JOIN USPlato once said, ‘Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.’ Drawing inspiration to produce music from things around him is Noel Reuben, a young musician who travels from Mysuru to Bengaluru to share his love for music.
A new face in the music scene of the city, his calm and soothing voice is winning much appreciation.In a chat with Anila Kurian, Noel talks about his musical journey so far and how he has grown as a musician.
How did your love for music start?
It started at a very young age. I was initially a bedroom musician — recording in my home studio and uploading everything on SoundCloud. My music was recognised online and I was later invited to play at different gigs in Bengaluru.
How did it feel to leave your bedroom to perform in front of a live audience?
It was absolutely scary. I’m not a natural performer so I made mistakes. I forgot a lot of my lyrics and messed up most of the song. I had to cover it up by humming or doing something else. After all, you should never let the music stop.
Do you talk a little with yourself before you go on stage?
Yes, I keep reminding myself to not think too much when on stage. I tell myself to enjoy the show and have fun. Tell us about your genre of music. I listen to a lot of soft acoustic, pop, folk and alternative music. But my songs have a deep influence of alternative and punk rock. Presently, I do covers of popular artistes but I’m slowly getting into the world of writing my own songs. I have a few in the pipeline.
How different is the crowd in Mysuru and Bengaluru?
It’s very, very different. The music scene in Mysuru is still growing. Bengaluru, on the other hand, is very alive, welcoming and appreciative. I have my brother, Noah Reuben, supporting me on guitar, and it’s always fun to perform in this city.
Your favourite gig so far?
The performance at ‘1522 — The Pub’ in Malleswaram. The crowd was amazing and the feedbacks were also great.
How do you handle criticism?
I understand that it’s important to take criticism in my stride in order to improve myself. I am playing for others and it only makes sense that I work on my shortcomings. Infact, I appreciate it.
Your favourite musicians?
I love ‘The Weepies’, ‘Angus & Julia Stone’, ‘Blink-182’ and ‘Foo Fighters’.