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Q&A with CardNoire

CardNoire is a genre-bending, multiple-hat-wearing, internet-subculture obsessed artist. While deeply personal in its conception, his latest single, "Digital Romance", has elements that can resonate with us all. Penned pre-pandemic, having been "hanging out on tinder one night", his song is about that pre-covid world of passion, romance, and lust.

As a teenager, a love for the blues, punk, and indie was soon updated by a brief stint in music college and fused with the worlds of jazz, emo, and progressive metal. The result being that CardNoire has a sonic palette about as diverse as it gets. In "Digital Romance", we hear futuristic genres, like Vaporwave and Futurefunk combined with reverberating 80s-drum sounds. It all sets the scene for quite an epic pop-punk vocal. It's fair to say that this track makes both a dramatic and captivating listen that is hard not to put on repeat.

Impressively, while CardNoire grips us with a unique world of sounds, lyrically, he also keeps us on the edge of our seats. In a style reminiscent of Matty Healy (The 1975), CardNoire throws us constant intimate clippings of his life. Whether it's lyrics like: "staring at my screen, a dirty daydream" or "seeking clarity, we use it to drown our insecurities", he hits us with a personal moment again and again, and it's impossible not to give this song your full attention.

By this point, I'm sure you can tell that CardNoire is a fascinating individual. Thankfully, we were lucky enough to ask him a few questions. Read below to learn about his influences, his process as an artist, life under lockdown, and a quirky fact you may not know about the artist.

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IndieWavvesI can hear so many genres in your music. There are hints of progressive rock, jazz, emo, and synth-wave. Are there any genres you don't draw on?

CardNoireThere isn't much I don't like musically. I always try to add elements of all my influences if I have to get the song sounding "right."  

IWThe new single "Digital Romance" sounds different from your other music. It has a really atmospheric 80s feel with reverb-drenched drums and cascading synths. Were there any specific differences in how you made this track?

CNI don't have a uniform writing process. It just never felt like something I could do. That being said, I had an idea that once I started recording, it came out completely different from what I had in mind. I originally had a beat in my head. I wanted to write something more chill, relaxed, almost emotionally detached, a departure from the more emotional rock tracks that had writing centered around my decaying personal life. I was kinda tired of overthinking everything, and I just wanted to write something a little different from the batch of songs I'm currently trying to release. The minute I started playing around with some different drum samples to put down the rough track, I suddenly got hit with the urge to change the track's sonic context and started working on a tribute to my teenage infatuation with all things vaporwave.

IWGenerally, what is the process behind your songwriting? Do you start with lyrics, maybe real-life experiences, or do you start with making a beat or a chord progression, for example?

CNIn this case, I finished working on the track first before I even had any idea what the lyrical content of the song was going to be. I was hanging out on tinder one late night, and I guess I just started writing the lyrics after someone took their time responding to me. But I try to mix it up. Sometimes lyrics come to me while I'm trying to sleep, and then I spend all night trying to capture the idea before it fades. At times a real-life situation hits you like a train from out of nowhere, although lately, I'm not a huge fan of writing that way. I really don't know why it just feels weird to process things into song at times. To fully answer your question, though, I have no idea. It just happens, and I don't really know how to describe it. 

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IWAs an artist, do you find the pandemic environment creatively stifling? This song sounds like it was written about a pre-covid world, full of real-life experience. Do you miss writing about those experiences, or do you find yourself with much more time for making music? 

CNI'm not really proud of this answer, but I haven't been able to write much over the pandemic. My primary writing tool is playing guitar, and I've been hit with a nerve injury in my left hand that needs to heal over a decent period of time. I haven't been feeling like myself. Lately, I put pen to paper down a decent amount but definitely not at the productivity level I usually can maintain. 

IWYou also seem to be a great example of a modern artist conquering all the music industry parts. Do you find it easy to always act as your manager, publicist, songwriter, social media manager, etc.? 

CNI wear many hats lately, and I enjoy them all quite a lot. Doing tedious managerial work like writing emails to press outlets and partners is the least fun of it all, but even then, I enjoy and appreciate the motivation of the hustle. It definitely helps keep the momentum flowing. At times it feels very daunting, but I try my best to power through it all! 

IWTell us a fun fact we might not know about CardNoire?

CNI never really "planned" on pursuing music. I always was a musical kid. I played piano and guitar growing up and was the lead in a few musicals, but I always considered music more as a side passion until I played a proper show with my band during the summer after 10th Grade. I was quite a square child in that way. I was heavily involved in my high school's debate team and was in many ways an all-around nerd, but I always felt slightly out of place until I truly discovered that the right path for me was the one that led me back to the stage. I love performing live, and I love the energy from the audience on the floor! Hopefully, the next few years will be wild with the resurgence of concerts and shows. I also have been passing the extra time at home playing Call of Duty: Warzone! I try to get in some rounds every day just to chill out. Hit me up if you play!

Written by George Barnett


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