Singer-songwriters have become some of the most ubiquitous artists in independent music for the past decade. With folk troubadours such as Damien Rice and The Tallest Man On Earth leading the charge, countless musicians have been inspired to take up arms in this new-folk movement. Noah Gundersen is one of the fresh young faces in this particular corner of the indie-sphere.
“I started playing guitar at around 12 years old,” explained Gundersen. “I learned guitar and started writing songs simultaneously.”
This youthful exuberance lead to the release of several EP’s from 2008 to 2011, leading up to the release of Gundersen’s debut full-length record “Ledges,” which garnered both fan and critical acclaim for its brutal honesty and introspective lyrics.
Gundersen gained notoriety early on for the track “Jesus, Jesus,” a song questioning Christ about hypocritical Christians, the end of the world and the fate of sinners. However, Gundersen has since departed from this more spiritually influenced lyrical content in light of his gradual departure from Christianity.
SOMETHING MORE RESONANT
Gundersen was raised in a conservative Christian home where his music listening was restricted to Christian artists only.
“The first CD I bought was probably a really terrible Christian rock CD,” snickered Gundersen. “I used to work construction with my dad and listen to alt-rock radio on my Walkman.”
This exposure to secular music became a source of solace for Gundersen. While the vast majority of well-meaning Christian artists sang somewhat shallow, happy-go-lucky tunes, Gundersen wanted something more resonant.
“I really related to the angst in alt-rock. It felt more real than what I was hearing in Christian music,” said Gundersen.
This angst and emotion no doubt found its way into Gundersen’s own songwriting. The tracks on “Ledges” contain palpable angst, bitterness and sadness. Relatability is perhaps his greatest strength as a songwriter. His soul is laid bare, his heart firmly on his sleeve.
THE EDDY
Gundersen will grace the stage at The Eddy this month on March 26, the night before his sold-out show at The Boathouse Collective in Costa Mesa. His engaging performances are something no music fan will want to miss.
Gundersen is the type of artist needed in the world we live in. His honesty breaks through the constant static of voices that are perhaps too afraid to speak out honestly. If “Ledges” is any indication of where he is heading, Noah Gundersen is someone everyone should keep their eye on.
