Cedric Noel is a Tio’tiá:ke/Montreal-based songwriter, musician, collaborator and producer. In 2022, his Hang Time album was nominated for a Polaris Music Prize, but his latest offering marks a clear shift in both his musical direction and lyrical content.
He says, “After the last album [Hang Time], I wanted to move on to writing songs with more ornate arrangements that could be held in a more intimate, delicate space.” When Noel sent me his new single, Sessions, the shift was plain to hear; that delicate and intimate space he talks of leaves a lasting impression, enhanced by musicians who, like Noel, creating atmosphere is second nature – Lisa Conway-Bühler’s (L CON) hushed harmonies, Tim Crabtree’s (Paper Beat Scissors, Jean-Michel Blais, Michael Feuerstack) soothing clarinet lines and Mike Belyea’s (Jenn Grant, Jennah Barry) deep mallet hits and percussion.
Touchstones for the track include Feist’s Metals and Devon Sproule & Mike O’Neill’s Colours. “In the last few years I have found myself increasingly going back to some of my favourite albums from the early 2010s. There’s something ineffably nostalgic about a lot of that music for me.”
There’s an inherent gentle beauty in this music that leaves a long-lasting impression on first listen; there’s also a deep sincerity to the song that draws you back for repeat visits. Cedric Noel is a name that you should definitely keep on your radar.
Cedric Noel on ‘Sessions’
“I first wrote Sessions when I first moved to Montreal about seven years ago. Like many songs, I wrote it by improvising and the song came fully formed along with a few others. For whatever reason, I didn’t think much of the song, so I stashed it away. About four years ago, I rediscovered it and took a real liking to it. I tweaked the lyrics ever so slightly and found myself with a piece of music that felt true to me.
“For the arrangement of the recording, I felt compelled to keep it close to the original feeling the demo I’d found held. Having Lisa sing on it really brought out that intimate quality. I had written out the main drum part and Mike’s percussional additions both surprised and intrigued me before I realized how nicely they sat in the mix. Creating the clarinet arrangement was perhaps the most fun since we were able to do it in the same room. The other collaborations were done remotely. Tim has a special sense of melody on woodwinds that I have yet to really find comparable elsewhere.
“In my estimation, the song is about the most intimate moments found within a friendship. The most honest moments, when you can confess openly your fears, your joys and hopes.”
Sessions is also our Song of the Day.
Pre-save Sessions (out 19 Jan): https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/cedricnoel/sessions
Website: https://cedricnoel.tumblr.com/
More: https://linktr.ee/Cedric.Noel