Today we’d like to introduce you to Gene Noble.
Gene, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I don’t remember much about my father. I mostly just remember the feeling of knowing he was gone and I wouldn’t see him again. I was about four when my dad passed and I specifically remember hiding myself in music. My entire family was pretty musical but no one really took it beyond the church walls. I started singing solo’s in the church choir as long as I could remember. I’m not sure how good I was or If I was just always there. I learned to play piano from an elder in my church. My musical tastes developed through these wildly different scenarios I was in growing up. In school, I was introduced to pop and rock, after school hip hop and dance hall, and at home, my mom was all about Gospel, and Jazz with the occasional anita baker and Patti Labelle thrown in there. I really started to find my voice when I discovered D’angelo. I pretty much mark that as the moment I knew what I wanted to do. I started taking the piano more seriously and embracing my falsetto and gospel roots. By the time I started college, I was singing and playing in clubs all over NYC. Thats where I made most of my connections and started singing and writing for other artists. Each of those experiences led to the next one… I’ve been touring the world with a bit of everyone ever since.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I’ve probably had a smoother road than most people in terms of career path. I started out with Lauryn Hill which led to John Legend, Alicia Keys, Diddy, Jay Z, Trey Songz, Chris Brown, Linkin Park, Shaggy, Usher, 50 cents, Demi Lovato, The Roots, 21 savage and currently Sting. The years I’ve been working in the business have been a bit crazy because the industry as a whole was going through a complete evolution. I believe that many amazing artists during that time got swallowed up by the ever-changing landscape. Labels were folding left and right and execs were scrambling to figure out streaming and the new ways people consume music. I have had many record deals that didn’t go anywhere. Most of the time it’s because the person that fell in love with the music wasn’t at the label long enough to see the project through. Wanting to express myself as a solo artist and writer has been a struggle at times. The ability for anyone with a laptop to make music has made it an exciting time for new ideas but also a very saturated market so we have to work harder to stand out. The fight now is to be seen while keeping musical and personal integrity in a time where it seems to be less about music and substance and more about beefs and who you are with.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I’m probably best known for having a 4 octave range and a lot of vocal control. I’m also probably known for being a “go to” backing vocalist for many A list artists. I’m excited that more and more people are discovering me as a writer and a performer. What sets me apart is that I don’t fear being open and vulnerable in my writing, singing and performing. It’s what connects me and my music to people.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
The key to my success has been versatility and adaptability. I’ve toured in every genre, sung every kind of song, went from some super hood young camps where the culture is partying to other camps where things are a lot more reserved. Those things have helped me as a solo artist because I’m comfortable doing so many different things. I’ve had a level of training beyond most new artists and I’m grateful for my path.
Contact Info:
- Website: genenoble.com
- Instagram: @iamgenenoble
- Facebook: genenoblemusic
- Twitter: @iamgenenoble
Image Credit:
The professional image was shot by James Anthony
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