The Band, Neil Young, Led Zepplin, Jimi Hendrix, Ten Years After, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon, Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake, Joni Mitchell, Otis Redding, Sloan, Rufus Wainwright, Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ron Sexsmith, Fiest, Broken Social Scene, The Trews, Howie Beck, Pete Yorn, Radiohead, Peter Elkaz, Matt Murphy, The Flashing Lights, The Superfriendz, Matthew Barber, Damien Rice, Bob Dylan, Leadbelly, Nirvana, Weezer, The White Stripes, The Black Keys, The Strokes, Sarah Harmer, Andy Stochansky, Jill Barber, Steve Miller, In Flight Safety, Arcade Fire, Metric, Stars, Elvis Costello, Blur, Savoy Brown, The Cardigans, Richie Havens, Ella Fitzgerald, Sam Cooke, Sam Roberts, Nat King Cole, Cake, The Beatles, The Kinks, Toots and the Maytahls, The Greatful Dead, Ben Harper, Ben Folds Five, Marcy Playground, The Meters, Robert Johnson, Joel Plaskett, Peter Elkas, Jason Colette
Sounds Like
Ron Sexsmith, Rufus Wainwright, John Lennon, Leonard Cohen, Joel Plaskett, Sam Roberts, The Clash
Noah Vachon was raised in the woods of Quebec's Eastern Townships. At 18 he moved to Montreal and spent 5 years studying in 5 different fields before finally accepting his fate: Noah is a singer and a songwriter. He has been since the age of thirteen, it just took him a while to accept it.
Since moving to Toronto in 2003, Noah has been regularly playing solo shows throughout the city and building a fast-growing local fan base.
Noah's secret ingredient? Like all the writers that have inspired him - Paul Simon, Joni Mitchell, Paul McCartney, Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake - the magic is in his songs.
Songs so deceptively easy to listen to that you'd swear that he couldn't possibly have road-tested them in front of hundreds of microphones, that he must have just bought them somewhere instead. Songs that have actual melodies - ones that swoop and dive across octaves, no less, and ones that belie the hours spent honing them. Noah's songs grab you by the collar and say, "Listen."
And the best part is you actually want to.
"I strive for honesty," he says. "Here's an example. I've written in journals my whole life. But the funny thing is I tend to leave them on coffee tables, where anyone can read them. My songs are like that, too. I figure if I feel something strongly enough to write it down, then I should be able to share that with anyone who comes along."
He continues. "Actually, the journal example is really appropriate, because I find my songs end up being a lot like entries in a diary. I'm not a philosopher. I don't make political statements. I'm concerned mostly with personal experience, and my songs really reflect that. They're extremely personal for me, very cathartic."
His first collection of nine of those songs, recorded December, 2004, in a home studio in his old bedroom in the Eastern Townships, is called, simply, "Noah Vachon." The title is not a boast, but a promise.
One of the songs featured on the album, entitled "Drop Your Bag", has recently been selected for use in the "Short Tracks for Short Films" compilation CD being produced by the Canadian Film Centre to promote the use of Canadian independent music in film.
Noah, you booger. Didn't know you had a myspace.' Anyways, site is wicked mon. You look different when your beard is shaved. :P See ya around mon. Byesh.
Sorry for the mass comment but I just want to fill you in!
I've got a new record coming out!! I've been working on "Can't Let Go" for a long time and it's gonna be in stores in Canada on June the 5th so check it out! The single "11:30" was sent to radio last week so keep an ear out and request it. Hear it and a few other new tracks on my profile... "Can't Let Go" is available NOW on CD Baby.com and through iTunes soon.
I'll be having a CD release party on the 16th of June at the El Mocambo in Toronto. I'll have the full band and we'll be playing the new record live. Also, my good friend Mike Evin will be opening. Come down and join my party!!
