noah
Meet Hertfordshire-born UK Open Mic performer, Noah:
Hi Noah, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:
Do you play solo only, or also in a group?
Solo
How old are you?
200
Where were you born?
Hertfordshire
Where did you grow up?
Hertfordshire
How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)
my town specifially is a somewhat magical hub of music. i’ve always had plentiful access to live music–both viewing and playing. everyone you know knows someone who’s musical, someone who’s playing a gig around the corner next week. i feel very grateful that, to me, it’s second nature, it’s all i’ve ever known.
Where are you based now, and why?
I actually split my time between my hometown and seoul, south korea. i’ve had an affinity for South Korea since I first found out about it in 2016. in 2023 I participated in a singing survival show over there called veiled musician, where I got to the final lineup and released a song with a famous korean balladist (slow, with paul kim). I’ll be traveling back there soon aiming to further my reputation 🙂 but the me who exists here in the UK is far from old news.
What got you into making music in the first place?
My parents were always musical. my dad is the best musician I know (and i’m not just saying that–the man is a sight to behold!). music has always been my release, it wasn’t even really a decision I made, it almost felt like a foregone conclusion. I wrote my first song when I was 9, and started writing proper songs (with a guitar and everything) when I was 14.
What instrument/s do you play?
Singing
Guitar
Guitar
Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?
ed sheeran, passenger, the script, high school musical soundtrack (i’m dead serious), my dad (rob clydesdale), BTS (the Korean band), the weeping, sam kim, cavetown
Do you write your own songs?
Yes
How many years have you been writing songs for?
15
What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?
Every song is unique, but there are trends. i’ll usually feel a song coming on like one would feel an illness about to take over–over days or weeks. typically, it comes to a head as i’m playing around on the guitar and some lyrics begin to fall out of me. I find it easiest to write them down on my notes app on my macbook. songs can be finished anywhere from a few minutes to a few months later. they grow and evolve, then the settle, like clay drying, and after that they couldn’t be changed for the world.
How long have you been playing open mic nights?
6
Why did you get into playing them in the first place?
by accident, I signed up for a slot at a tent stage at Summer In The City 2018 and I never stopped playing live.
What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?
you’re not the worst person the audience has ever seen, you never have to see these people again if you don’t want to, they’re not thinking as much about you as you are about them, they’ll probably forget you by tomorrow. have fun 🙂 theres always next time. and the time after that, and the time after that!
What’s the hardest thing, for you, about playing open mics?
making a long and expensive journey to only play a small amount. finding worthwhile/well populated ones. knowing what song to play to get the best reaction. introducing myself to strangers & making connections (it should be what it’s all about but I’m so shy;-;)
What’s the most bizarre, or fun, open mic, or gig, you’ve ever played, and why?
at the open mic i help host in my town my band often gets up at the end and plays a completely improvised set. i’m not sure if its fun for the 2 people left in the audience but its fun for us!! :’) thats kind of niche though. open mics where its intimate and has a good sense of community are always the best.
If it’s not already, are you hoping to make music your full-time career?
Yes
What do you currently find the hardest and biggest obstacles to moving your music career forward?
i’m so, SO bad at organising my time and prioritisng my tasks. i was 100% made to sing and make people Feel Things, not to do admin and marketing. i wish i could just be a performing monkey, driven around from stage to stage and appreciated for my craft, then taken home again by someone who knows The Industry better than me. i struggle with being the whole team as well as the artist, which seems to be what is expected nowadays. ):
What’s the one truth about you that people often find surprising?
I’m not a girl, i’m not 14.
What’s the most exciting project you’re working on at the moment?
secret shh
Do you have your own music video, channel or playlist you’d like to share?
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCED2oYPJR8bFgHCm9dvrWbQ
Do you have music on streaming? What’s your main streaming channel to send people to?
Where is the main place should people go to find out more about you?
What other sites/profiles should people go to to find out more about you?
www.instagram.com/knowasound" target="_blank" rel="noopener">www.instagram.com/knowasound
tiktok.com/@knowasound" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tiktok.com/@knowasound
We’re done! Anything else you want to share before we go?
No thanks!