Indie + Alternative culture appreciates new rising artists that create diversity and new insights within their respective genres. We constantly feature notable indie and alternative artists on the verge of success.
Meet this week’s featured artist in an exclusive New Music Friday interview. Introducing You To Your Next Favorite Artist: Nonnsha. |
I started recording music about 8 years ago and I believe this is what I listened to the most. This isn’t in any order: Regina Spektor- “Begin to Hope"; Ratatat- “Seventeen Years”; The Unicorns- “Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone?”
What are your fondest musical memories?
As an artist probably any performance I’ve ever done. I’ve done so few but it feels like what everything I do leads up to. You make music and then you can perform it. Each performance is different. Instead of someone who posts links over the internet to music they’ve made suddenly you’re a “musician.” I don’t know why it’s hard for me to say that word applied to me but it is. I get surprised any time someone willingly wants to listen to things I make more than once.
As a listener live performances as well have drawn me in. I love seeing musicians go up and do their thing. I remember seeing The Strokes and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs perform and not wanting them to get out of my view because of how much I loved their music. It’s odd because they don’t know me but their music has been in my life so long. I love hearing everyone else sing along at live performances and seeing the artist smile about it.
Lately what musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener?
Fun ragtime piano that reminds you of old cartoons to classical piano that makes you want to cry. Soft spoken voices and rough music in the back. Swishy out of this world sounds that stutter but still feel on beat. Weird stuff and back to basics stuff. Everything, apparently.
What is your creative process like? How do you approach the writing process? Is there a particular message or theme central to your creative works?
It usually starts off with me finding sounds I like on the guitar/piano. After that I will sing along with it and at this point I’m looking more for a melody to hold onto than lyrics. Then I’ll fill in the melody with words and continue this until I’m satisfied. This is how it usually is. Maybe sometimes I’ll think of a line I really want to use in a song but I hardly ever do that.
I don’t really try to have a theme going on. I use my music a lot to communicate things I have a hard time facing directly. It’s much easier to make music around your problems I guess.
We're a firm believer that the cities that artists are based in helps craft their sound. How would you describe your city’s music scene? How has it inspired you into crafting your sound?
To be fair I feel like I’m not very acquainted with my city’s music scene. I know we have some bars and cafes that let people perform but that’s most of what I know. I never thought of my city being very welcome to the art and music scene. Maybe music scenes only exist when you hang out with more people who actively go out to do or attend local shows. I don’t think it has affected me much soundwise.
I want to say it is honesty. Sometimes you’ll hear doors closing in the back of my recordings or a majority of my videos are of me in my room with my dog. I never planned to purposely be this raw but I am working with what I have. I like optimism and I like the idea of helping other people feel better. I do this mainly because I feel better after I make it, but if someone else can feel better too then why not share, even if it is one other person in their room with their dog too.
The music contributes to my visuals by kind of being a glue to making sense. I’ve done a few videos where I basically put clips of things I’ve recorded over a span of time of just things I thought were interesting. Once I put it together with the music it doesn’t feel as random as it did before.
I’ve only done a few live shows but I’d like to say yes. I get nervous a lot but there I am with my guitar trying my best.
As an indie artist in the digital age, social media and streaming are essential tools for marketing and promotion. What do you think about online music sharing, both as a music fan and as a musician? How do you think social media/music streaming services impacts the rising musician?
I feel it is common now to start off showing your music through social media and music streaming services now just like lots of other businesses. I think of it as a good thing because being on the internet helps other people come across you that you may have never run into before. Someone could be listening to your music in a different country while you’re out and about riding your bike to get ice cream. Isn’t that cool? I think it is.
What is your dream collaboration and why?
My dream collaboration would be with Daniel Johnston. Everything about him goes back to his music and art. I didn’t know about him until after I started making music because people would compare me to him and I’d be like “hmm? Who is that?” He’s so interesting. I feel like it would be a fun collaboration full of all the good stuff.
Which songs are you currently obsessed with? What new acts do you recommend to our listeners? What bands do you believe are your best kept secret in the indie community?
I am digging Animal Collective’s song “Floridada”! When I listen to it I feel like how I imagine Jell-O on top of a waterbed feels like.
Unfortunately I haven’t come across any brand new acts.
For a best kept secret Alex Montenegro! You can listen to her music here ! She’s working on something new so I’m excited to hear what she has coming up. Her music makes me sway a lot and it reminds me of that feeling you have when you’ve been driving all night and you’ve finally caught the sunrise.
What are you currently working on? Any new projects?
I’ve been working on an album since I’ve been done with my last album in 2014. I’m lagging hard.
It feels like so long that when I try to pile songs together they don’t sound right in the same group anymore like my sound keeps changing or I have a new criteria or something like that. So then I keep starting new songs to make up for the songs I didn’t like. I’m aiming to have it done for at the least, this year. I had another interview where I said “October” in 2015 but I long failed that haha. I’m sorry. I’m trying.