R&B Singer/songwriter Noel Gourdin is a fan of powerful music with potent messages. Influenced by iconic voices like Marvin Gaye, Otis Redding and Johnny Taylor, Gourdin has learned a thing or two about crafting songs that speak to the heart, mind and soul. His rich buttery smooth alto, flavored with a gritty and bluesy undercurrent and punctuated by agile gospel riffs, make him instantly recognizable. The handsome, down-to-earth musician’s ability to drive home a song was quickly evidenced when he exploded onto the scene in 2008. His unforgettable and soulfully charged hit “The River,” managed to hold the #1 slot at Urban AC Radio for 15 consecutive weeks. On January 28, 2014, Noel Gourdin will make his Shanachie Entertainment/Top Notch Music debut with City Heart, Southern Soul, which the young and charming musician says harnesses the true essence of soul music, while at the same time expands its boundaries. “This album is a reflection of all the great soul artists of the past that inspired me to make retro-relevant records. I strived to stay true to the organic and authentic feel that I’ve always wanted my music to encompass.” The album’s lead single “Heaven Knows,” speaks to the challenges of making a relationship work. The singer candidly shares, “The song is inspired by relationships that I have gone through – the good and the bad, the ups and downs, cheating, communication breakdowns etc. It also deals with the influences that others outside of the relationship can have on two people. But ultimately true love prevails and only ‘Heaven Knows” how deep that love is.” The album also showcases the song “FOXXXY,” which is currently top 10 on UK’s urban radio soul charts and “Don’t You Wanna,” which was recently featured on VH1’s Love and Hip Hop – Atlanta.
General Manager of Shanachie Entertainment, Randall Grass states, “As we heard on his breakthrough hit ‘The River,’ Noel Gourdin brings a very special combination of classic soul feeling combined with a more contemporary urban sensibility in both his singing and his songwriting. In short he is the kind of quality singer/songwriter that so many R & B fans have been looking for.”
The album title City Heart, Southern Soul speaks directly to Noel Gourdin’s roots. Born in Brockton, MA and having spent numerous summers with his family in Pachuta, Mississippi, Gourdin is the perfect amalgamation of city fire and southern heat. He began singing in Church and was influenced by this father’s soul records but at the same was influenced by the new jack swing his brother introduced him to. Signed to Sony Music at 24, Gourdin contributed the song “Family Reunion” to soundtrack for the film The Cookout, starring Queen Latifah. His debut After My Time came in 2008 featuring his gospel tinged hit single “The River.” Fresh: The Definition was released in showcasing a refreshing blend of live instrumentation, organic production, and lyrical content as heard on the Top 10 Urban AC single, “Beautiful.” In 2012, Gourdin was featured on pianist Brian Culbertson’s sultry hit R&B ballad “You’re My Music.”
With the release of City Heart, Southern Soul, Noel Gourdin continues to assert himself as one of the most promising voices of his generation, making music that promises to stand the test of time. Noel confides that he hope his music will be known for its quality. He adds, “It’s really important for me to be respectful and have music that can speak to the masses, from a two year old to your Great GrandMAMA! Musical integrity is extremely important to me, for when I leave the industry my musical legacy is what I want to be remembered for…Timeless, Real and Soulful, music.”