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Nicholas Thorburn
Canadian musician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Nick Thorburn (born 27 November 1981), also known by his stage name Nick Diamonds, is a Canadian musician originally from Campbell River. He has fronted numerous bands such as The Unicorns, Th' Corn Gangg, Islands, Reefer, and Human Highway.
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Thorburn was born in 1981 in Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada, which he says has influenced his songwriting.[1] Nature, in particular whales, are a subject of interest;[2] his lyrics include references to rivers, swans and frogs. He also had a formative experience in a visit, along with his father, to see the killer whale Luna; his memories of the visit became an influential part of Islands' debut album Return to the Sea.[1]
Thorburn has fronted The Unicorns, Th' Corn Gangg, Islands, Reefer, and Human Highway.[3][4] Thorburn has gone by the stage name "Nick Diamonds."[1][5]
His vocals have been noted as a distinguishing feature of The Unicorns and Islands.[6][7] His production technique involves dark personification over enjoyable music, though he is "usually wary of composing dance tracks."[8] This contrast is observed in his live performance as well.[9]
In 2005, he co-wrote with Adam Gollner the satirical charity song "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?" organizing the collaboration of many artists.[10] He guest performed on Les Savy Fav's 2007 album Let's Stay Friends.[11] Reefer, his collaborative album with producer Daddy Kev as Reefer, was released on Alpha Pup Records in 2008.[12]
Thorburn has made an album with Honus Honus (also known as Ryan Kattner) of the band Man Man: "One thing that has been floated around is Honus Honus from Man Man and I making a record in a new (sub)genre we are developing, called Doom Wop, which is essentially low frequency, and extremely slowed down music atop traditional doo wop harmonies. Or something."[13][14] The project, called Mister Heavenly, also involves drummer Joe Plummer of Modest Mouse and The Black Heart Procession and has had actor Michael Cera playing bass on the tour.[15]
He released the solo album, I Am an Attic, on his Bandcamp page in 2011.[16] Thorburn was featured on the 2012 El-P album Cancer 4 Cure, singing the chorus of the track "Stay Down".[17] In 2014, Thorburn composed the theme music and score for the critically acclaimed podcast Serial.[18] In 2015, he released a second solo album titled City of Quartz.[19]
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Discography
Albums
- Unicorns Are People Too as The Unicorns (2003)
- Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? as The Unicorns (2003)
- Return to the Sea as Islands (2006)
- Arm's Way as Islands (2008)
- Reefer as Reefer (2008)
- Moody Motorcycle as Human Highway (2008)
- Vapours as Islands (2009)
- Out of Love as Mister Heavenly (2011)
- I Am an Attic solo album as Nick Diamonds (2011)
- A Sleep & a Forgetting as Islands (2012)
- Ski Mask as Islands (2013)
- Music from SERIAL (2014)
- City of Quartz as Nick Diamonds (2015)[20]
- Should I Remain Here, At Sea? as Islands (2016)
- Taste as Islands (2016)
- Boxing the Moonlight as Mister Heavenly (2017)
- Islomania as Islands (2021)
- And That's Why Dolphins Lost Their Legs as Islands (2023)
- What Occurs as Islands (2024)
Guest appearances
- Busdriver – "Happy Insider" from Jhelli Beam (2009)
- Nocando – "You Got Some Nerve" from Jimmy the Lock (2010)
- Buck 65 – "Gee Whiz" from 20 Odd Years (2011)
- Fat Tony and Tom Cruz – "Bad Habits" from Double Dragon (2012)
- El-P – "Stay Down" from Cancer 4 Cure (2012)
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Filmography
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References
External links
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