Every Monday we will be bringing you interviews with UK or Ireland artists for Independent Music Monday. Recently we caught up with London based artist NOCT to find out more…
Where are you from and how did you first get into music?
I’m a Brazilian/Lebanese artist who started off playing guitar and drums when I was a kid, thanks to my older annoying brother who I secretly wish I was as cool as. I played it through my teenage years, and started a high school band that made me fall in love with performing live. Over the years, I would often have this itch to start writing my own music as a form of self expression. I’m not the most outward reflective person, so music felt like an outlet for that.
Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
Growing up, I’ve always been a big fan of classic rock bands from the 70s like the Eagles, Led Zeppelin, Rush. There was also a huge phase with 90s/noughties era rock, with bands like Green Day and Blink-182 being the only thing I’d play on guitar. Nowadays, I’m taking a lot of inspiration from The Beatles, as well as bossa nova composers from Brazil like Joao Gilberto, Elis Regina, Tom Jobim, Toco, and so much more.
How would you describe your sound?
That’s a difficult question because it tends to vary with each release. Generally, it probably fits under the ‘indie’ category, and bites its teeth into various pockets of electronic, rock, bossa nova, punk, slacker, and ambient music. I just make whatever appeals to me, and I love embedding modulative elements to my production – it feels like a staple in a lot of my songs.
What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
It’s called ‘Everything is Ripe’ and the idea behind it was to produce a track that doesn’t involve a lot of overthinking. It’s the first song I recorded at a studio and got mixed by someone else. I wrote it about cycles of repetition in ones life, and how it can feel to experience internal decay – especially in your 20s when life feels like it has to be figured out.
It features a riff that loops throughout the song, to which the vocal melodies are mirrored with. Musically, I took a lot of inspiration from the rock bands I grew up listening to. I wanted a heavy, raw, and straightforward song because the nature of the lyrics demanded it.
What’s your local music scene like?
I’m in London, so it’s quite a large scene. There’s a huge hustle mindset that musicians here tend to get swept away with. I’m not excluded from this – I’m literally in 4 bands. The mindset, or ‘grindset,’ involves doing most things yourself, and performing live as much as possible. It’s a heavily populated city, so there are also a lot of bands and solo artists trying to make a name for themselves. Because of this, I’ve had the opportunity of meeting so many amazing musicians who continue to inspire me.
What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
I want to perform live as much as possible, around the UK. I get such a thrill when I’m on stage singing my silly little songs – so the goal right now is to tighten the band as much as possible.
Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
In the long term, I think I’d really enjoy collaborating with Declan McKenna. His last album ‘What Happened to the Beach’ was such a peculiar album that I fell in love with. I think we’d write some really oddball songs together.
Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
I usually get a good reaction from my song ‘oatmeal’ which is a funny thing. Here I am, singing my heart out about difficult times I’ve endured, to then be greeted off stage with “hey that song oatmeal really spoke to me.” I love it though, it makes my night.
What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
I’d like readers to know that I’m here, existing in my little flat in southwest London, making little tunes that I hope they enjoy. I want them to listen to my music and feel something, whether it be absolute adoration or sheer disgust.
Upcoming live dates and performances
Friday 21st June – Le Gambetta, Paris
You can find out more about NOCT on her website or via Apple Music, Bandcamp, Instagram, SoundCloud, Spotify, TikTok or YouTube.
Merryn 