Picture by Ellie Cooper
– Your new single “Everything is Ripe” seems to delve into themes of apathy, feeling trapped, and the urgency to experience youthfulness amidst life’s chaos. Can you tell us more about the inspiration behind the song and what message you hope listeners take away from it?
You nailed it, those are the main themes I’m digging into with the lyrics. I wanted the instrumental to sonically encapture the feeling of anger, and simultaneously counter the monotonous performance of the vocals, particularly towards the end bit. Having said that, I was inspired by a lot of Rage Against the Machine, Led Zeppelin, and Green Day when tracking those heavy guitars and drums. I want the listener to experience a cathartic release, especially as they may relate to their own causes for apathy, decay, and/or urgency to live their ‘ideal’ life. Although the song has no resolution and everything within its world remains ripe, I would hope it at least acts as a comforter for those who may experience similar sentiments of feeling lost, stuck, or trapped within a destructive cycle.
– Could you walk us through your creative process when crafting “Everything is Ripe”? From the initial jingle you used to hum while driving to the recording process in the studio, what were the key moments that shaped the song’s evolution?
As soon as I have a jingle/hum in mind, I record it on the voice memos app on my phone – from there, it can go in any direction. With time, I’ll break down what it is I’m humming and record a rough demo, giving me a rough mix to work it. The most important step at that point is to sit with the demo for a few months and see if *I* continue to like the song. I don’t remember it after a few months, no one else will. With Everything is Ripe, I became really infatuated with the simple surf-inspired riff that carries the tune, and most of the vocal melodies became based on it. The nature of the riff also called for a more simple, raw approach – in contrast to my other songs where I go quite heavy on the synths, electronics, and ad-libs. I tapped into the influences I mentioned, and really cranked it up when it came to producing it. Loud distorted guitars, fuzz-effects, loud cymbal crashing – just really biting my teeth into it. The help from my engineer and sound mixer, Danny Monk, went a huge way in helping me reach this sound and a lot of credit goes out to him.
– Your music is described as a fusion of 2000s alternative-indie sounds and bossa nova rhythms. How did you come to develop this unique blend of musical styles?
I was brought up with a lot of different music, especially from a Brazilian & Lebanese, international-school-attending background. I’ve been playing music since childhood, and so it’s always been a huge part of my life. I think the reason NOCT sounds like a unique blend is because I try to go into producing music through a very blindsided approach. Without a doubt, I carry influences up my sleeve, but I’m not trying to sound like anyone in particular or adopt a certain sound. It’s scarier, messier, and way more confusing for your engineer – especially when you’re blanking on mixing references to give them. It’s just how I approach it, and it keeps me interested in the process. I like to think I’m unleashing the song into the wild, and have it guide me.
– Your music often resonates deeply with today’s youth, reflecting their struggles and experiences. How do you navigate the balance between personal storytelling and creating music that connects with a broader audience?
My take is that if you keep it personal, then it tends to automatically connect with a broader audience. I think some of the best songs ever written are those that don’t actively try to connect to a broader audience. The sincerity and genuineness behind them allows people to gravitate towards them. In some of my songs, the lyrics aren’t always relatable, or filled with deep meaning. I also find it very difficult to assess what elements of music connect with audiences – it’s all so different and so nuanced. Do they appreciate the lyrics? The vocal modulation? The bass lines? Percussion?, It’s a hassle for me as an artist to take that into account. The good news is a lot of my music sounds very different from each other, so I would hope there’s a slice for everyone.
– Looking ahead, what can fans expect from NOCT in terms of future releases or projects? Are there any themes or ideas you’re excited to explore in your upcoming work?
For the time being, the plan is to write songs and let them marinate. I’m approaching 3 years of living in London, and I definitely see myself writing music where I reflect on all the experiences I’ve been through in this city. I’ve got a band comprising of myself and 4 very talented guys, and we’re currently working on tightening our sound. The goal is to play loads of gigs this summer, and make sure everyone enjoys NOCT live!