em.
As the son of an air force man, Ian has always lived a roving life, although by his teens he managed to stay put long enough to put some roots down in a small, rural Ontario town. Like his friends, he gravitated to whatever music was available around him, developing an eclectic taste, but he kept coming back to country, a sound that best reflected his wayfaring upbringing.
He fully embraced that idea in the summer of 2019 when he decided to travel across the country to work on a small ranch in Golden, British Columbia. After days working outside, he’d spend nights in a small cabin on the property, putting his nascent songwriting ideas down on cassette.
After returning home to southern Ontario, Ian began an apprenticeship of sorts with Canadian country music legend Paul Weber at his bar, the Commercial Tavern, where he “went to school” studying the house band and regularly joining them on stage to sing the songs of Willie, Waylon, Jones and Merle.
By the summer of 2021, Ian was ready to record his debut album Where I Wanna Be, of which Cups N Cakes Network said, “All ten of these songs have all the nuance and comfort of that age old formula for a good country track. Each song is a banger, showing Bain’s timeless approach to songwriting.”
Now with At Your Service, Ian James Bain is opening a new chapter, one forged in his recent time fulfilling some of his dreams as a full-time touring musician. It’s always seemed that the greatest country music artists were destined to become who they were. It’s safe to say that after listening to Ian James Bain, he’s got what it takes to follow in their footsteps.