NOEL

Interview & Article by Gabrielle Groves

Photo by: ph_any

Social media has led to the discovery of numerous artists in recent years, such as Swedish pop singer-songwriter NOEL. After going viral on TikTok in 2021 with his cover of “Beggin’’' by Italian rock band Måneskin, he has recently shifted into creating his own fiery songs. With a deep voice similar to James Arthur and Lewis Capaldi, NOEL has released a powerful EP and two singles just this year, including “Out of My Mind," which hit streaming services on June 28th.

What is your favorite lyric from ‘Out of My Mind’?

NOEL: “Oh, that’s a difficult one, but I’d probably have to say the entire first verse: ‘I’ve been breaking habits I keep falling short, I can barely recognize myself no more. My body’s tired and my mind’s at war, I just wanna feel the way I felt before.’

This verse stands out to me because it captures a sense of desperation and struggle that’s deeply relatable. I think everyone has experienced a low point in their life where they don’t quite feel like themselves, and I think this lyric summarizes that feeling really well.”

Do you have any plans for a music video for the song? How would you envision it?

NOEL: “Not at the moment, but you never know—maybe in the future. It would definitely be a dream come true. I envision the music video for ‘Out of My Mind’ as quite cinematic and dark. I see it as a short film, with a narrative of someone being chased by an unknown force.”

What did the people closest to you think of the song and its deeply personal nature when they first heard it?

NOEL: “To be honest, I didn’t receive many specific comments about the lyrics themselves. Instead, the people closest to me were very supportive and simply liked the song. Although the song is deeply personal and emotional, I think its themes are universal. Everyone goes through rough patches, so I believe many people can relate to it as part of the human experience.”

While writing this single, you “imagined it as part of a soundtrack.” Which movie soundtrack do you think ‘Out of My Mind’ would fit into?

NOEL: “When writing the song, I had just recently watched the series Euphoria, so that was in my mind during the process. However, if I had to choose a movie, Prisoners immediately comes to mind. I think that it’s intense nature would pair with the song really well.”

What was it like writing the emotional lyrics of the song with Kris Eriksson and Lina Hansson? How did you meet them?

NOEL: “It was a really good experience and it felt like a safe environment, which made writing the lyrics a lot easier. I met them through my label nearly three years ago, and we’ve developed a strong friendship since then. I believe that having a trusted and compatible team is crucial when making music.”

What are some things you’ve learned about yourself and your style since you’ve started writing songs?

NOEL: “Firstly, I’ve learned that I actually can write songs. Initially, I doubted my ability to create music, but once I took the leap and started, I realized it was something I genuinely enjoyed. I also discovered that songwriting, like any other skill, requires dedication and practice—it doesn’t just happen on its own. Additionally, I’ve found that I’m quite a perfectionist. While I used to consider myself more laid-back, I’ve become very precise with my music. This perfectionism has definitely helped me improve and strive for excellence, though I sometimes wish I could be more relaxed and appreciate the music for what it is.”

After your injury and subsequent retirement from football, what made you turn to music? Was there a specific moment that made you choose music over other interests?

NOEL: “Coming from a musical family—my dad was an opera singer, and my sister is an artist—music has always been a significant part of my life. After my injury and retirement from football, turning to music felt like a natural progression. I wouldn’t say that there was a specific moment that made me pick music, it was more of a gradual shift where turning to music just felt natural.”

Your cover of ‘Beggin’ has almost 3 million views on TikTok. What was it like seeing that video get so popular?

NOEL: “It was incredibly surreal to see the video reach almost 3 million views. The scale of that number is hard to grasp. I originally started posting on TikTok just to share my singing with friends, as I had kept it a secret from them. I never imagined that so many people would end up seeing my videos.”

What are your plans for the future as a musician?

NOEL: “I have a lot of exciting new music coming out this year that I’m really looking forward to sharing. Additionally, I plan to focus more on live performances. Since I started making music just a few years ago, I haven’t had many opportunities to perform live, so I’m eager to expand that aspect of my career.”