Noga Erez Sets Out to Break the Rules With Album THE VANDALIST
After leaving a lasting impression with her 2021 album KIDS, with famous fans including Billie Eilish, Britney Spears and Hayley Williams, alt-pop singer-songwriter Noga Erez is back at it again with her new album THE VANDALIST.
Her latest project is named after the bombastic title track, "Vandalist," feeling like a major musical reinvention since her 2021 hit. Though she's always been known for pushing boundaries with her music, this collection of 16 bold tracks feels like a true act of defiance as she breaks the norms and channels her anger with the world at large while relearning how to authentically embrace herself. Ahead of today's release, we got the opportunity to pick Noga's brain about the album and what it means to her, and she shared it all with us in the interview below.
Sweety High: What does the album title THE VANDALIST mean to you?
Noga Erez: I feel like whenever I try to describe it, it changes a little bit. Today, THE VANDALIST is about a side in me that likes to disrupt the norm. It's my journey towards accepting the rough edges in me.
It is my way, in a world that seems increasingly more tough and hard to understand, to declare I don't follow the rules of this world any longer.
(Photo credit: Dudi Hasson)
SH: Why did that title track feel like the perfect summation of this group of songs?
NE: The entire album embodies a spirit of reframing how I view pain and insecurity. In some songs, it's about recalling experiences where I was very vulnerable and seeing how I grew to be very more confident, bada** and having a sense of success because of that. In parts it's also pure anger and frustration. But all of the songs have that same spirit, a humoristic yet heartbreaking view of a world I love so deeply but fear is going down the wrong path.
SH: What do you feel are the overarching themes of the album?
NE: Most of the songs consist of small tales of revenge. Whether through victory, growth or actual action taken to make things right.
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SH: What kind of feel do you hope fans take away from it?
NE: Power and joy. Just a huge force of life to take with them wherever they go. I really wish more good would be brought to the world with this album. Even if in a very small manner.
SH: How would you describe the album's sound? Production-wise, how did you go about bringing these tracks to life?
NE: I would call it multi-layered. Not committing to anything but what it should be at the moment.
The writing and production process happen at the same time for most of our songs. Ori, my producer and life partner, and I figure out the writing as we go by experimenting with all aspects of creativity. Usually the ballads are written in a more "classic" fashion, using a piano or guitar for writing.
(Photo credit: Shai Franco)
SH: How do you feel that these songs represent where you all are in life right now?
NE: I thought album No. 3 was gonna be my mature, coming to terms album. But it ended up being probably my most confrontational. It's just what I see and experience. Life's been wacky, music's wacky.
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SH: What is your favorite song on the album? Why?
NE: "Smiling Upside Down." I just feel like it's a heartbreaking song and I'm really touched by it. The lyrics really tell a story this time around and I think that's a very powerful thing.
SH: How do you think you've evolved as an artist since KIDS?
NE: I think Ori and I both allowed ourselves a little more freedom here. A little less seriousness. We've learned that the things we say in a song don't have to be what we are or what we mean all the time, the songs can just be a moment in time and we can not feel the same the next day but still have a solid song.
(Photo credit: Shai Franco)
SH: Is there anything else you'd like to add?
NE: I love you.
For more insights on our favorite albums out today, click HERE to read our interview with country artist Mitchell Tenpenny on his new album, The 3rd.