We are excited to feature Nonô for this month’s Artist Spotlight. The London-based artist from Rio, Brazil, has been described by NME as "a rising talent ready to become your new favourite artist”.
Nonô has over 200 million streams and has been championed on BBC Radio 1, with notable press support from NME 100, CLASH and Line Of Best Fit. Her single 'Domingo' heated up the summer with her club mix of dance-pop and Brazilian vibes.
Can you share a memorable experience that has significantly influenced your music?
A memorable experience that definitely has shaped my music is going on tour supporting ‘Example’ in 2022. That experience of being on stage every day really taught me a lot about what kind of music I wanted to make and how I wanted to make people feel - because it's a such a high pace energy environment that I just wanted everyone to have fun. I wanted that feeling of the live shows to translate into my music or everything that I was creating.
So after the shows I knew exactly where I wanted to go with my music; how to turn up the BPM, or to make (my music) more electronic. I feel that my shows are my favourite part of doing music. So yeah, definitely going on tour was the most memorable experience that has influenced my music
What's the one piece of advice you wish you had received when you were just starting out as a singer and songwriter?
A piece of advice that I would give to emerging artists is something that I'm also trying to tell myself. It just gets a lot, you know, when you're creating every day, and then you're also having to create content every day. And besides the songs, the marketing the content, you have to stay positive.
So besides not giving up is try to tune out the noise and try not to compare your journey to other people. My whole life, I grew up reading biographies. And something that really hurt me was when I was comparing my journey to all these incredible artists that I had read about growing up. And when your journey isn't going exactly like theirs you start thinking that, Oh, I'm doing something wrong, or it's not going to happen. At least I do that.
I'm pretty sure there's other people out there that might feel the same way; comparing constantly comparing themselves with other people. So if I was to give an advice to anyone that is emerging, is to work hard and to follow their creative dreams. Don't compare yourself. You're on your own path, and everything happens when it’s supposed to happen. The opportunity will come you just have to be ready for it.
What’s the one piece of advice you wish you had received when you were just starting out as a singer and songwriter?
The off days are just as important as the days you’re working. If you don’t allow yourself time to relax then you will end up creating the same song or worse. You might even lose the love for the thing that made you wanna follow this journey.
Building a fanbase and getting noticed in the crowded music scene can be tough. What strategies have you found effective in connecting with your audience?
Playing live shows is the most effective way of connecting with my audience as it’s a real moment! Everybody is there to have a good time plus I can see how they react to songs and in those minutes, we are genuinely forming a connection and our own world.
If you could describe your sound in just three words, what would they be?
Free, Energetic and Vibrant.
What’s the most unexpected thing you’ve learned about yourself since stepping into the music spotlight
I always knew I was a perfectionist but I didn’t know the extent of how deranged I actually am. I will lose sleep over parts of an unfinished song or merch items that I don’t think are 100% right yet.
Describe your morning routine
if I was to describe my morning routine, it's very simple. Very simple. Very easy. Because I wake up in pain, usually because I'm not a morning person. Unfortunately, I'm very much a night person. I want to be a morning person. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate morning people, but I am not.
So I try to wake up at like eight.
I fail. Then I wake up at nine and I have a chocolate milk because I don't drink coffee. Then I start getting ready for the sessions or whatever schedule program that I have in that day.
I usually start by picking out an outfit. I just sit on the floor and contemplate my whole life for like half an hour. And then I choose an outfit. Colorful outfit, usually. Then I go brush my teeth, get my makeup on, do the hair, put on accessories, out the door, I go to the studio.
So a typical day would be going to the studio. I would wake up, have my chocolate milk, brush my teeth, get my makeup on, get the clothes that I'm wearing, colorful accessories, then out the door, run to tube or bus, go to the session, stay in the session write a banger from like eleven until 06:00 p.m..
Or eleven till 07:00 p.m.. Or twelve till six whatever the time that it takes to create a song or two, depending on what we're doing.
If your music was a color, what color would it be and why?
I think it would be bumblebee yellow as I’m always trying to emulate the vibrancy of Brazil in my music so I think yellow/ orange, quite solar tones are very fitting.
3 things you can’t live without in your bag
Walkers crisps, a jumper and my rock salt luck charm.
If you could choose a famous landmark to host the ultimate Nonô beach party, where would it be and why?
I would definitely choose Rio de Janeiro because I'm from Rio. I would choose Copacabana beach because I grew up there. It's a very famous landmark I think everybody that knows a little about Brazil knows about Copacabana. I would throw it in February or March because that's when the vibes in Brazil are at the highest point. Summer is over there so you know it's gonna be hot. And yeah, definitely Copacabana would be the place for the ultimate Nonô beach party!