Words by Declan Whelan // Images by Marius Knieling

Bouncy, vibrant and smoother than silk, Noah Slee announces his return in style.

Whether you’re a fan of Noah Slee’s 2017 solo debut Otherland, his effortlessly cool and endearing COLORS SHOW, beloved 2000s New Zealand collective Spacifix, all (or none) of the above, his new EP has something for everyone. TWICE picks up where previous EP singles ‘Still’ and ‘Do That’ featuring FHAT and Beau Diako left off, serving up generous helpings of good vibe music, laced with messaging that contrasts its upbeat production. Bubbling just below the surface of the fun tracks, feelings of self-doubt, vulnerability, confusion and loss creep into consciousness as Noah finds solace in hope, second chances and the beauty that’s buried in learning from experience. Hence the title TWICE.

Alongside the release, Noah Slee has also dropped visuals for the project’s focus track, ‘America’. Check out the new clip below, and read on for our conversation with the mercurial artist.

Congrats on your new EP TWICE – which will be out in the world when this interview runs. Can you start by introducing the project? 

A lot of what has to do with realisation is arriving at a point TWICE before connecting the problem and figuring out how to learn from past experiences. This EP touches on that, although at times it can be very light and playful behind the groove are affirmative songs from the position of second chances.

Did you have that concept all along or did you start with a song before things fell into place? 

The songs came first before connecting the dots. Once the title and intent set in it inspired the artwork, videos and also spoke deeply to me and how far I’ve come.

There’s a few different sounds on there. A mix of some experimental sounds alongside that classic r&b energy. How would you describe your sound to someone who hasn’t heard your music before? 

My records are always a reflection of my taste. I feel fortunate that I can create how I’m feeling and with sounds that I dig. I always explain to people its R&B. It’s breezy at times and you can definitely dance to it.

Where’s the perfect place to hear a Noah Slee song come on the radio? 

I’m obviously bias BUT you can pop it on any time of the day in most scenarios. There’s a bit there for every moment. Watching the sunset, pre party, at the party at the after after party. Just not really a funeral vibe but then again you never know.

I imagine your surroundings have had an impact on the way your new music sounds and feels. How’s life been since the move to Berlin and how has that informed or influenced your approach to music?

Living in Berlin has such an impact on me and my music that I don’t even recognise it sometimes until someone else mentions it or I have a moment and realise how the city has informed me creatively. I do try steer away from certain things musically but it’s my surroundings so it’s inevitable. It’s a positive environment with all its challenges and charm.

I’ve been told you’re also pretty hands-on in terms of how your visuals come across. Talk me through your background on that side, and how you’re involved in the visual process.

I love pairing music and film. I love the emotion you can project with music and visuals. I guess over time I became more confident in what I like and how to communicate that. The ideas don’t come to me as easily as writing a song but I make a point of writing things down when they do come. This is something I am becoming more passionate about and in the future I will direct if not all, most of my upcoming visuals. I’ve never felt confident enough to give myself the permission, simply because the title ‘director’ can be overwhelming but when I realised it’s the same as writing/recording a song, in a different art form with different skill sets, I felt comfortable.

Your bio describes you as a ‘compulsive creator’. When would you say that insatiable need to create really set in and what do you think drives that?

I don’t have scheduled hours of when I create and I work from home. Recently it seems as if I’m always in the mood to create and it’s not necessarily as a form of therapy. It can feel like cracking a code. It’s a distraction that brings me joy and keeps me from being consumed by social media. Glass of wine and my guitar is my chill. 

Where are you likely to be and what are you doing when you’re not creating? 

When I’m home around my family it’s impossible to be creative I have a big family. Berlin nightlife but then I’m always talking about music or being inspired by my experiences. I’ve started a monthly event in Berlin but that is a lot of fun. I love being in nature but I swear I’ll start writing [laughs]. 

With the EP out, what’s next for Noah Slee? 

I’ll be touring and playing shows. Playing live is a gift, I can’t wait to do more after TWICE drops.