The Toronto native and former star of Big Wreck, is about to release his third, much-anticipated solo album, and help select the winner of the LCBO’s Whisky Rocks competition.

By Jay Somerset

It’s fair to say Ian Thornley is an artist who’s paid his dues. After forming his first band, Big Wreck, nearly two decades ago, Thornley recorded two successful albums for Atlantic Records, including the Double Platinum In Loving Memory Of.... When the group disbanded in 2002, Thornley persevered, releasing two more albums under his own name. Now he’s back with another gem. We spoke to the Torontonian about the new album, rookie mistakes, touring and surviving the life on the road.

You’re about to release a new album, your first since 2009’s Tiny Pictures. What can fans expect this time around?

We were going for something entirely different; nothing like the songs you hear often on rock radio. I want people to hear the music and think, “Oh, I remember when songs used to sound like this”. When we went into the studio, the idea was to create an off-the-cuff vibe, like you were hearing a bunch of musicians jamming and somebody happened to hit record.

Sort of how Tom Petty did it on his latest album, Mojo?

Exactly. That album is oozing with soul. And that’s exactly what we wanted. Rather than concerning ourselves with creating perfect, sugar-coated radio singles, here are a bunch of new songs that just sound good. Not perfect, but good. It’s actually a lot easier to make something perfect than it is to capture something soulful, or imperfect.

You formed Big Wreck with three classmates from the Berkelee College of Music in Boston. What was it like just starting out? It was very tough at first. Even just getting a gig; we played a lot of backyard barbecues and dives.

It was a time when we were the opening band for the opening band—“You’ve got 20 minutes, give us what you’ve got!” That sort of thing. I remember thinking, I have no idea what I’m doing, so I’m just going to down a few beers, go onstage and give my best Hendrix or Jimmy Page impersonation for the three people in the audience.

So playing in front of a crowd is as nervewracking as it looks?

Yes, at first. Eventually you just relax; I’m out there on stage with nothing between me and the audience, so I might as well embrace it and go with it.

Is this the advice you’d give to someone just starting out in the music business?

Absolutely, except there’s something even more important, and that’s finding your own thing. People can smell a rat from a mile away, and if you’re trying to trick people with a gimmick, it’ll eventually show. There’s got to be some authenticity to what you’re doing. Find what feels right and go with it.

How important is touring to a musician?

Nowadays it’s especially important because [performing live] is one of the only ways a musician can generate real income. Playing live on a regular basis is also the best way to improve your musicianship up to new levels.

Every time you play a song, it grows into something different. Or during sound check, you might be fiddling around with a sound and then the band jumps on it and suddenly you’ve got a riff that turns into something later on.

You’ve been involved with several charitable causes and events, and now you’ve lent your song “Fade Away” to the LCBO’s Whisky Rocks competition, with entrants sending in a cover of your song. The winner, an up-and-coming band or artist, gets to spend time in the studio with you and one of your producers. What drives you to get involved?

There’s no reason why I shouldn’t get involved. I’m just doing my own, little part. That I can somehow help a new band or artist get started in the business, or offer advice or just help them with a song, makes me feel good. It will be interesting to see how “Fade Away” gets interpreted. This track is perfect for artists to put their own spin on because it’s one of those tunes that could work with just a guy and an acoustic guitar, or blown up with lots of instruments and effects.