The JUNO-nominated Vancouver pianist and composer discusses his new trio album Rose-Anna, a record rooted in family, grief, and the quiet power of music passed down through generations.
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Today, we're putting The Tonearm's needle on pianist and composer Noah Franche-Nolan.
Noah's latest album, 'Rose-Anna,' is named after his Acadian great-grandmother, a church organist from Grand Falls, New Brunswick. The Acadians are French-speaking people with deep roots in Canada's Maritime provinces. The Acadians were expelled from their land by the British in the late 1700s, and many migrated south to Louisiana, where they became known as the Cajuns. Noah’s family connection runs deep through the record, and he even plays organ on two tracks, honoring the woman who sparked his musical heritage.
The album pairs him with bassist Jodi Proznick and drummer Nicholas Bracewell in a trio that showcases deft groove-driven chops, tender hymns, and free exploration. The music conjures thoughts of home, family, and what gets passed down through generations.
Noah's also one half of Arid Landscapes, an ambient electroacoustic project with guitarist Dan Pitt, that takes a totally different approach—live looping, processing, and soundscapes that feel vast and open. My November 2024 talk with Dan for The Tonearm is linked in the show notes.
Noah and I talk about both projects, his work as a church music director in Vancouver, and what it means to make music that honors the past while pushing into new territory.
(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Noah Franche-Nolan's album 'Rose-Anna')
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00:00 — Introduction
02:00 — Rose-Anna: the great-grandmother behind the album
05:09 — The concept of sublimation and how the album came together
08:30 — Emotion, spirituality, and why music moves people
09:53 — Does the music come first, or the idea?
14:58 — Writing for film: Häxan and Union Town
19:15 — Bringing Häxan into the trio
21:13 — "Prayer," Alice Coltrane, and sacred sound
25:53 — Life as a church music director
28:14 — Arid Landscapes with Dan Pitt
32:12 — Taking it live
34:31 — What does it mean to produce your own record?
39:26 — Brentwood Presbyterian Church and Bruno Hubert
42:50 — The University of Toronto jazz scene
48:04 — Vancouver vs. Toronto
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Visit Noah Franche-Nolan at https://www.noahfranche-nolanmusic.com
and follow him on Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/noahfnmusic
Purchase Noah Franche-Nolan's 'Rose-Anna' from Bandcamp → https://noahfranche-nolan.bandcamp.com/album/rose-anna
or Qobuz → https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/album/rose-anna-noah-franche-nolan/sf5pmr1bq3zhb
and listen on your streaming platform of choice → https://orcd.co/streamrose_anna
For extensive show notes, links, and podcast information, go to https://podcast.thetonearm.com
Be sure to check out The Tonearm, an online music + culture magazine featuring fascinating perspectives and conversations with creative people → https://www.thetonearm.com
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