The best Noah Reid songs reveal an artist who never rushed his musical journey. Long before his breakout moment as Patrick Brewer on Schitt’s Creek, Reid was quietly honing his craft as a singer-songwriter, building a catalog that balances folk tradition with contemporary indie sensibilities. His music carries the weight of someone who’s lived with these songs, letting them develop organically rather than chasing trends or forcing commercial appeal.
What distinguishes Reid’s work is his commitment to emotional honesty without melodrama. There’s a restraint in his vocal delivery that makes every sustained note feel earned, every harmonic choice purposeful. His guitar work favors fingerpicking patterns that create movement without cluttering the sonic space, while his production aesthetic leans toward warmth over polish. You can hear the room tone in his recordings, the slight imperfections that remind you a human being sat down with an instrument and poured something genuine into the microphone.
Reid’s sudden visibility through his Schitt’s Creek cover of “Simply the Best” introduced millions to his musical identity, but that viral moment only scratched the surface of what he’s been building for years. His original compositions explore relationship dynamics, creative doubt, and the small moments of connection that define our emotional lives. Whether you’re listening through quality headphones to catch every subtle production detail or playing these songs during a long drive, Reid’s catalog rewards attention while remaining accessible enough for casual discovery.
Simply the Best
Noah Reid’s acoustic reimagining of Tina Turner’s powerhouse anthem became one of television’s most memorable musical moments when it aired on Schitt’s Creek in 2018. What could have been a throwaway scene instead became a cultural touchstone that sent Reid’s version climbing streaming charts and introduced his musical work to a massive new audience. The genius lies in Reid’s complete reinvention of the song’s DNA: where Turner’s original thrives on vocal power and production bombast, Reid strips everything back to acoustic guitar and voice, transforming a declaration of passion into something almost unbearably tender.
The arrangement showcases Reid’s understanding of negative space in music production. His fingerpicking pattern creates gentle momentum without overwhelming the intimacy of the moment, while his vocal delivery eschews any attempt to match Turner’s belting power. Instead, he sings just above a whisper in places, letting vulnerability do the heavy lifting. The slight crack in his voice during the bridge isn’t a technical flaw—it’s the entire emotional point, the moment where artifice gives way to genuine feeling. The song led to an official studio release that stayed remarkably faithful to the emotional temperature of that original performance.
A Case of You
Taking on Joni Mitchell is a bold move for any artist—her catalog represents some of the most sophisticated songwriting in popular music history. Reid’s version of “A Case of You” demonstrates not just technical skill but genuine understanding of what makes Mitchell’s work endure. His interpretation respects the source material while subtly imprinting his own musical identity onto this folk standard from Mitchell’s Blue album, widely regarded as one of the greatest records ever made.
Reid navigates this challenge by focusing on phrasing and emotional specificity rather than trying to reinvent the song’s structure. His voice naturally suits Mitchell’s melodic intervals, moving through the unusual chord changes with the ease of someone who’s spent serious time living with this song. The fingerpicking pattern he employs creates gentle forward motion that complements without competing with the vocal melody. What’s particularly impressive is his restraint with the lyrics—Mitchell’s words are dense with meaning, full of metaphor and literary reference that can collapse under overwrought interpretation. Reid delivers them almost conversationally, trusting the poetry to carry its own weight.
Hold On
“Hold On” represents Reid’s strength as an original songwriter, a track that showcases his ability to craft melodies that feel simultaneously familiar and fresh. The song appeared on his earlier releases and has remained a concert staple, built around a deceptively simple chord progression that creates space for Reid’s layered vocal harmonies to shine. The production features subtle string arrangements that swell during the chorus without overwhelming the intimate foundation established by acoustic guitar and voice.
Lyrically, the track explores themes of perseverance through relationship challenges and personal doubt, territory that could easily veer into cliché but remains grounded through specific imagery and emotional honesty. Reid’s vocal delivery moves between whispered verses and more confident choruses, creating dynamic contrast that mirrors the song’s thematic arc of finding strength through vulnerability. The track maintains steady streaming numbers across digital services. For musicians and producers, “Hold On” offers a case study in arrangement restraint, demonstrating how fewer elements, when carefully chosen and executed, often communicate more than dense, overcomplicated productions.
False Alarms
“False Alarms” tackles the universal experience of second-guessing connection, that moment when intimacy triggers fear rather than comfort. Reid co-wrote this track with careful attention to sonic atmosphere, building the arrangement around fingerpicked guitar and sparse percussion that creates rhythmic pulse without cluttering the mix. The song’s bridge introduces subtle electric guitar textures that add dimension without shifting the overall aesthetic, maintaining the organic feel that defines Reid’s production philosophy.
The lyrics avoid the trap of explaining too much, instead offering impressionistic snapshots of emotional states—specific enough to feel genuine, vague enough to allow listener interpretation. Reid’s vocal melody moves through interesting intervals that prevent the song from settling into predictable patterns, with harmony vocals appearing strategically to emphasize particular phrases. The track demonstrates Reid’s ability to write songs that resonate beyond his existing fanbase. The song’s outro features Reid’s most adventurous vocal improvisation, a moment of letting go that mirrors the lyrical journey from anxiety toward acceptance.
Apollo
“Apollo” showcases Reid’s more experimental impulses, building sonic atmosphere through layered guitar textures and ambient production techniques. The track takes its time establishing mood, opening with reversed guitar tones and minimal percussion before Reid’s vocal enters, setting a contemplative tone that persists throughout. The arrangement demonstrates his willingness to let songs develop organically rather than rushing toward traditional verse-chorus structures, creating space for musical ideas to unfold gradually.
The lyrical content draws on celestial imagery and themes of transcendence, though Reid’s delivery remains grounded and conversational rather than reaching for grandiosity. His vocal sits deeper in the mix than on earlier tracks, treated almost as another instrument within the broader sonic landscape. This production choice creates an immersive listening experience that rewards focused attention. The song features Reid’s most sophisticated guitar work on record, incorporating alternate tunings and fingerpicking patterns that create harmonic complexity without requiring additional instrumentation.
Got You
“Got You” stands out in Reid’s catalog as his most straightforwardly optimistic composition, a celebration of finding stability and genuine connection. The track features a more prominent rhythm section than much of his work, with brushed drums providing gentle propulsion beneath acoustic guitar and piano. Reid’s vocal delivery conveys confidence and warmth, moving into his upper register during the chorus with a fullness that contrasts with the more introspective whisper-singing that characterizes many of his ballads.
The song’s bridge introduces a key change that feels organic rather than forced, a moment of genuine uplift that serves the lyrical narrative of discovering security in relationship. Background vocal harmonies appear more prominently in the mix here than on Reid’s earlier work, creating a sense of communal joy that reinforces the song’s themes. “Got You” demonstrates Reid’s range as a songwriter beyond melancholic introspection. For those exploring exceptional songs across various genres, this track provides essential contrast to the folk genre’s tendency toward unrelenting sadness.
Road Again
“Road Again” offers Reid’s meditation on constant travel and the peculiar lifestyle of working musicians, lyrics drawn from obvious personal experience rather than romantic fantasy about life on tour. The song’s fingerpicked guitar pattern creates forward momentum that mirrors the physical act of traveling, while Reid’s vocal melody maintains conversational phrasing that suits the narrative, storytelling approach of the lyrics. Subtle harmonica appears in the arrangement, a nod to folk tradition that never dominates but adds textural variety during instrumental breaks.
The production maintains Reid’s preference for capturing performance over constructing perfection, preserving slight timing variations and natural dynamics that make the recording feel like witnessing a live performance. The track particularly resonates with fellow musicians and creative professionals who recognize the specific challenges Reid describes. The song’s outro features his most intricate guitar work, a fingerpicking passage that demonstrates technical skill while serving the emotional arc rather than showboating.
Dreams
“Dreams” represents Reid’s most stripped-down recording, built almost entirely around acoustic guitar and voice with minimal additional instrumentation. This austere approach serves the song’s exploration of creative ambition and self-doubt, the internal dialogue of pursuing artistic work despite uncertain outcomes. Reid’s vocal delivery remains conversational throughout, resisting any urge to over-sing or inject false drama into lyrics that derive power from their understated honesty.
The arrangement’s sparseness allows every production choice to carry significant weight—the slight reverb on the vocal creates space without distance, the occasional harmonic vocal appears precisely where needed for emphasis, the subtle bass notes that emerge during the second verse add weight without cluttering the frequency spectrum. The song’s uncommercial structure and refusal to offer easy resolution reflect Reid’s commitment to artistic integrity over commercial appeal. For those who appreciate artists like Sufjan Stevens or Iron & Wine, “Dreams” offers Reid’s clearest statement of artistic philosophy: honesty over hooks, emotional truth over commercial calculation.
Tiff Song
“Tiff Song” carries the vulnerability of music written for an audience of one, a love song for Reid’s wife that maintains intimacy despite public performance. The track features Reid’s most delicate guitar work, fingerpicking patterns so gentle they barely disturb the air, creating the sense of overhearing something not meant for you. His vocal sits barely above a whisper in places, requiring listeners to lean in and meet the song where it lives rather than broadcasting emotion at them.
The lyrics avoid grand romantic gestures in favor of specific, observed details—the kind of intimate knowledge that comes from years of shared life rather than early infatuation. Reid’s melodic choices favor smooth, flowing lines that mirror the comfort of long-term partnership. The production is deliberately minimal, just voice and guitar captured with enough room tone to preserve the sense of private performance. “Tiff Song” demonstrates that audiences respond to genuine emotion regardless of commercial polish, becoming a wedding favorite among Reid’s fanbase. For those exploring music through premium earbuds that preserve intimate production details, this track offers essential listening that reveals how much communication happens in the spaces between notes.
Honesty
“Honesty” closes this collection with Reid’s most direct statement about communication and authenticity in relationships. The song features slightly fuller production than his sparsest work, with subtle percussion and bass providing foundation for acoustic guitar and layered vocals. Reid’s delivery emphasizes clarity and directness, the vocal melody moving through accessible intervals that invite listener participation while maintaining sophistication in the harmonic progressions.
Lyrically, the track explores the difficult work of maintaining transparency with others and ourselves, acknowledging that genuine connection requires ongoing effort rather than one-time grand gestures. The chorus builds to Reid’s most confident vocal performance, a moment of declaration that feels earned through the verses’ more tentative exploration. “Honesty” demonstrates Reid’s growth as both songwriter and performer. The production balance allows the song to work across various listening contexts through quality headphones or more casual environments, making it accessible while rewarding focused attention.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Noah Reid’s most popular song?
“Simply the Best” remains Noah Reid’s most streamed and recognized song, largely due to its memorable performance on Schitt’s Creek that introduced his musical work to millions of viewers. The stripped-down acoustic cover transformed Tina Turner’s power anthem into an intimate folk ballad, showcasing Reid’s ability to completely reimagine familiar material.
Did Noah Reid write his own songs?
Yes, Noah Reid writes original material that comprises the majority of his musical catalog. Songs like “Hold On,” “False Alarms,” “Apollo,” and “Dreams” showcase his abilities as a singer-songwriter working in the folk-pop tradition. While he’s gained significant attention for interpretive work, his original compositions reveal depth as a lyricist and melodic craftsman.
What genre is Noah Reid’s music?
Noah Reid’s music exists primarily in the folk-pop and indie-folk spaces, characterized by acoustic guitar-driven arrangements, intimate vocal delivery, and production aesthetics that favor warmth over clinical perfection. His sound draws from the singer-songwriter tradition while incorporating contemporary indie sensibilities, creating music that feels both timeless and current.
Has Noah Reid released any albums?
Noah Reid has released multiple albums and EPs throughout his music career, including Songs from a Broken Chair and Gemini. These releases showcase his development as a songwriter and producer, featuring the original compositions that define his artistic identity beyond his cover performances.
Where can I listen to Noah Reid’s music?
Noah Reid’s music is available across all major streaming platforms including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, and Amazon Music. His official releases include both studio recordings and live performance videos that capture the intimate quality of his concert appearances. His performances, particularly those from his Schitt’s Creek appearances, have reached millions of listeners worldwide.