PD: How would you describe yourself or your band as an artist?
N: I’ve always thought that the riff is the main engine of any song. The heart. Put it this way, this project is a cult of the riff, a intimate and personal tribute to its fundamental importance.
PD: Can you tell us briefly about your background – i.e. where you’re from, how you came to make music, etc.
N: I’m Italian, precisely from the island of Sardinia. I took my first steps into the world of music when I was a kid thanks to the monks of my country, from whom I learned to read and write music.
Growing up I lost some of that knowledge but I think something stayed with me.
When I discovered rock and metal I was fascinated, attracted, enchanted. Over time I tried to build various metal and rock projects, some more and some less long-lived,
In the meantime I played in the most important folk festivals of the island…but..it wasn’t what I wanted.
In the last 15 years I have become a sailor in the Italian merchant navy but I have never stopped trying despite everything. I absolutely had to come up with something of my own this time, all mine. And here I am.
PD: Who and what inspires you to make music, both in terms of musical and other influences? What do you like to write about in your songs?
N: the influences are so many, I don’t have a specific genre to point the finger at with certainty. Sometimes full albums or songs, sometimes just particular riffs.
As for the lyrics, well, I decided to do everything instrumental. My lyrics are the riffs that follow one after the other. I just write down what comes down to my antenna.
No hassle with singers and song’s structures to facilitate their needs. none of that.
Just riffs. Most of the songs are a repeating abc and Noorag is not like that. I wanted the riffs be free from vocals.
PD: What are your aspirations as an artist?
N Let my riffs to be heard, simple as that. I’d be happy to become a soundtrack to something one day, why not?
PD: What is the proudest moment in your music career so far?
N: well, career? I don’t know whether to call it that but years ago playing on the most important local TV stations and in front of thousands of people in the squares was gratifying.
As for the present, I was surprised by the ratings and appreciations I’ve received since I released the first demos of the Noorag project. I did not expect
PD: Promoting one’s music is such a challenge these days, especially with so many new artists emerging from bedrooms in the day of the home studio. How is that going?
N: it’s going fine so far. it takes a lot of patience and dedication but it’s the listeners who do most of the work, if they like it then they still listen to you again and share. I repeat, a lot of patience.
And YES, every like I get, to me, is a big smile.
PD: And how do you book and promote your live shows and tours? Any performances coming up?
N: Well, this a one man band basically and i am not seeing me playing with a backtrack, no chances. Daniele is with me in this journey but our performances are only in the studio at the moment:)).
Our goal now is to make songs, riffs, a lot, with no rest and let the world know that we exist. We hope to hit the stage again asap and I am pretty sure this won’t take that long.
PD: What do you think about downloading music online? What about streaming sites like Spotify?
N: I personally don’t care about downloading or not downloading music from the web. Everyone does what he thinks is right.
However, I listen to a lot of music online and if I find something interesting I buy the physical cd and enjoy it in the hi fi system. I still buy like 2 or 3 per month.
Listening to mp3s isn’t for me and the idea that songs are becoming clickbait or something doesn’t belong to me too.
So yes, the internet lets you discover a lot of stuff, and allows you to be discovered too, but then I want the physical copy or it’s like I don’t have it.
PD: What song do you wish you’d written and why?
N: Not a song but an album I would say and that album is Roots by Sepultura. The rhythm guitars on that record are just…amazing. But the list is long, very long :))
PD: Is there anything you don’t like about the music industry, which you would change if you could?
N: I don’t know honestly but..
..I feel like making music nowadays is more a matter of ego embellishment than a spiritual artistic need.
PD: So, what are you working on at the moment?
N: new singles , new Ep or album, a lot of stuff including video clips. A new single is ready, White Mammut and soon it ll be released on all platforms so, please, stay tuned.
PD: Where can we learn more about you and buy your music/merch online?
N: just hit Noorag’s bandcamp page. You’ll find everything you need about it.
Thanks a lot for having the Noorag project at yours, hope to see you again in the future.
All the Best Mr Pete.
Noorag links:
Band/Artist location – Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy
You Tube – Soundcloud – Bandcamp –
Apple – Spotify – Amazon – Deezer –
Check our page for Noorag
