Notelle
Nashville-based singer/songwriter Notelle released her latest single “Alive” on April 17th.
Co-produced with Tim Ryssemus and Jesse Brock, the self-written single came from how someone can push you to the brink of hysteria, and how that feeling of instability is almost electrifying.
Notelle started out as a featured vocalist and topliner and has been working with DJs and producers from around the world since 2014. Now focusing on her solo project, Notelle introduced her “dark industrial pop” sound in 2018. With already 14k streams on Spotify, “Alive” is innovative, haunting and promising.
“Alive” is now available worldwide.
Photo credit: Derrick Lipschitz
Introduce yourself - what's your story?
Hello! My name is Notelle and I am an independent artist based out of Nashville, TN. I’ve been working as a featured vocalist and topliner in Electronic Music, but now I’m starting to explore my own artist project. I curse like a sailor but I watch my mouth around my parents and in print, so I’ll be clean for this interview! I enjoy reading in my bed and playing my piano. I am single but I am uninterested in mingling - check back in with me, as that might change. It is increasingly surprising to me how much I prefer isolation - that will not change. I think therapy is rad! I think animals are radder. I recently started taking pottery classes and I’ve become a pottery-head. I need to drink more water but I’m working on that.
How would you define notelle, the artist?
I’m a Gemini but if Notelle was a separate entity...she is 100% a Scorpio. Way darker, more emotional.
"Alive" is your new single - what's the story behind this song?
This song was interesting for me! It’s about how someone can push you to the brink of hysteria, and how that feeling of instability is almost electrifying. Everything feels so raw and you’re convinced you’re going insane, but at the same time you’re hyper-aware of your propensity for emotional depth. It was one of those songs where I wrote it in the middle of a relationship, but looking back on it now it seems like such a message to myself. I look at the lyrics and it’s so obvious to me that I was dealing with some serious relationship manipulation. Songs are weird like that!
Could you describe to us the songwriting/production process? Who helped you create it?
I wrote the lyrics and melodies for “Alive” by myself! The majority of my artist songs, I like to write alone. I might rely on my producer for a second opinion and feedback, but the lyrics and melodies I like to zone out and spend time writing solo. I write with other artists and DJs frequently, so for my own project I prefer to explore my own sound on my own.
My old producer and I would sit side by side and create a track up together. I’m not a strong engineer - I’m learning - but there isn’t a single piece of production that goes into my tracks that I didn’t help create. I love the production process. It’s amazing to work with a talented engineer and work on sound design together! It’s truly collaborative and I am always down to spend the time pushing something sonically. You end up with some pretty wild parts that way. We’ll get the bare bones of a vibe going - just a solid little loop - then I like to sit with it for a little bit to create the melodic or lyrical direction. If I can’t hear anything that I’m in love with, I don’t bother pursuing the production any further. Life is too short to struggle with a song that doesn’t twist my chest, you know?
What did you feel when writing this song?
I was thrilled that this song was coming out of me. It feels like a step in a new direction - starting to really hone in on my industrial dark pop sound, and I am HERE FOR IT.
What do you like the most about this song?
Oh god the outro, for sure. I heard it in my head and told my old producer, “hear me out...but this is what I want”. It ended up taking on a life of its own from there. It’s absolutely polarizing production. You either love it or hate it, and if you hate it, I’m not your girl!
What made you want to release "Alive" as a single?
I’ve only been releasing singles! I’m still very irrelevant as I’m a young solo artist so an album of work...I honestly don’t think anyone cares enough about me to listen through it all.
What can you tell us about the artwork?
My buddy Derrick Lipschitz came over to take some PR photos for me. It was taken in my house with no intention of it being album artwork. Somehow, with the settings on his camera and my sheer window curtains, this photo turned out so beautifully. There is minimal editing on it - it's so haunting and strange. I fell in love.
What biggest lesson have you learned since the beginning of your career?
Hard work is a fool-proof plan for success. I know SO many talented people, and I know very few of them who also want to work hard. The ones that do? Always succeed. The ones who don’t? They sit around and talk about all the things they’re going to do, and then they never do them. I try to surround myself with the ones who have an insane work ethic, it keeps me confident, motivated and humble at the same time. Pursuing music isn’t easy! It totally sucks sometimes!
What does it mean for you to be an artist?
I don’t really feel like an artist to be honest. I feel very very run of the mill and “being an artist” sounds cooler than I am. I look at some creatives and I just think to myself, “Man that person is a straight genius.” All I know is that I like what I do, and I, personally, think it’s rad! I keep coming back to creating, because if I don’t, I think my soul would probably just die.
What does songwriting make you feel?
Very liberated! It’s such a unique feeling to start writing a song and then however long after, there is a song that exists that didn’t exist before. It’s permanently in the universe and before you sat down...it just straight up didn’t exist! That’s such a cool concept to me!
What inspires you?
I love the darkness. I use the word “nyctophile” often - someone who finds comfort or solace in the dark. Folklore, legends, anything with substance and history, I find that all so fascinating.
What's the hardest part about being an artist? And what's the best part?
The hardest thing is that external validation really is key. You need it to keep that belief in yourself. If you were a painter and no one was buying your art, it’s really difficult to convince yourself that your art is good enough to pursue. It’s the same thing with music. There are objectively “good” and objectively “bad” songs, but for the most part, it's entirely subjective. You are creating something that you believe in, sending it out into the world, and waiting for other people, essentially, to tell you whether or not you have value. So many creatives have a hard time separating their worth as a human from their work’s worth to consumers. I struggle with that ALL the time.
The best part? The visceral connection you can feel to music when it’s not even something you can hold in your hands. How does something intangible make you experience SO much in such a short period of time? It’s almost sickening!
What are your thoughts on today's global situation? How are you holding up?
I am SO EXCITED to see what all the creative people do after this - the pent up energy, the new skills being developed, the emotional processing being done. Although it is stressful and taxing, I’m holding out hope that we’re about to see a mini renaissance.
In your opinion, what would make the world a better place?
Empathy! Empathy! Empathy! It’s a gift to give and a gift to receive. Do it!
What message do you want to give to the world?
First, thank you for reading this far. I appreciate you. Second, I saw this on my friend’s tea mug and I loved it.
Less alcohol. More tea.
Less meat. More vegetables.
Less salt. More vinegar.
Less sugar. More fruit.
Less eating. More chewing.
Less words. More action.
Less greed. More giving.
Less worry. More sleep.
Less driving. More walking.
Less anger. More laughter.
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