A Professional in Many Lights

By Diane Miller
Music Editor

You’ll love Keri Noble. This Twin Cities singer/songwriter delivers easy listening music in a personable, down-to-earth style. Along the likes of Sheryl Crow, Sara Bareilles and Colbie Caillat, Keri Noble comes to us eager to play music wherever it may be. In this case, she’s taking on the wonderful atmosphere of the Hodo Lounge to set her stage.

From the same producer that brought us Norah Jones, world-famous Arif Mardin brought us Keri Noble. Thanks in part to Mardin, Noble captured every musicians dream—stardom. She landed a record deal with EMI/Manhattan Records in 2003 and released her debut album—Fearless—where her hit song “Talk to Me” resided.

In 2009, with the release of her self-titled album, her song “Emily” appeared on one of the hottest shows on Television—Grey’s Anatomy. It was a big year for her because it was also the same year Kelly Clarkson included Noble’s song on her Grammy nominated album, All I Ever Wanted. In 2010, she released When it Don’t Come Easy and fulfilled her dream of “having complete control” of her music. She started her own label, KikoSaysSo, and produced the whole album herself.

She was born in Texas which might explain the hints of modern country in her music. Her father was a Baptist minister which may explain the hints of modern Christian music in her songs. Her song “If No One Will Listen” was covered by pop superstar Kelly Clarkson which could indicate many things—most certainly it explains that, like Kelly Clarkson, she has talent.

Overall her sound is very standard in comparison to other singer-songwriters. It is particularly piano driven with a back-up band that serves to accentuate her professional sounding singing voice—the kind of voice many women would love to have. Her lyrics are passionate, honest and relatable.

Her latest album, More Than Santa, is a Christmas album that, unlike most holiday albums, has not a single traditional Christmas song. It’s perfectly titled—being with those you love and appreciating what you already have is her major theme.

She grew up in Detroit and now lives in the Twin Cities—she’s got thick skin. Now that she has started her own label and moved on from stardom, she still makes it work. She works hard touring, producing her own albums and writing her own songs. Last week she even performed in Ulen, Minnesota, spreading her music to those rarely ever—dare I say never—get professional musicians in their town. For someone who grew up in a city like Detroit, it is certainly uncharacteristic to play in a town as small as Ulen. It just goes to show what kind of person she is. That is awesome.
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IF YOU GO:
WHAT: Keri Noble
WHERE: The Hodo Lounge
WHEN: Thurs., Jan 26
INFO: 21+; $10 cover; http://kerinoble.com/