Canadian folk-rock artist Ian North shares his brand new single Cliffs of Portugal, a moving new single that blends elegant guitar work with vivid storytelling and a profound sense of longing.
Sparked Anchored by North’s time spent on the southwestern tip of Portugal, where he stood at the same vantage point said to have inspired King Henry the Navigator to send his fleet into the unknown, Cliffs of Portugal captures the bittersweet beauty of travel, memory, and facing the horizon after profound loss. The song also resonates with the grief of losing North’s father only months before writing it. I am really enjoying the warmth of the song and how the evocative lyrics are beautifully delivered through his smooth, expressive vocals which glide effortlessly over the intricate guitar riffs and steady drum patterns that come together to create an overall deeply personal and nostalgic atmosphere perfect for those reflective moments alone.
I had some experiences while traveling that ended up in the lyrics, but in the back of my mind was always the idea of sailing over the edge of the known world. Especially after my dad died, it became about what we leave behind and what we find when we cross into the next part of the journey.
