Following on from a rich and enticing array of offerings over the last few years, Philadelphia-based singer and songwriter Noah Richardson is back once again with his vibrant new single 'Painful'.
Channelling a wonderfully woozy and dreamy soul-infused groove from start to finish, 'Painful' makes for a beautifully captivating listen. With his silky smooth voice riding a wave of breezy and spellbinding production throughout, we can't wait to hear what he comes out with next.
So with his new single available now, we sat down with him to find out more about his background and what has been inspiring him lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
I first fell in love with guitar… My dad used to play in a church band when he was younger and showed my brother, Dave and I a couple chords when we were kids.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
Honestly, I went through a bunch of phases. I think for everyone, we get music taste from our parents. So in Mom’s car I got Guns N Roses (who were my favorites) and Taylor Swift while in Dad’s car I got Sheryl Crow and The Beatles. I started off definitely as a hard rocker but morphed into the pop-punk, emo stuff when I got to my middle school years (All Time Low, MCR, Linkin Park).
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album I ever bought was PATD’s Vices and Virtues. That started a whole rabbit hole into the Fueled by Ramen artists at the time.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
July by Noah Cyrus. What a beautiful song that is so damn relatable. Cuts deep every time.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
Really I’m not sure… I do feel like if I’m in a sort-of writer's block I just spend hours writing lyrics, even if they don’t make sense. I find I write a lot of songs completely lyrically/melodically/structurally in my notes app and then add in everything else.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
This is such a slippery slope for me honestly… because I’ll find a new artist I love and just obsessively listen to their stuff. Right now that’s probably Kid Bloom. Love his stuff.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
Easily John Mayer or Dominic Fike. Two of my favorite artists would not be who I am without their music.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
I went into music wanting to provide a shoulder to cry on, something in the background while you’re with your favorite people, a friend when you’re in need. Talking to people and hearing the different stories people have related to my music is so fulfilling. So many songs have been the soundtrack to my life and it’s a privilege to be able to return the favour.
And what is the most frustrating part?
The come-up can be very frustrating but I’ve learned the importance of patience and gratitude. I feel like that’s relatable to anyone, trying to look around and compare your lives to others but you just need to take a minute and recognize the blessings and how far you’ve come. Love the journey.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
I find such solace in watching interviews of my favorite artists and creatives and learning their stories. John Mayer said in his documentary, “You can try all you can and fail at Plan B… so why not go all in on Plan A?” From there it was off to the races.
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Noah Richardson's new single 'Painful' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.