Propelled into the limelight by his viral TikTok covers, Noel is set to release his debut EP, Headed North, on March 15th. Diving deep into human emotions, this stirring collection of ballads showcases Noel’s heartfelt lyricism and powerful vocals.
Steeped in the raw honesty of the pain of abandonment, the lead song, “Hurt Somebody” looks at the aftermath of heartbreak. The pain is amplified not only by Noel’s lyrics but his voice.
Produced with Freddy Alexander, Headed North continues its exploration of emotion through its sombre and emotional soundscapes. From the contemplative title track to the collaborative effort on “Everything’s Fine” featuring Tessa Odden, Noel demonstrates a remarkable ability to convey complex emotions through his music.
On the EP, he says,
“This EP will always be special to me as it is my first and in many ways my introduction into music and songwriting. I started writing songs together with others a little over two years ago, without any real concept or deeper thought behind it. Eventually I found that the songs over time started to find their place and became a coming-of-age story that I’m excited to finally share.”
Noel’s versatility shines in the acoustic guitar drive “30 Loose Ends” that is a study in childhood love and the enduring connections from that time period.
In a tribute to his late grandmother, “Ruth,” Noel bares his soul and the profound grief and longing of connecting with her. Written with his sister, Noel says this about the writing process,
”Losing someone that close to you is a difficult thing to process as a kid and for me it hit me many years later. It was a hard realization that she will never get to know the person I grew up to be. She only ever met the annoying kid I was back then. I think that a lot of people can relate to the feeling of wishing you had valued certain relationships more growing up.”
MUST LISTEN TRACKS: “Ruth”, “Everything’s Fine”, “When You’re Not Mine”
