Nicholas Thorburn is a Canadian musician who has fronted The Unicorns

The Unicorns

The Unicorns were a Lo-Fi/Indie Pop band from Montreal, Canada formed in December 2000 by Nicholas Thorburn and Alden Penner , who were later joined by Jamie Thompson in December 2003.-History:...

, Th' Corn Gangg

Th' Corn Gangg

Th' Corn Gangg is an indie pop/hip hop band from Montreal, Canada. The band was founded by Jamie Thompson and Nicholas Thorburn as a direct off-shoot project of The Unicorns several months prior to their December 2004 break-up, but prior to the formation of Islands by those same two musicians.Th'...

, Islands

Islands (band)

Islands is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2005 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and currently based in Brooklyn, New York.-Return to the Sea:In mid-2005 Islands recorded a debut album titled Return to the Sea, which was released in April 2006...

, Reefer, and Human Highway

Human Highway (band)

Human Highway is a Canadian indie rock band formed in 2008 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The band's name is a reference to the Neil Young song "Human Highway" as suggested by founding member Nicholas Thorburn after attending a Neil Young concert.-History:...

. He has gone by the stage name "Nick Diamonds."

He grew up on Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island

Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...

, which he says has influenced his songwriting. Nature, in particular whales, are a subject of interest; 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

Luna (Orca)

Luna also known as L98 or Tsuux'iit, was a killer whale born in Puget Sound. After being separated from his mother as a toddler, Luna spent five years in Nootka Sound, off the west coast of Vancouver Island.Although Luna was healthy and his presence in the area delighted tourists and drew a large...

; his memories of the visit became an influential part of Islands' debut album Return to the Sea

Return to the Sea

Return to the Sea is the full-length debut by indie rock band Islands. It was released April 4, 2006 on Equator Records.The cover painting is "The Sea of Ice" by Caspar David Friedrich, 1824.-Track listing:# "Swans " – 9:31...

.

His vocals have been noted as a distinguishing feature of The Unicorns and Islands.
His production technique involves dark personification over enjoyable music, though he is "usually wary of composing dance tracks." This contrast is observed in his live performance as well.

In 2005, he co-wrote with Adam Gollner the satirical charity song "Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?

Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?

"Do They Know It's Hallowe'en?" is a charity single inspired by "Do They Know It's Christmas?". It was released on October 11, 2005 in Canada on Vice Records by a cast of rock artists and other performers under the name "North American Hallowe'en Prevention Initiative"...

" organizing the collaboration of many artists.
He guest performed on Les Savy Fav

Les Savy Fav

Les Savy Fav is a New York City indie rock band. Their style is influenced by art rock and post-hardcore. The group is known for the stage presence of lead singer Tim Harrington...

's 2007 album Let's Stay Friends

Let's Stay Friends

Let's Stay Friends is the fourth full-length album by Les Savy Fav. It was released on September 18, 2007. The album was #5 in NME albums of the year list, #16 on Rolling Stones list of the Top 50 Albums of 2007, and #44 on Pitchfork Media's list....

.

He has made an album with Man Man

Man Man

Man Man is an experimental band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Man Man is known for their exuberant live performances. When performing, the members of the band sometimes coordinate their outfits, often seen in white outfits and, more commonly, war paint....

's Honus Honus: "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." The project, called Mister Heavenly

Mister Heavenly

Mister Heavenly is an indie rock supergroup consisting of Honus Honus of Man Man, Nicholas Thorburn of Islands and The Unicorns, and Joe Plummer of Modest Mouse and The Shins. They recorded their first album in late 2010, finishing the year with a string of tour dates supporting Passion Pit, joined...

, also involves drummer Joe Plummer

Joe Plummer

Joe Plummer is an American drummer from Portland, Oregon. Since 2004, Plummer has been a member of the indie rock band Modest Mouse and performed on their album, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank...

 of Modest Mouse

Modest Mouse

Modest Mouse is an American indie rock band formed in 1993 in Issaquah, Washington, by singer/lyricist/guitarist Isaac Brock, drummer Jeremiah Green, and bassist Eric Judy. They are based in Portland, Oregon. Since their 1996 debut album, This Is a Long Drive for Someone with Nothing to Think...

 and Black Heart Procesion and has had actor Michael Cera

Michael Cera

Michael Austin Cera is a Canadian actor best known for his roles in Arrested Development, Youth in Revolt, Superbad, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and Juno. Cera received the 2008 Canadian Comedy Award for best male performance for his work in Superbad.-Early...

playing on bass on the tour.