Sitting down with Noah Daniel

Noah Daniel Meaux –– the hard-hitting country music cowboy out of Fort Carson, Colorado –– wears many hats. He’s a US Army Infantry Officer and a playwright. He’s a guitarist and a producer; a singer and a songwriter. He’s a Christian and a cowboy; a lover and a fighter. I sat down with the up-and-coming artist to hear his story.

Meaux (Moe), who goes by Noah Daniel professionally, grew up bouncing around Fayetteville, Quantico, Korea and anywhere his father, a Lieutenant Colonel, received orders. This constant moving made him appreciate the passing moments in life even from a young age. He now calls Colorado home after following in his father’s footsteps and commissioning as an officer in 2022.

Noah’s passion wasn’t always country music. In his teenage years, he wanted to be an actor and even did two years in acting school prior to his military service. While there, he developed his skills on stage and even co-authored an original piece, Secrets: The Musical, which garnered Broadway attention. He decided the theater industry wasn’t right for him and soon left acting school to pursue an ROTC program at Cleveland State.

Later in life, he found himself turning back to the arts when confronted with personal loss and heartbreak. Following the passing of his beloved grandmother, Noah sought the comfort of music and impulsively bought a guitar online. At first, the chords didn’t come easy but pretty soon he was able to strum out Wallen’s “Don’t Think Jesus,” and from there his newfound passion for country music had begun. Noah’s talent as a guitarist is evident in the heavy riffing and captivating melodies of his songs “Demon Time,” “Black Buffalo,” and “The Gambler.”

Noah takes inspiration from the likes of Ian Munsick, Tyler Childers, and especially Zach Bryan, which can be seen in his gritty vocals and heartfelt lyrics. He sees his artistic style as a crossroads of different regional influences: the Rockies, the Appalachian Mountains, and the American Midwest. The outlaw country icon Colter Wall has also become a major influence on Noah, which has become evident in his more recent tracks. With the lyricism of Bryan, the instrumentals of Munsick, and the grittiness of Wall, Noah has achieved a unique blend that’s self-described as “outlaw folk.” It’s a bit rock, a bit folk, some indie, and all heart. 

In 2023, Noah turned heads at an open mic in Colorado Springs –– not long after stepping off stage, he was offered an opening gig for notable alt-country artist Josh Meloy. He has also opened for country rapper Colt Ford. His “Fire in the Mountain” has earned him widespread recognition on Spotify, attracting over thirty thousand listeners. Noah was quick to give credit for his successes to his close friends and supporting instrumentalists: Jay Dietrich on bass, Rich Reyna on drums, and Evan Bingham on electric guitar. Noah was also sure to express his appreciation for his parents, his biggest supporters. 

What I took away most from our conversation was Noah’s commitment to his soldiers. As a First Lieutenant, Noah prioritizes service to his platoon first and foremost (a perspective unfortunately not shared by every Infantry Officer). The responsibility of leading a platoon often gets in the way of his music, but it’s a sacrifice he makes willingly. On a deployment to Bulgaria, Noah initially didn’t touch his guitar for months–– instead he focused “on being the best leader he could be for his guys.” One Friday night however, a young soldier who had noticed Noah’s unopened guitar case in the barracks asked the Lieutenant to play for them. After some convincing, Noah agreed, and so in a small barracks field in the middle of Bulgaria, Noah Daniel performed his music in front of a live audience for the first time.  

The soldiers’ initial surprise that their commanding officer could actually sing soon turned to feelings of comfort as Noah belted out his song “Emma.” The music was relatable and heartfelt; it helped wash away the loneliness and homesickness affecting so many of them on deployment. One soldier hung around as the crowd dispersed before approaching Noah and asking if they could do this every week. He told him, “this is the closest to home I’ve felt since coming here” –– a moment that made a profound impact on Noah as both a musician and a leader. “The whole reason I started writing music was to heal myself,” Noah told me. “Now it’s kind of turned into healing other people. That’s what I feel like my call on this earth is: To heal other people … just as Christ would.”

His unit quickly became his biggest fans and soon his songs could be heard in the mechanic bays and barracks lanes, all over the compound. The soldiers, always eager for the next Friday night performance, demanded Noah record fan-favorite “Emma,” which had yet to be released. So Noah recorded the song right then and there in a small barracks room in Bulgaria. Many of his tracks have a story and bear the mark of the army in one way or another. “The Gambler”? Noah wrote it (with a second-hand guitar missing an E string) at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin during his down time as Brigade Liaison in the S3 shop. During his first major performance stateside, it was this song that, to Noah’s surprise, brought the audience to life. His unit, his guys, were the ones that packed the room, singing along to every word.

The support of his soldiers has helped him make the jump as a professional musician and kept him motivated in the face of the many frustrations at this early stage of his career. Noah can’t thank them enough. It is through music that Noah hopes to continue to inspire and serve others, especially his soldiers.  

In spite of the challenges of being a musician, Noah trusts in God’s plan for him and is confident that He will not lead him astray as he wholeheartedly pursues his passion. “The closest I feel to God,” Noah says, “is when I use the talents He’s given me.” Noah knows that the path forward isn’t likely to be easy. He made sure to note that, like Harrison Ford said about acting, “music is a war of attrition.” Personally, I think I’ll take the Infantry Officer in that fight.

As he transitions from active duty to the Colorado National Guard, it seems the Army-brat has finally found a place to settle down for a while. But with some more time on his hands, three albums in the works, and boundless potential, I suspect the country music cowboy might still have some traveling ahead of him yet. 

Noah’s Wildflower is soon to be released on September 25 with a live album to follow in early October. He expects to round out the year with his Tales from the Prairie Land due in late November or early December. You can find his music on Spotify and Apple Music. For more information, see his website or follow his socials: Instagram, Tiktok, Youtube, Facebook. 

Special thanks to Noah for taking the time to sit down with me. All photos courtesy of Noah Daniel Meaux.