Noah Slee

'I think music at the moment is going through a period of caring less about where it fits and how it fits and just creating something purely because you like it.'

Noah Slee for Equate Edition Two - Order HERE

EQ: Who is ‘Noah Slee’?

NS: Damn, I’ve tried to answer this question a couple times – kind of hard for me to answer! I guess I am always trying to evolve for the better, and express that through my art.

EQ: At what age did you start making music, or when did you discover music was your calling in life?

NS: Some friends knew I could sing and asked me to join their band, I was around 13 years old. Through that experience I learnt a lot about music and song-writing. I then started my own band when I was 15 years old and we released an EP and an album and toured the world, that was a crazy experience. I do remember seeing Jackson 5 on TV for the first time and being like I want to do that.

EQ: Who was your biggest musical inspiration growing up?

NS: I was introduced to a lot of different styles of music when I was younger, I really felt music even as a kid. There wasn’t one major inspiration there were many and they all moved me in different ways. From being introduced to Sam Cooke to Billie Holiday, Bob Marley, Prince, Tupac, SWV, Radiohead and the list goes on.

EQ: You’re a New Zealand native and now live in Berlin. Do you take influences from both places when making music?

NS: I spend most of my time in Berlin these days. Berlin is a big inspiration for me, so many different paths constantly crossing. Interactions and conversations bringing forward different perspectives and stories. NZ is always on my mind and in a way, I create thinking about how it will connect with people from home or I create for the people back home.

EQ: Describe your sound and what makes it unique?

NS: At its core it’s R&B/soul textured with things I love. I think music at the moment is going through a period of caring less about where it fits and how it fits and just creating something purely because you like it. Genres are fading and people will have records with so many different sounds and influences – I think that’s cool.

EQ: What do you enjoy the most about being a musician?

NS: Honestly, I just like that I actually enjoy what I do. My days vary and are filled with different adventures and joys, that’s what I enjoy. For sure, a lot of discipline is required and there are many struggles and hurdles you battle but a lot of the time it feels like I haven’t graduated to adult and it’s all a dream.

EQ: How do you keep such a cool exterior in this fast-paced industry? What keeps you grounded?

NS: I think having a start when I was younger helps. It comes down to what brings you contentment. The music industry is not like a lot of jobs where IF you work hard enough you can climb the ladder. It can come down to that for a lot of people and for some it can never happen. So, I think you have to really LOVE music and its magic to be able to enjoy the highs and endure through the lows.

EQ: Aside from music what are your other passions? Do you have any other creative outlets?

NS: I love creating films, I’ve made one short film and want to make more. I love cooking and do it often for my friends and maybe one day on a bigger scale. I also love developing artists which I am starting to do and have just launched a monthly concert series in Berlin called ‘Higher-Ground’. I like keeping busy; it gives me life.

EQ: Explain to us your creative process - how do you get into your zone to create magic?

NS: I prefer to be alone; the pace really has its own flow when you’re alone. You don’t feel pressure and sometimes in the moment when you’ve exhausted an idea you feel comfortable enough to allow something new to be birthed. Sometimes when someone is present that can be jolted and redirected which is not a bad thing just comes down to you and how you create. Of course, I collaborate a lot with different people BUT if I consider my finest moments is when I’m just being me, chilling and doing my thing.

EQ: What advice would you give to your younger self or any other artists wanting to break into the industry?

NS: I think I would tell my younger self not to worry so much about what people think and just do you.

EQ: Tell us a random fact about you.

NS: I get goose bumps when I see a cluster of holes or circles.

EQ: What is next music wise for you?

NS: My EP ‘TWICE’ is out now, and I will be playing a lot after that. I’m having a lot of fun working on some new music, so heaps of newness!

Follow Noah on social media:

Instagram: @noahslee