25. March 2025
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Media Review

Noah Derksen – Stolen Serenades

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Noah Derksen - Stolen Serenades

Noah Derksen - Stolen Serenades
4.2

Rating

 4.2/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Seven beautiful cover version of music classics
  • Very personal and individual interpretations

At the age of 19, Noah Derksen saw Leonard Cohen live and was deeply impressed by the music. This inspired him to pursue a career in music. In his latest album Stolen Serenades, he is honoring artists like Cohen turning their songs into folk-style covers. The release date of the album is 19th February 2025.

 

Noah Derksen – About The Artist

Noah Derksen is a Canadian folk singer-songwriter. He was born in August 1993 and nowadays lives in Winnipeg in Manitoba. Derksen released his first album In Search of the Way in 2016. Two more followed, the last one being Sancity of Silence in 2023. In the same year, he also shared the EP Nothing Lasts Forever (B-Sides). He has been awarded as the Emerging Artist of the Year at the Canadian Folk Music Awards in 2021.

 

Noah Derksen – Stolen Serenades – Track by Track

The seven track album lasts 28 minutes

1. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right

The album starts with a Bob Dylan cover. Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right has in fact been the B-side of one of Dylan’s greatest songs, Blowing In The Wind. Noah Derksen’s version emphasizes the emotions of the original in a lovely and gentle way. Stolen Serenades begins with a really nice “steal”.

2. If It Be Your Will

I mentioned Leonard Cohen in the introduction to this review already. Not that surprisingly, there is also a song by the Canadian music legend in here. If It Be Your Will in the 2025 version by Cohen’s countryman feels even more emotional than the original released on the 1984 Various Positions album.

3. I Try

The Macy Gray classic in a Canadian folk version? Of course, the soulful and groovy style of the original is not that much in focus. Therefore, Noah Derksen continues with his beautiful and gentle folk style and allows a very different view on the song. It works – and thus, it is not that surprising that the artist and his team picked this one as a single release.

4. I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For

This song has been one of the biggest and most well-known songs by the Irish rock band U2. Derksen’s version of the song from The Joshua Tree album comes with a fine and gentle melody and a beautiful flow. Nonetheless, there is a bit of electric guitar in here as well, so that you feel a bit of the rock music heartbeat of the song.

5. These Days

These Days by Jackson Browne has been released in 1973. There are numerous cover versions of the rock music classic, which even had a an initial release in the 1960’s. The style Derksen’s version of These Days is a bit in line with the U2 cover before – very melodic and with a nice flow. This time, however, the piano is taking a more central role.

6. To Love Somebody

I love Robin Gibb – and thus, this Bee Gees cover is one of the most special songs of the album to me. The Canadian artist makes use of another vocalist for this track, which really suits the song and its cover version very well. Thus, I definitely approve and enjoy this one.

7. Look At Miss Ohio

Look At Miss Ohio has been released by Gillian Welch in 2003. This 2025 version has a nice groove and makes intense use of piano lines. From the instrumental side, it feels like the most complex of the seven songs to me. A beautiful closing track.

 

Noah Derksen – Stolen Serenades – Spotify

Here is the album on Spotify:

 

Noah Derksen – Stolen Serenades – My View

You feel the respect and love Noah Derksen has towards the seven Stolen Serenades. Transforming them into his style of music definitely worked out fine. Some of the new version explore a view on them which was not clear to me so far. Thus, I really like this record.

Favorite Song: Look At Miss Ohio

 

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