Interview: Catching Up With Noelle Tannen + Stream “Proof”

Based out of The Big Easy, soul artist Noelle Tannen brings a vibrant sound and powerful vocals to everything she does. Her new single, “Proof” was just released and to celebrate GroundSounds sent over some interview questions.

Check it all out below and be sure to follow the Tannen here for more.

Hi, Noelle Tannen! Congrats on your new single. Can you tell us a little more on
who you are and how you first got into making music?

I am Noelle Tannen. I am a songwriter and musician based between New Orleans Louisiana and New York City. Originally from Washington Heights, NY. I first got into music playing Classical Cello at age 6. I was kind of a conservatory Child. I also grew up singing in Church choirs since I was really little. I started writing songs and teaching myself piano when I was about 14, originally kind of as self therapy and then got really addicted to it. The rest is history.

What’s your songwriting process like? Who are some of your biggest influences?

Thats a hard question! Mostly because my songwriting process really varies. Sometimes it just bangs right out of me kind of seamlessly and organically. Sometimes, I’ll sit at a piano and mess around with different harmonies and rhythmic patterns and slowly piece things together over the course of time.

I’ve also written songs just melodies and words, in different places like buses, trains, on my bike. Sometimes I’ll play around with different sounds and textures and get really weird, while other times I challenge myself to write a very basic short pop song. Yeah it varies.

My influences are also always changing depending on the year but I would have to say my biggest influence of all is experience. There have been people of course that I have been really inspired by, such as Stevie Wonder, Debussy, Church Harmony, and Musicals. Though, as of lately my biggest influences are meticulous women that do a lot of things for themselves and are not afraid to take chances.

A lot of these women I am lucky to know personally, Du Yun, Sara Mcdonald, Bjork, Helen Gillet, etc. Also, really inspired by a lot of Jazz Singers. As of lately, I can’t stop listening to Cecile McLorin Salvant and Cyrille Aimee.

What’s “Proof” about and how did it come to be?

“Proof” is a song about the constant struggle many women face of having to prove ourselves and work extra hard just for people to take us seriously. It’s about how exhausting that struggle can be.

However, it’s about the struggle, the song is supposed to portray a motivational message. Let’s keep on working hard, but while doing so, not to forget about the beauty of life and the earnestness of creation. I wrote it at a time when I was dealing with a great deal of sexism in my field, and it was really affecting my genuine creative flow.

Any new New Orleans-based artists/venues/purveyors of the arts you could turn our readers onto?

Oh man, so many…Mckenna Alicia, Helen Gillet, Kristina Morales, Nutria, Sasha Masakowski, Vexed Perspective, Georgi Petrov, Sexy Dex and The Fresh, Aurora Nealand, Sal Geloso, Annie Ellicott, Mikayla Jovan, Katheryn Rose Wood, Nebula Rosa, Tranche, Julie Odell. I am a huge fan of the trumpet player, Wendell Brunious. This list could go on forever.

Bubble Bath Records, is an up and coming independent Label. They are doing a lot of cool things, and all of their artist are phenomenal. Its super eclectic too, which I love. Also, The Radio Stations in New Orleans are great for discovering whats going on there. My top 3 go to’s are WWOZ, WHIV and WTUL.

Where can we follow you and where can our readers catch you live next?

You can follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, etc .. all @Noelletannen

I am going to be playing a few shows in NYC and Brooklyn over the next couple of months. Rockwood Music Hall on August 8th, Pianos on August 14th. You can check my website:
www.noelletannenmusic.com