The McLennan brothers’ musical journey
Photo by Sona Eidnani.
Thistle, a local folk-rock-blues fusion band, is a newcomer to Victoria’s music scene. Aidan and Declan McLennan established Thistle in September, 2024. A fresh voice in local music, Thistle’s captivating sound and engaging performances are helping to make their debut count — most recently earning them a finalist spot in Felicita’s Battle of The Bands, which will take place on April 4.
In September of 2024, Aidan, 19, moved to Victoria to pursue a double major in environmental studies and geography. He joined his brother Declan, 21, who was already settling into his fourth year in the same double major at UVic. The McLennans’ shared academic path set the stage for another, unexpected shared endeavour: music.
“I don’t think we ever wanted to make music together,” Aidan says with a smile.
But it happened by chance. Declan was already making music, and when Aidan moved to Victoria, they began to play together.
Thistle’s first song emerged from a ten-second riff Aidan composed. He played it for Declan, and they wrote “Misted Maker,” which catalyzed their journey as musicians.
Since then, the McLennans have been writing as much music as time allows for. While Aidan focuses on the instrumental aspects of their songs, Declan concentrates on writing melodies and lyrics. During the 2024 fall semester, they wrote seven songs, which they recorded over winter break. The album’s cover art is currently in progress, and their tentative release date is May 16, 2025.
“We take a lot of influence from not only other musicians and bands that we like, such as My Orange Jacket and the Fleet Foxes, but we’re also both very outdoorsy, so a lot of our music is centred on experiencing nature,” Declan explains.
The brothers’ experiences on the beautiful, multi-terrain West Coast are deeply entwined in their music. The McLennans moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 2007 and surrounded by the San Juan Islands, the Cascade Range, and the Olympic Mountains, they developed a deep appreciation for the outdoors — a theme which now saturates their lyrics. Their inspiration is drawn from backpacking trips with friends, during which they would camp in the mountains and write songs under the star-filled sky.
Aidan and Declan were immersed in music growing up thanks to their father, Jason, who was a rhythm guitarist and lead vocalist in a Celtic rock band, which is also called Thistle. Naturally, he was eager to start a family band, and encouraged his children to pursue music by enrolling them in piano lessons. Defiance got the best of his two sons, though, and a family band never transpired. But the brothers’ band’s name is an homage to their familial history.
Aidan and Declan’s musical ingenuity is remarkable to experience live. The interplay of dynamic acoustic-electric guitars, evocative melodies, and introspective lyrics is intoxicating, and leaves the audience wanting more. Themes of identity, family, nature, and heritage permeate their lyrics, and each song offers a glimpse into their lives.
Nashville tuning is a signature element of Thistle’s musical identity — Aidan usually strings six higher-octave strings from a 12-string guitar set onto his Guild D-240E. This technique gives his guitar a bright, vibrant distinction that contrasts with the darker tones of Declan’s Martin D-17. The combination of tones produces an alluring, distinctive sound.
“Pretty much every single one of our songs starts with coming up with a lead melody, and then I will try to come up with a harmony,” Aidan explains.
Both Aidan and Declan are self-taught. Without classical music training, they can challenge conventional boundaries, and they don’t feel confined to a specific style or process. This allows their songwriting to be fluid and experimental, with lots of trial and error.
“The most important thing is being able to communicate as musicians while still retaining the musical identity that you want to push forward,” Declan says.
As the McLennans wrap up the semester and prepare for their album release, they look forward to what’s to come. Band t-shirts have just been released, and the brothers hope to produce a vinyl, as well as more merchandise.
But for now, they have a battle to win.
