We all need to protect ourselves – from nature’s wild elements, from our own turbulent hearts. This is the central theme to “Why We Build Houses,” taken from Orillia, Ontario songwriter Ian North’s recent album, Everything is Incomplete.

The introspective and harmonic ‘fallen angel folk rock’ tune was sparked by a conversation with a friend where the song’s title struck North as a universal truth.

It’s a poem about fragility and the reference to a physical house is a metaphor for emotional and spiritual protection or self-preservation as well. – Ian North

The accompanying music video was filmed on and around his forest property in Muskoka, featuring a concept that echoes the delicacy at the song’s core. 

The waterfalls symbolize the turbulence of life and our own hearts. The song starts with the image of ‘When the wind blows, it blows everywhere, through the town, takes the leaves and the lawn chairs.’ We wanted to shoot the film outdoors and highlight the beauty that comes from understanding ‘how small is life.’ – Ian North