Noble’s getting a fresh start with new CD, tour

This tour isn’t songwriter Keri Noble’s first, but she’s treating it as if it is.

The Minneapolis-based Detroit native, who will be stopping by Gravity Lounge on Wednesday to share a bill with Carsie Blanton and Rachael Sage, will be sharing music from “Keri Noble,” the CD she released last month on the Telarc label.

After a frustrating experience with her actual debut album, “Fearless,” back in 2004 that almost soured her on pursuing a music career, “I plan on sucking every moment of joy out of it that I can,” Noble said.

So she has resolved to take better care of herself this time around. Between her “giant” release party back home in Minneapolis and the start of her tour, Noble treated herself to a little trip to Mexico — her first vacation in ages — so she could hit the road feeling refreshed.

She has promised herself not to overextend or to use up precious energy on details that she can delegate or do without.

“This time I’m going into everything a little more — I hope — wise,” Noble said.

Fans look to Noble for straightforward lyrics that get to the heart of a wide range of emotions.

There’s a wistful quality to many of the songs, but her rich, subtle alto stays under control for a nuanced sound.

To get a feel for her music before the show, head to YouTube and check out “Ooh Oh,” which has been an audience favorite at her live shows.

“That song was written several years ago, so I’m glad it’s finally seeing the light of day,” she said.

The song is on the new CD, which to Noble feels like a debut, a do-over, a fresh start.

“This is really me. It really feels like me coming out,” she said of her new CD.

“People approach songwriting from different places,” Noble said.

“I don’t write from any goal other than getting it off my chest. The more I try to be clever, the harder it is for it to resonate.

“I think if you overthink it too much, it ruins it. Anytime I sit down uninspired and try to write something that sounds like it is, it doesn’t.”

Noble didn’t have a good time with the release of “Fearless,” and the experience actually may have prompted some of her better writing since then.

“It became harder and harder to keep — my label at the time — their attention,” Noble said.

“When I left the label, it felt like a pretty bad breakup for me, and all these songs kept kind of spilling out of me.”

So she had a creative period of songwriting that resulted in some great material at a time when she had no label.

Her new label won her over with the possibility of a fresh start, she said.

“They were warm and inviting and coaxing me back into what could be a new experience,” she said.