By Laura BennettThursday 3 Aug 2023UNDISTRACTEDEntertainmentReading Time: 3 minutes
Do the names Jonny, Moira, David and Alexis Rose mean anything to you? The fictional family that fronted hit CBS sitcom Schitts Creek were well loved – especially during the pandemic – when their offbeat humour and “meme-able” one liners offered the comedy and heart we needed.
Canadian Noah Reid (Outer Range, The Archivists) joined the Emmy Award winning cast in season three as Patrick Brewer and, after what’s become an iconic rendition of Tina Turner’s Simply the Best, was revealed to be a talented singer-songwriter in his own right as well as an accomplished actor.
With three albums under his belt, Noah’s latest Adjustments is a diary of change as he reflected on the “seismic shifts” that occurred during the pandemic culturally and what contribution he’s making in the midst of them.
“A lot of those songs were written during the pandemic when there was a little bit too much time to think about yourself and the world,” Noah told Hope 103.2’s UNDISTRACTED podcast.
“It’s been a big couple of years in terms of our outlook on ourselves, and a bit of a reckoning with the natural world and with our own landscapes internally.
“All of those songs came [from] reflecting on what I’m bringing to the table, and how can I make some of these shifts that need to be made.”
One of the biggest changes for Noah over the last few years has been becoming a husband and father.
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt better in my life than the day I became a husband and the day I became a father,” – actor Noah Reid
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt better in my life than the day I became a husband and the day I became a father,” Noah said.
“I think I always knew I wanted to be both of those things, but the sense of purpose and meaning and just the sheer joy and love that I feel in both of those capacities are huge.
“[It] greatly outweighs any of the challenges.”
Noah will be bringing his Everything is Fine tour to Australia from September and admits that while acting has been a lifelong passion, singing live in front of an audience is an unbeatable experience.
“I rely on all [creative mediums] for different things, but there really is nothing like live performance for me,” Noah said.
“In the years that I have been playing music in front of people, I really want to foster a connection between the audience and between the performer.
“There’s something electric that happens there between us that’s different to having music in your ears.”
While acting has been a lifelong passion, singing live in front of an audience is an unbeatable experience.
Some of Noah’s connection with audiences undeniably comes from playing Patrick on Schitts Creek, a series he recognises had a great impact on cultural conversations at the time.
“I think people turn to television – and to theatre and to music and to dance and to visual art – [in big] moments in life,” Noah said.
“The arts are an incredible place to reflect to us who we are and what we’re doing and also show us possibilities.
“I think I’ve been lucky to be part of a lot of projects that have done that, and as an audience member that’s what you hope for and as an actor that’s also what you hope for.”
The Australian leg of Noah Reid’s Everything is Fine tour starts September 29.
Listen to the full interview with Noah on UNDISTRACTED in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.