Kris Noel Interview by Kev in the Corner
With the recent release of his amazing project called ‘Catapult’, I had the opportunity to sit down with Kris Noel. Learn more about the North Carolina artist as we chop it up about various topics.
KC: Where are you originally from?
KN: I’m from Fort Worth Texas.
KC: How long have you been rapping?
KN: Since I was about 18 years old.
KC: You just released a really dope project called ‘Catapult’. What are your three favorite songs from the project?
KN: Man, that’s a hard question. “Joker to a King”, “Renegade”, and “Catapult” especially because, as you know, my brand is acoustic hip-hop so I think that song really encompasses what I’m trying to do.
KC: Tell me about your writing process, where do you pull your song concepts from?
KN: So, it varies. If I hear a sound that I gravitate towards, depending on what type of feeling it gives me, I go from that and the message pretty much matches the feeling. I write ideas down and at the end put them in order. I take my time especially with the chorus.
KC: I heard some Spanish on the project, how many languages do you speak?
KN: Spanish and Portuguese. I love languages, love cultures, so my dream is to travel to different countries, love on people through their language and use music as the tool to do it.
KC: As you mentioned, your brand is acoustic hip-hop, how long have you been playing guitar?
KN: I’ve been playing guitar since I was 16. I love it, it’s just therapeutic and relaxes me, you know, it’s a Utopia. I can give all of myself through it.
KC: What made you gravitate towards the guitar in particular?
KN: I would say my first instrument was the piano, which my grandmother taught me, but it was something about seeing someone on stage with a guitar killing it like Lenny Kravitz type stuff and it was different from what was normally expected in my culture. I love the sound of it and there’s so many different styles. I love Brazilian music, I love Samba and Bossa Nova, those strumming patterns. I’ve always loved that.
KC: What is the main theme or themes that you want to communicate with your music?
KN: To let people know that God has made them conquerors, also kings and queens. To encouraged people that God has you and to keep pushing. I want to have a message of encouragement because I hate seeing people with a lot of potential, but not having the strength to realize their dreams.
KC: You’ve opened for Nobigdyl and most recently Culture Villains, what do you enjoy most about performing?
KN: Performing is the icing on the cake, but I love chopping it up with people before or after the show. I love the relationships being built. Just fellowship man, and at the end of the day, that’s what it’s all about. You can make a bunch of music, but not love on people then it’s all for nothing. Can you separate an artist from their personality or how they treat other people? I can’t. If you’ve met someone and you know that they don’t really respect people, it’s kind of hard to receive their music even though it may be good. If we can focus on loving each other, the music will be all the better.
KC: What advice would you give to an up-and-coming artist?… because as you know the grind is tremendous.
KN: To keep God as the foundation. Secondly, to be yourself because the game is oversaturated with duplicates. I believe God has placed something special in each and every artist and that is what he wants you to pour out to the people. So when you carbon copy someone else’s craft, you’re not reaching your full potential you’re the second version of somebody else, so focus on the things that make you unique. And also, God will meet you halfway. Don’t just sit on the couch and expect God to do all the work. You actually have to get up and grind. There are some parts of the business that are not fun, but necessary.
