NOEL is flexing his songwriting muscles in new single “Flowers at a Funeral.”
The 21-year-old Stockholm-based singer emerged following a career-ending injury, shifting his expressive pursuits from football to music. He gained traction through bedroom covers uploaded to TikTok showcasing his newfound interest in playing a variety of instruments and his charismatic voice.
As a late teen, NOEL not only attracted music fans across the world, but also caught the attention of industry professionals, propelling his career into full swing. As a result, NOEL has released a number of singles and his debut EP Headed North back in March of 2024, and has collaborated with notable songwriters and producers.
Now, NOEL released “Flowers at a Funeral,” the third single to his upcoming project. Stemming from a difficult relationship, the song conveys the sentiment of forgetting the beauty of what something, i.e. a relationship, once was when one is clouded by melancholy.
To capture the vulnerability of his words, NOEL leans into the deep male singer-songwriter archetype in this single. With a distinct alto reminiscent of Lewis Capaldi or James Arthur’s vibrato, and tapping into a vintage Ed Sheeran and Hozier sonic style, NOEL sets up the perfect atmosphere for his heartfelt lyrics.
“Flowers at a Funeral” displays NOEL’s delicate songwriting abilities, utilizing the symbolic juxtaposition of flowers at a funeral to represent that what’s so obviously beautiful is overshadowed by heartache and despair, similar to what NOEL is trying to communicate throughout the song. He corners this thought with the verse, “I’m so indecisive / I never know when I like it / And then I miss it when it’s gone.” Once he reaches the chorus, he reiterates the unfortunate circumstance of having someone one loves getting caught in the crossfire of one’s own internal conflicts: “I wanted you to love me / I wanted you to feel it all / But my heart wasn’t ready for it / And that’s not your fault.”
This single does not shy away from representing NOEL’s reflection on accountability for what may have gone wrong in his relationship. Whether that be questioning whether his behaviour is inherited from his father, or understanding the social pressures of the world expecting to be his ex-partner’s “savior,” NOEL lets go of outside influence and takes full control by sharing his mature comprehension of where things may have gone wrong.
Heavy-hearted lyrics paired with a deep and raw vocal, uplifted by the contemporary singer-songwriter folk-pop guitars and drums set NOEL up for an impactful single. At just 21 years old, NOEL’s journey as a vulnerable vocalist and songwriter is only beginning.
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