NOEL Talks New Single, Musical Memories And More

Swedish music artist NOEL has released his new single ‘Out Of My Mind’ and he chatted to JLTT about the track, his musical memories and more:

When did you begin songwriting?

I began songwriting roughly three years ago. I was invited through social media to join a session with two incredibly talented and experienced writers. I remember being more nervous than ever, but I completely loved the experience. It opened a whole new door for my passion for music.

What is your earliest musical memory?

My earliest musical memory is from when I was six years old in school. My class had an end-of-year performance where we sang “Idas sommarvisa,” a Swedish classic. During rehearsals, my teacher praised my singing and told the other kids to follow my lead. That was the first time I realized I could sing.

Your new single ‘Out Of My Mind’ is out now. What was the inspiration/story behind the track?

“Out of My Mind” was born on a day when my two songwriting friends and I felt super uninspired and unsure about what to write. Almost instantly, the melody of the chorus came to us, and it became our inspiration. The melody conveyed such a clear emotion that the lyrics flowed naturally from it. It felt like the song wrote itself, making the songwriting process incredibly smooth. In fact, it’s probably one of the fastest songs I’ve ever written—it took us just over an hour, which is remarkably quick compared to my usual process.

Where did you record the song and who produced it?

I recorded the song in Stockholm at the studio of my good friend and producer, Kris Eriksson. Kris is incredibly talented and experienced, particularly in sync music. He was also involved in writing the song, and we knew that the big melodies and lyrics would pair perfectly with his sync-friendly productions. He did an amazing job and truly elevated the song.

What two things do you hope to have achieved once you have left the stage?

The reason I got into music was discovering Lewis Capaldi on Spotify. I fell in love with his songs and was captivated by his voice and melodies. That was about six years ago, and since then, I’ve been obsessed with music and singing. If I can leave the stage knowing that I’ve inspired even one person the way he inspired me, I would be incredibly happy.

Additionally, I dream of playing at Coachella someday. I’m a big festival lover, and there’s something magical about the crowd and atmosphere at festivals that really excites me. Coachella is the biggest festival out there, and if I ever get the chance to perform there, it would be a dream come true.

Do you have any favoured stage instruments, effects, pedals, microphones etc?

Since I’m still relatively new to music, I haven’t had much opportunity to experiment with different stage instruments, effects, or pedals. However, I’m a big fan of the guitar. As long as I have a guitar to accompany my singing, I’m happy.

Where is your hometown and could you please describe it in five words?

I grew up in Stockholm and have lived there my entire life. While I love it, I feel like I’ve lived there for too long and would like to experience living somewhere else. If I had to describe Stockholm in five words, they would be charming, cold, cultural, artistic, and home.

How do you look after your voice?

Honestly, I struggle with taking care of my voice. I sing constantly and find it hard to stop, even when I feel sore and need rest. Unfortunately, my difficulty in staying quiet means it often takes longer than it should for any soreness to heal.

You are given the opportunity to write the score for a film adaptation of a novel that you enjoy. Which novel is it and why?

That’s a tough choice for me since I don’t read much, but one of my all-time favourite movies is “Brother Bear.” I watched it a lot growing up, and Phil Collins’ score is absolutely incredible. If there were ever a chance to work on a film adaptation or a live-action version of “Brother Bear,” that would definitely be my pick.

Who are some of your musical influences? Do you have any recommendations?

As I mentioned earlier, Lewis Capaldi was my biggest influence and the reason I got into music. Although I don’t listen to him as much now, I’ll always be a fan. Currently, I draw inspiration from artists like Noah Kahan and Hozier for their storytelling abilities and honest lyrics. Recently, I’ve been listening to a lot of Ryan Beatty and Mk.gee, both of whom I highly recommend!

Do you have any live dates planned in the UK/Europe in 2024?

No sadly I don’t but I really hope to be able to play more next year.

Was it a difficult song to write?

To be honest, the initial writing process was quite smooth. The core of the song came together relatively quickly. However, given its sensitive nature, refining the lyrics and finding the right words did take some additional time.

Do you have any further music releases planned for 2024/2025?

Yes, I do! I’m currently focused on completing my EP, which is scheduled for release later this year. Additionally, my next single titled “Flowers at a Funeral” is already finished and set to be released towards the end of the summer.

What makes NOEL happy and what makes you unhappy?

I find happiness in exploring new activities and acquiring new skills. Challenging myself and witnessing personal growth brings me a lot of joy. Currently I’m enjoying trying to learn to play the guitar and I’ve also started to work out and go the gym which I’m really happy about.

On the other hand, overthinking tends to make me unhappy. I have a tendency to overanalyze things and be overly critical of myself, which can weigh me down unnecessarily. It’s something I’m actively trying to work on.

Feature Image Photo Credit: ph_any

NOEL’s latest single ‘Out Of My Mind’ is out now. 

Stream: https://stem.ffm.to/outofmymind 

For more information visit his official website here: https://www.noelsongs.com/