By Susie Salva
Los Angeles based Noah Stone, a fervent folksy songwriter has released “Little Revolution”, playing nearly every instrument and producing the record all by himself. Noah Stone’s "Little Revolution" CD has debuted at James Perse’s L.A. and New York boutiques. It’s the perfect musical compliment to the James Perse California aesthetic. Beginning April 26, Noah will be on a 22-city U.S. tour with Johnette Napolitano, former lead singer of Concrete Blonde. He’ll also be performing at in-store appearances in James Perse New York and Los Angeles boutiques. We recently caught up with him on his tour to find our more about this rising star…
Susie Salva: What genre do you consider yourself to be in?
Noah Stone: I’m a tough one to describe. I grew up in Laurel Canyon in Joni Mitchell’s house so I was surrounded by the California folk-rock world. I would say that I bring California rock into the modern age.
SS: Who are your main influences and how do they come into play?
NS: From a lyrical standpoint, Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon. Joni was around a lot when I was a kid. She’s a powerful figure for me; a constant reminder that there’s always deeper to dig – always something truer to look at. Paul Simon is a lucid lyricist and I’ve always been drawn to a narrative structure in songwriting. Musically, it’s all over the map, but I know I’ve consciously tried to construct soundscapes for my lyrics in which no single instrument really steals the attention. When you listen to Peter Gabriel, you don’t think, what a great keyboard song or guitar song. The music just serves the song.
SS: Why did you choose this type of music to express yourselves?
NS: I don’t have too much control over it. When I’m inspired, I try to let the story out the way I’m hearing it.
SS: What inspires you to craft a song?
NS: It could be anything – something someone says, something in the paper that day, a book I’m reading. Usually a phrase and an emotion come to me and I just follow their lead. Some of my songs are purely works of fiction. Like "My Green Eyes." I’m not married and didn’t father an interracial baby but the song is really about being a victim of circumstance – blaming even the color of your eyes for life not turning out how you envisioned it.
SS: What is your ultimate goal with your band?
NS: I just want to be able to make records and tour forever and make a comfortable living. If something really breaks through and I have a "hit," great. I’ll welcome it with open arms, but I’m not interested in the flash-in-the-pan fame that our culture seems to be obsessed with.
SS: With your musical platform what are you trying to convey to the world?
NS: My album is called "Little Revolution." I’m referring to the revolution that occurs when an individual chooses love over hate, oneness over otherness. You can’t change the world until you’ve changed yourself.
SS: What matters most to personally and professionally?
NS: I gave up making music for 6 years. I believed that I’d never make music again. From time to time, I even convinced myself that I was happy. But I wasn’t. I was in deep conflict. Now that I’m back doing what I love, I feel free and alive. What matters most to me is checking myself so that I never get in my own way again.
SS: What are you sure of?
NS: The only thing to be sure of is now… And now it’s gone. Too often, we think we’re sure about the future or the past, but that’s the definition of madness. It’s what stops us in life and divides us from one another.
SS: Is there anything you would have done differently?
NS: No. But I know what I’d like to do next. I made this album entirely by myself and I’m proud of it. Next time, I’d like to have a band.
SS: What are some significant experiences have happened in this band?
NS: I’m writing this in a van on I-5, heading to San Francisco for the first show of a 20-city tour opening for Johnette Napolitano from Concrete Blonde. I’m just absolutely thrilled to be on this path.
SS: What is the most amazing thing that has happened to you in this band?
NS: I’ll get back to you after the tour.
SS: What three songs are your favorites on the disc and why?
NS: Casualties of Love – I’m happy how that one turned out. It was sort of a writing exercise. I wanted to drag a metaphor out all the way through the song. I like how I turned the lovesick single city person into the sick-of-love suburban couple in the end.
My Green Eyes – I love playing this one live. The audience always responds at all the right moments. They laugh at some of the funnier lines then go quiet when the song gets serious.
Story – This is the one I like to listen to the most. I’m very proud of the harmonies.
SS: Anything else would you like to say?
NS: My album is available in the James Perse boutiques.
Check out www.noahstone.com and www.myspace.com/noahstone.
