Canadian singer-songwriter Ian Thomas can look back on an impressive career spanning over five decades. He became famous in 1973 with his international hit “Painted Ladies”, which made him famous far beyond the borders of Canada. Over the years, he has celebrated numerous successes and his songs have been covered by greats such as Santana, Manfred Mann, Bon Jovi, Bette Midler and Chicago. In addition to his solo career, he founded the band “The Boomers” in the 1990s, with whom he enjoyed great success in Europe. In 2014, he was honored with the SOCAN National Achievement Award for his outstanding songwriting.

Now, after almost a decade, Ian Thomas is back with his new album “How We Roll”, which marks his fifteenth solo effort. The production of this album began during the COVID-19 lockdown, with Thomas working in “close remote collaboration” with musicians such as bassist Paul Intson and guitarist Jon Zaslow. The result is a nine-track album that addresses profound topics such as climate change, human rights and religion. The lyrics are thoughtful, critical and thought-provoking – exactly what Thomas has always been known for.

A special feature of “How We Roll” is the immersive soundscape: in addition to the classic stereo mix, the album is also available in Dolby Atmos. The Atmos mix was created by Vic Florencia and mastered by Justin Gray. Thomas describes how his neighbor Vince Hoffman’s passion for immersive sound inspired him and ultimately led to this new sound dimension. He turned to Florencia, whose technical skill and sense of atmospherics won him over. By the time the mix was finished, Thomas had even converted his own home studio to 7.1.4 to experience the full pleasure of this sound world.

“How We Roll” fits seamlessly into Ian Thomas’ musical oeuvre and offers both long-time fans and new listeners a musical experience that stands out in its depth and sound quality. Anyone who appreciates catchy melodies, intelligent lyrics and high-quality sound should definitely not miss this album.