Noga Erez

Sounds Like: M.I.A., The Knife, Janelle Monáe

Since dropping her latest album ‘KIDS’ we’ve literally had it playing on repeat, and so should you. This month, we’re bloody chuffed to announce our Band of The Month is alt-pop powerhouse Noga Erez! Check out the interview below and special thanks to Nakisha Kiely for the unreal illustration.

Hey Noga Erez! How are you doing today?

I’m very well. I’m healthy. My family is well. Everything else is a bonus.

Winner winner. Please introduce yourself to our lovely readers:

My name is Noga Erez. I’m a singer, rapper, songwriter and producer. I live in Tel Aviv, Israel. My new album ‘KIDS‘ is out everywhere now!

How have you been coping with these continuously mad times? Are you still living in Tel Aviv?

I’ve been good. Honestly, this past year has been really good for me creatively. I was able to finish my album quietly and work on videos and other things. I’ve been missing shows, missing my audience, but am extremely grateful for being able to continue to do what I’m doing in this crazy time, I know for a fact all of this is a privilege, and I can’t complain.

We are OBSESSED with your latest single ‘End of The Road’ – what’s the song all about?

Thank you so much! It’s one of my favorites on the album. EOTR is a song about accepting the unknown as a part of life. It is really a celebration of this thing we don’t pay attention to a lot, but it’s there and we have it for a very limited time – life. The opposite of life – death – has been very present in my life and in my partner’s life these past few years. We’ve decided to take this taboo topic and make it present in our life because we know it is a meaningful perspective. We all live the unknown, that’s just the chaotic nature of things, so this is a song that says, we should at least try to make it our best trip before it ends.

But seriously, do you know what really happens at the end of the road?

Well, we die. And after that, I don’t really know. But I assume – nothing.

Fair enough. Your new album ‘KIDS’ is out now and we LOVE it! Are there any themes running throughout?

Well…. As I said, death, or mortality is a major one. But also, my life as musician trying to make my way up, my life relationships, and the “obvious” but so unique connection between parent and… kids!

How is this album different from your 2017 banger of an album ‘Off The Radar’?

It’s so much better haha. But honestly, it’s darker in the themes, more dancy. People find the songs here more poppy / catchy, it sounds so much better. I love Off The Radar, but man, this one is so good.

We were lucky enough to see you live at Primavera back in 2017! Have you got any more festival plans in the pipeline?

Well, for sure! Loads of them. They have this nature of being scheduled and canceled and rescheduled. So, let’s just say there are, and try to be optimistic about them actually happening, but not too optimistic.

What do you miss the most about live music?

The show itself. I don’t miss waiting for hours, driving for hours. Honestly, we all forget how touring can be really difficult. No sleep, weird new eating habits etc. but we all do it for this one moment of being on stage and seeing people’s faces light up, feeling the connection as we touch people with our music in the most physical sense. I miss that a lot.

Saaaame. What’s your songwriting process like?

It varies. We really try to keep our methods changing as much as we can, our comfort zone is starting with a beat and layering over it, but we try not to automatically go there so that we find ourselves in new creative zones every now and then.

Describe your sound in five words:

Big, angry, heart-grabbing, bassy, unique.

Who would you say are your biggest influences?

Kendrick Lamar, Radiohead, Ori Rousso

What advice would you give artists starting out in the music industry?

Take care of you mental health before taking care of your skills. Make yourself constantly aware that the ride is shaky and flexibility is needed no matter what size of an artist you are.

What are your plans for 2021?

I’m hoping to be able to tour this album a bit, get the KIDS AGAINST THE MACHINE series recorded into a full album, work on new music. The last one is my major one.

Any final pearls of wisdom?

Be incredibly fucking lovely to one and other. Be unapologetic about who you are. Farting is OK.

Quite right. Thanks so much Noga Erez! Xxx


Find Noga Erez Online
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