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INTERVIEW: ROSS K & NOE SOLANGE presents TIME



Noé Solange's stunning single 'Nocturnal Lady,' the Dutch-Indonesian producer, multi-instrumentalist and singer has debuted more nuanced work, unveiling her distinct sound as

she delves into the realm of downtempo electronica. Drawing influences from her heritage and international upbringing alongside inspirations from nature,

she evokes a journey for the listener to immerse in. Pulling from her multiple cultural threads, Noé blends this with melancholic soundscapes, progressive synths and harmonic vocals to create a rich tapestry of sounds.


Alongside is Ross K, a Canadian composer and producer working across indie, classical and electronic genres. Heavily influenced by films and visual art, his music explores the human condition in relation to its surroundings, evoking

distinct scenes for the listener to inhabit. Following the release of his ambitious debut LP Braedalyn

in 2020, Ross has been composing for releases on such platforms as Nowness, SuperRare and co-writing with artists across electronic and classical genres.

As ‘Time’ begins with melancholic keys, subtle bell sounds and soft synth patterns, the listener is ushered into a gentle trance. The delicate pads and guitar played by Ross effortlessly shimmer over the track, bringing a sense of warmth within these wintery soundscapes. These naturally interweave with Noé’s textured synths and gentle strings that blissfully drift

in, propelling the track forward with a glimmer of optimism.


Throughout, Noé’s serene vocals coax you into a deeper dreamlike state. Her pure words contrast a sense of 'cold in her eyes' with 'warmth in her mind', creating an interplay between longing and tranquility. Ross' vocals then gracefully float in, adding a new element to the harmonic palette, as if to convey a sense of dialogue.

Time’ is a flourishing downtempo electronic piece from the two musicians, taking the listener on a journey somewhere between Air, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Laura Misch and The XX.

There is beauty in simplicity, which Ross and Noé deliver in this intimate and reflective body of work, offering a moment away from reality.


Can you tell us a little about your experience? Where are you from? How did you get into music?


Ross K: I’m originally from Victoria, BC, Canada (west coast), but travelled a lot as a kid through Europe as I am half Dutch. I started writing music at the age of 10 when I was learning piano & jazz guitar - in my teens I got into production, and then studied composition formally at McGill University in Montreal, followed by a Masters in London (RCM). While in Montreal I always wrote and produced music on the side, influenced by the indie & electronic music scenes there. When I was 24 was when I started to fuse my interests as a concert composer, songwriter & electronic producer into my music and get serious about making albums / releasing my work.


Noé Solange: I’m Dutch, Indonesian, Surinamese and Czech. I was born in the Netherlands and raised in 8 different countries before calling London my new home. Music has always been a big part of my life and throughout the constant moving, it was always something I could bring with me that gave me a sense of familiarity. I started playing piano, guitar and violin at a very young age as well as having been in a few bands. At around the age of 15 I started writing and experimenting with the production side of music. It wasn't until after I moved to London that I began seriously pursuing my creative interests as an electronic producer, songwriter and singer, with Nocturnal Lady being the first track I released.



How is your sound evolving?


Ross: My sound has become more focused in recent years - trying to limit the sound sources I use to get the most out of them - but I would say thematically and aesthetically I still have the same things I resonate with. I’ve always been fascinated by the combination of the intellectual, emotional & physical feelings we can experience with music irrespective of ‘genre’ - bringing these together in an organic way within the context of a song or album has been something I think is really exciting.


Noé Solange: I’m very drawn to incorporating influences from my heritage and international upbringing, as well as being very inspired by nature, so I am constantly challenging myself to find ways in which I can combine these cultural and organic elements with more electronic sounds.


How do you believe your music influences or impacts your listeners?


Noé Solange: I think this is a difficult question to answer, as music is so subjective. I just hope that I’m able to create art that can make someone feel.


Ross: It’s hard (impossible) to say how people will feel when they listen to your music of course. I hope that if I resonate with something, that someone else might feel the same.


What projects are you working on right now?


Ross: I’ve been moving towards writing music in a much more ‘live’ way. So that it naturally translates well to live performance, and doesn’t feel stale. Trying to embrace blemishes and places for improv more within structured tracks. Also scaling down my set up so that I get the most out of the tools I’m using. I’m also exploring audio / visual collaborations with some really exciting visual artists surrounding the release of my next record ‘Takaya’.


Noé Solange: I’m currently working on another EP, which I can’t wait to share! The music is very inspired by Indonesia and nature, and the lyrics of which are centred around identity, growth and femininity. It has been such a wholesome project and the more I work on these pieces, the more connected I feel to my Indonesian roots. Production wise, it’s also more technical than my previous work, delving deeper into sonic manipulation and synthesis, which I’ve also very much enjoyed!


What can you tell us about your last project ‘ Time’?


Noé Solange: Time is a piece that we started after meeting at a gig in London where we were both performing. We worked on it together in person for one session before it became a virtual collaboration between myself in London and Ross in Lisbon.

We were also both very inspired by our surroundings and nature and wanted to sonically create a piece that was raw, intimate and connected to the elements, as we were so closely surrounded by them – the water, wind, air, cold. The song explores the juxtaposition between introspective stillness and external chaotic change, which we tried to convey through an interplay between the lyrics and instruments used.

I really like that although it’s quite a melancholic piece, it has a hopeful, optimistic energy to it.


Where are you and what have you been doing now?


Ross: Crashing on my friend's couch in Kew Gardens and answering these questions before I go to his piano recital.


Noé Solange: Chilling in my home studio in East London, answering these questions before I listen to the master of my next single!



Has your sound changed a lot in recent years?


Noé Solange: Definitely and it will continue to keep changing. I’m excited to see what inspires me next and how that will further impact my sound.


Ross: I wouldn’t say changed so much as matured, maybe. I think I’ve just gotten closer to where I’ve wanted to go.



Do you feel comfortable experimenting with your sound more?


Ross: Yes. I have started to focus a lot on how the music makes me feel when I perform it. And usually tracks with more freedom / experimentation are more fun to play. Prior, I was mainly thinking about the result of a track being something amazing to listen to. This of course is still pretty paramount, but not my sole focus.


Noé Solange: During the start of my production days, I was very focused on fitting within a specific genre that I lost touch with what I was creating. It was when I let go from the expectations that I had put on myself, that I started to create music I felt connected with and was proud of.

I find it really important to give myself the space and freedom to challenge and explore sound and have noticed that I am experimenting more within my music- steering away from the expected. I’m more focused on self-expression and telling a story rather than fitting one specific genre.


We all know that the digital revolution has affected sales, but has it affected creativity?


Noé Solange: I think technological advancements have changed creativity within music in very big ways. Having access to technology, software-based instruments, effects etc, has allowed us to explore and manipulate sounds in unique ways. Technology has definitely given us new ways in which to explore creativity from a different perspective.


Ross: I think ya, I mean you can get sucked into the feeling that you need to release tracks more frequently to maintain engagement among this whole ‘single culture’. But I think this is a choice and we have the power to tune it out. I prefer to focus more on live performance in between releases as this always feels like the most organic and meaningful way to engage with people - I guess it relieves the constant pressure of cranking out bangers.



Can you tell us what your present and future projects are?


Noé Solange: At the moment, my primary focus is on finishing this EP. I plan to release one of the tracks as a single in the coming months and am currently working on a music video for it.


Ross: My next record - ‘Takaya’ - is my main focus at the moment. Both finishing the album and developing / fine tuning the live set. In addition, I am developing audio-visual NFT projects to coexist with its release. I’ve been involved in the space since early 2021 and have met some incredible visual artists - there is a lot of opportunity there for innovation with visual art & music and within music itself.


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