This time on The NAS 10 Questions, we get to know Lagos Noir, a gen Z afro-beats artist from Nigeria with a fusion of influences such as Jimmy Hendrix, Coldplay, Akon, Uncle Kracker, and many more.
The track "Let Us Start to Dance" is featured on NAS Playlists.
Link To New Artist Spotlight Playlists:
1. Tell us a little about where you are from and what you are currently doing.
I live in Lagos, Nigeria and the city inspired the stage name with which I now make music
I am an accountant with a long career in finance. Currently, I run a small business.
2. What inspired you to start playing and making music?
I think I started making music by accident.
I've always like using open source software and a long time ago, I came across a DAW called LMMS. So, just like you will play games on your PC, I started to play with it. I have no music training or music theory background, I had no knowledge of music structure or genre. I was just entertaining myself.
I guess around 3 years ago, I got the idea to start a YouTube channel, add visuals to my music and upload it online, and so LAGOS NOIR was created. At some point I was making music for studying, that kind of stuff. Anyway, within a year, I had some beginner’s luck and got to a few thousand subscribers. I don’t think there was any particular day when I decided I would go this far.
𝟯. Who are your biggest musical influences? How would you describe your style or genre?
I’m a Gen Z and so my inspiration comes from artists over almost 5 decades, both within my country and internationally. And I’m still a fan. I’ve gone through phases of listening to only Jimmy Hendrix, Eddy Grant or Akon. But I don’t think that directly affects the music I make. I am finding my own voice and it’s a fusion of influences. Also, frankly, I don’t have the skill level to reasonably imitate them. I can only be my own voice.
4. What are your goals in the music industry or as an artist?
Frankly, I don't have any big hairy expectations. When I consider the age I at which I started and also that it often takes almost a decade to become a Best New Artist, I think that attitude is just appropriate.
I want to have fun making music and I want to have experiences collaborating with other like minded people. Of course, nobody makes music for themselves alone. You want to make music so that others will listen and appreciate your art. So, I just going to put my art into the world. I am here for a fun ride and maybe I can get lucky.
5. Tell us about your creative process when you make new music.
It's a bit like brainstorming. I usually have an idea of a melody and I just begin to flesh it out and hopefully make some happy mistakes.
Then, on top of that melody, I put some beats. My process is entirely electronic, so it is something I do on my computer and afterwards, I listen to do song as it comes along and decide if it is promising.
Oftentimes, I get disappointed and I just trash it. But sometimes, I like what I am hearing. If I am not yet satisfied, I leave it and come back after a few months. And then, I try again.
Let Us Start To Dance initially had From Hip-hop To Afrobeats as it’s working title, and it was meant to be purely instrumental but I added vocals a week before I sent it out for release. There is no rigid framework for how I make music.
6. What is your all-time favorite song by another artist and why?
There is Drift Away by Uncle Kracker and then Viva La Vida by Coldplay. Both songs kind of soothes me when I’m moody and they are all right when I am happy. I guess that's what good music is supposed to do; so whatever you're going through, you just listen to the music and feel a bit better. And the lyrics of Viva La Vida is deep. Yeah, so that too.
7. What is the best advice you have either given or received in terms of music?
I don't have any advice or insight from music specifically but I look at things from the perspective of art generally.
There is no such thing as bad art. Art is always taking a picture from a certain point of view and at a certain point in time. Now, you may not like the picture. That’s a matter of opinion and that’s okay. Or it might be appropriate for some places and not for others. That’s a question of context, and that is okay too.
Secondly, I think genres are a good marketing tool but one should not sacrifice originality for it. The pressure to be commercially successful is making popular music homogenous. Every artist should strive to have a voice, something only you can say to the world. The sweet spot is to be original as well as commercially successful, and that is what the greats do. When I achieve that level of enlightenment, I’ll let you know. {laughs}
8. Proudest accomplishment?
My quirky song "Chill Out Lounge" achieved over 20000 streams when initially posted on Youtube, without any promotion. It is a jazzy, minimal, experimental ambient instrumental piece , with elements of Afrobeats. It was one of the first songs I will post on Youtube. It didn't do as well when I set it out for distribution eventually but you take the Wins with the Ls.
9. Just for fun! What's been your most embarrassing moment so far?
After watching a Youtube video that advised artists to publish music frequently. even fortnightly, I tried to do the same. I sent a new song for distribution hurriedly to meet my self imposed deadline. But when I heard it live on Spotify, I hated it so much that within a week , I requested it be pulled from circulation. One of the benefits of being an unknown artist is that no one notices your fumbles.
𝟭0. Tell us about your lowest and highest points in music so far.
Let me put this is context; this is barely my year two as a published artist.
Most of my highs and lows were with dealing with Youtube. There a period when a major music label put copyright claims on several of my music. It was disconcerting. I challenged the claim , of course, and they faded away.
All the time I was challenging the false claims , I was asking my self. " Am I willing to take on the legal costs of getting a US attorney if they did not back off? " . It was a depressing experience.
My high point is the vanity of having over 6000 subscribers on Youtube. I wish those follows were on Apple Music or Spotify but nothing in life is promised.
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Lagos Noir’s journey from an accidental musician to a rising afro-beats artist is truly inspiring! His unique fusion of influences, from Jimmy Hendrix to Coldplay, creates a refreshing sound that’s both nostalgic and innovative. “Let Us Start to Dance” is a testament to his creative process and passion for music. Can’t wait to see what he comes up with next! 💙♌️
Great artist loved the answer and interview keep up the good work would definitely check out more from them 💯
6000 YouTube Subscribers that's amazing. Nice learning about you
I am thrilled the NAS has given many artists from the African continent a place to be heard! This is awesome! It is great to be able to read about you! We have similar influences!
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