Noeline Hofmann is a name you need to keep an eye on in 2025, because she’s poised to have a breakout year.
The Canadian songstress burst onto the scene this past year when she joined Zach Bryan for a duet on her song “Purple Gas.” Though she hadn’t officially released any of her own music at that point, she had already gained some traction on social media, which is how Bryan came across the song in the first place, and had garnered a strong following by the time she released her debut project Purple Gas in October.
At just 21 years old, she has already shared the stage with some of the scene’s biggest acts, most notably Bryan, the Turnpike Troubadours, and fellow Canadian Colter Wall, and as she releases more music, her fanbase is sure to continue growing quickly. With just six original songs in her catalog thus far, Hofmann’s song content revolves heavily around the Western ranching lifestyle that she has lived her whole life in Southern Alberta.
A talented lyricist and impressive vocalist, Hofmann has proved that she holds the craft of songwriting in high regard, and is committed to delivering authentic, original country music to the ears of all who will listen. Moreover, she’s made it clear that she has a great deal of respect for the troubadours that have come before her, which leads us to her most recent single.
Released this past Friday, Hofmann is the most recent artist to pay tribute to the late Luke Bell by recording a cover of his cult classic “The Bullfighter.” In July 2023, before she had officially released any music or been thrusted into the spotlight with “Purple Gas,” she teamed up with Powell River Sessions for a live cover of the song on YouTube, but now an official recording is out for all to hear, and Hofmann took to Instagram to share her thoughts about the song and Bell’s legacy upon its release.
“My cover of Luke Bell’s ‘The Bullfighter’ is out now on all streaming platforms.
To be scared half to death, or all alone, or run ragged, or knocked down into the dirt but you get up and do it anyway, face it head on, allow your determination to outweigh your fear, make art of a battle – that’s bravery. Perseverance. Grit. Cowboy. That’s ‘The Bullfighter,’ the way I’ve come to know it. ‘The Bullfighter’ has become a friend of mine – a shot of courage and ground to stand on when I’ve needed it most. It’s been weaved so deeply into my memories and heart the last few years.
I never had the pleasure of meeting Luke Bell before he passed, but from guitar pulls and bars to stages across North America, performing this cover of his song has led me to making dear friendships and hearing stories of those who knew and loved him or were deeply affected by his music worth their weight in gold. Where ‘The Bullfighter’ has gone in my back pocket the last number of years, magic has followed.
It has been a gift to learn about Luke on the road and the wild, inspired character he was, as well as witness his impact in these ways. Luke wrote songs that will last forever. Recording this cover is my way of honoring his legacy, and hopefully sharing the strength his music has brought me and others. Thank you, Luke, for the songs and all they have brought into this world.
I have many thank yous to come, but first I’d like to thank Mike Vanata for sharing this photo of Luke at a branding circa 2013 for the cover art brought to life by Connie Collingsworth. From the first time I saw it it’s been burned in my mind.
Without further ado, I give you my performance of ‘The Bullfighter’ produced by my good friend Pat Lyons – now forever yours.”
Well said, Noeline, well said.
Give her latest release a listen here:
“I get loud when I get mad
And I get tough when I get sad
I’ll tangle with the horns like a Spaniard in the pit
I’m here to play for blood, boys, and I’ll be here ’til the end
For I am the bravest bullfighter that ever dared the pen”
For anyone who may not be familiar, Luke Bell was a respected songwriter and musician who built a cult following in his short lived career behind the strength of his old school honky-tonk sound and the captivating tales of larger-than-life characters, much like himself, that he told through his songs.
Watch Bell perform “The Bullfighter” himself here:
Born in Kentucky and raised in Wyoming, Bell spent most of his adult life as a drifting musician, spending time in Austin, New Orleans, and Nashville, among plenty of other places, and recorded three albums between 2012 and 2016. The third record, his self-titled project Luke Bell, is the only one available on streaming services, which in some ways, contributes to the mysterious nature of Bell’s life and career.
Bell struggled with severe bipolar disorder and substance abuse issues throughout his life, and although he touched countless people with his kindness and eccentric personality over the years, he was no stranger to trouble and despair, and largely lived his life outside of the public eye. At just 32 years old, amidst a change in his bipolar medication, Bell was reported missing in Tucson, Arizona on August 20, 2022, and he was found dead nine days later. While the cause of death was ultimately reported to be a fentanyl overdose, his volatile mental issues undoubtedly played a large role in the tragedy.
Nevertheless, certain groups and individuals within the country music community have done what they can in the years since to ensure that Luke Bell, and the incredible music he left us, do not go unforgotten. Notably, filmmakers Kevin Romeo and Matt Bakken are in the process of creating a documentary about Bell’s life titled Where Ya Been? The Odyssey and Elegy of Luke Bell, which will include plenty of never before seen footage and first-person accounts of Bell’s life from family, friends, and other acquaintances.
I highly recommend checking out Luke Bell’s music and reading more about his story, and I also recommend checking out some of Hoffman’s original music, too.
Here are a few of my favorites of hers to get you started.
“Lightning In July (Prairie Fire)”
“August”
“Purple Gas”
