Fuzionz Magazine and TV Summer Issue 2013 | Page 18

NOEL GOURDIN
Noel Gourdin is among one of the many great artists in the music industry. His voice carries a unique, soulful sound which
gives his music that authentic feel of the old school era. The vocal talents of the Massachusetts native are beyond measure
and shows in his style of singing. Check out our interview with Noel:
Fuzionz Magazine: Tell us about the man behind the music scenes. Who is Noel Gourdin?
Noel: I was born and raised in Brockton, Massachusetts, which is 20 miles from Boston. I received my love of music from my
pops. He introduced me to the sounds of Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Al Green; that type of music. I’ve always had respect for
soul music since 5 yrs. old or so and I’ve always wanted to make authentic-feeling music. The kind of music, which once
you’ve heard it, it would make you close your eyes and reminisce. I wanted to keep it soulful and keep it real from the heart.
It was ironic, when I was around my brother, he would listen to the “new jack swing” music, but when I was riding with my
pops, I knew I wasn’t going to be listening to that type of music, so I went with what pops listened to.
Fuzionz Magazine: Who has been your biggest inspiration?
Noel: I have to say my mom and my pops. They taught me to be real to myself, go after something, never quit and try to be
the best person I can be, because this is a tough industry.
Fuzionz Magazine: A lot of great music artists grew up singing in church choirs. This is how a lot of them started their singing
careers. Does this hold true for you?
Noel: No, not so much. When I would go down south for the summer and hang out with my grandmother and my cousins,
my grandmother would take us all to church on Sundays. I would get up and sing with the choir. It moved me in such a way;
having the gospel chords and those harmonies which gospel choirs have. I didn’t know the songs, but I was moved by the
music and the way it made me feel. I would look around at my older cousins, sisters, and brothers and it didn’t move them
like it moved me. So, I knew it was something about the music that intrigued me and I wanted to get deeper into it. I wasn’t
that deep into church, but it was all about that feel that gospel had.
When I became of age, I started writing my own music, practicing and emulating all of the great artists of the past, such as:
Phillip Bailey, Prince, Otis Redding and Ray Charles. My parents didn’t have the money to send me to vocal coaching, so I had
to emulate.

Fuzionz Magazine: Tell us about “The River.” What inspired you to write it?
Noel: Some of the crew and I were in the studio around 2003, in the Poconos, sitting around talking about music and how it
has changed dramatically and how it has lost some of its zing and authenticity. Either we or our families were from the south
or we had frequently visited the south, growing up. While we were in the studio, we talked about bringing back that nostalgic
feeling. We talked about making the type of music which made people feel like looking back to their brighter days, to their
first love or just that feel of being somewhere in the south. We, then,
started writing and writing. We actually wrote and recorded the album
in four hours. When I stepped out of the booth, I knew we had something
special; it had that soulful, authentic feel. Even now, when I go around the
country and perform that record, I still get thanks.
Fuzionz Magazine endorses Noel Gourdin.
You can follow Noel on Twitter @noelgourdin or
visit his website by logging on to: www.noelgourdin.com or
by joining the Noel Gourdin Fan Page on Facebook.

Check out his music by f