(Photos: Adrianna Noone/Facebook)
The Rochester glitterati that run wild and official in this scene have been bizz-buzzin’ lately with mucho thrills and unbridled enthusiasm. And it’s the same name: Adrianna Noone.
With her sights set on broader and more distant horizons, this 24-year-old Pittsford native has studied music journalism and music business as well as just plain old music, with the latter rapidly becoming her muse.
She draws upon the influence of artists like Feist and Cat Power, which makes sense when you hear her twist on the music in its original dressing, and artists like Leonard Cohen, who Noone wrangles the darkness and noir out of admirably. She also champions her love of classic jazz, just to keep it interesting and keep us guessing.
Noone’s melancholy delivery circles the runway with heartache and trouble with a sweet and savvy and powerful pulchritude. People are beginning to take notice.
Judging by her musical impact, she should be addressing the need for an album. Noone promises something this year. But until that day, the five singles, available on all streaming platforms, as well as the following few questions will have to do.
ROCHESTER BEACON: Give us a little background.
ADRIANNA NOONE: I started out as an Irish dancer long ago. It was my first performing type thing.Then I moved on to musical theater, community theater, theater at school.
ROCHESTER BEACON: And that’s when you started focusing on singing?
NOONE: Yes, I then discovered my passion really was for singing—not dancing and acting. I loved watching “American Idol.” It’s something I always wanted to do—just to be on stage and sing.
I started looking into schools for music. I spent a year studying commercial music in Nashville at Belmont. From there I transferred to SUNY Purchase. They have a jazz conservatory. While I was there I tried to challenge myself and wound up in journalism. I took some journalism classes, some music business classes.
ROCHESTER BEACON: That’s a lot of college, maybe too much?
NOONE: I actually took too many classes and couldn’t stay on campus my senior year. So, I just finished my senior project at home.
ROCHESTER BEACON: Flash forward, you’re back home in Pittsford writing music, recording and playing live shows woven strategically through COVID-19 speed bumps littered along the way.
NOONE: Yeah, I like to stay busy. When I was in college it felt weird to me to have days off or time off. I felt like I was wasting time.
ROCHESTER BEACON: Did you have plan B?
NOONE: Your whole life people tell you, you have to have a plan B. So, I worked part time and began playing out and recording. I figured I’d give it a go to see if I could make a living at it. That’s the goal.
ROCHESTER BEACON: You’ve said you have difficulty sometimes with writing your own material. Por que?
NOONE: I’ve always had trouble writing my own stuff, I think because I’ve never played an instrument before, but
I’ve got a great bunch of guys—Chuck Salvaggio, drums, Jeremy Grace, guitar, Chris Gauvin, bass—that helps me to put it together. We each come from different genres where I’m always honing in on my sound where it’s a little more grown up. And raw, too.
My goal is to be on stage singing and playing the songs we’ve crafted.
ROCHESTER BEACON: And no plan B?
NOONE: No plan B
Frank De Blase is Rochester Beacon music writer.
Here’s a comprehensive list of live shows in and around Rochester: Get Your Gig On