Interview with Vocalist Noémie Marie of Hartlight

March 25, 2024

Interview with Vocalist Noémie Marie of Hartlight

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.

CV: Do you feel Heavy Metal music in general is viewed differently by fans in Europe compared to fans elsewhere, especially in America, and if so why?
Noémie Marie: I honestly have no opinion on this question.

CV: What do you feel makes Heavy Metal music so alluring to the fans? What is it about the music that personally resonates so strongly with you?
Noémie: Heavy metal is a strong genre that is easy to enter and efficient on the melodic elements. I love its powerful voices, which are perfect to stay in the tunes without autotune. I like the riffs on the bass and guitars and the catchy songs.

CV: Has Metal splintered into too many sub-genres in your opinion, thus, making it harder for newer bands to actually classify themselves as one style over another? Is it confusing for fans as well?

Noémie: I think what's important is the final sound. We mix a lot of genres because we use them as a tool of expression and that gives the music something rich and magic.

CV: How would you describe the current state of the music business considering we are now living in a COVID aware, and maybe even feared world? Have things drastically changed long-term for artists and bands given the recent pandemic? What are your thoughts?
Noémie: I think the problem with the music business isn't COVID but rather the money the government makes available to support bands, at least in our countries. Metal is an underrated genre for these people. Secondly, there are so many emerging bands with mediocre quality that overload the already saturated market. Finally, algorithms are unpredictable and don't have a professional ear for choosing what's good and what's not, and the musician's money is something increasingly essential to emerge.

CV: What do you feel makes your band and its particular approach to songwriting work? What keeps the band together and making music?
Noémie: My partner, Adrien Djouadou, writes the music and I write the lyrics. There's a unique and precious symbiosis between us. My lyrics inspire him, his music inspires my interpretation. It's a perfect Uroboros! With the other members of the band, Adrien Guingal and Guillaume Remih, there's this beautiful friendship that hold us together and we have the same values. That helps a lot for the smooth running of the band.

CV: On a more global view, how do you see your band’s music and songwriting separating itself from just being another Heavy Metal act?
Noémie: I believe we create a middle way between genres to express our poetic vision of the world through alchemy and magic. The heavy metal is there, like a red line through the song, and we add our special touch everywhere that is a mix between Gothic, Symphonic, Power and Progressive metal as well as ethnic influences.

CV: Can an artist truly be unique? Some would argue there is no such thing as being unique; that it’s nothing more than a compounding of influences making an artist who or what they are. Would this then say that artists today are destined to be just copies of those who have already come to pass?
Noémie: In every work of art, we take inspiration from the past and add our grain of salt. It's natural and normal! Originality isn't there because you chose to do something original. It's original because you've done it your way. What makes us original is the sound of the vocals, the particular way we arrange the music with symphonic parts, the crossover of genres used sparingly and our themes. I think HARTLIGHT is original because of the fusion of genres and the surprising changes as well as the unique atmosphere.

CV: Are there life lessons to learn being in a Heavy Metal band that you feel cannot be taught elsewhere? If so, what are they?
Noémie: You can't control who listens to or bets on your music, so your ambition should be to enjoy what you do for yourself. Another thing among many, a band is a business; you have to delegate the work, find competent co-workers, respect them as musicians and become a business leader spiritually and practically.

CV: What do you feel makes someone a “rock star”? Does being a rock star automatically make one iconic or are the two completely different in your opinion?
Noémie: To me, a "rock star" is someone who's really into their music, has a strong stage presence and "says no to the boss" of mold standards they don't fit into. And of course, when that person is recognized in their field of expertise, it's wonderful.

CV: Do you feel the industry is at a disadvantage post COVID with so many restrictions?
Noémie: I don't think there are any restrictions anymore. It's just that the reality of music isn't very good.

CV: What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming from you?
Noémie: We'll continue to do what we love and share it with people who care about our music.

CV: Thank you again for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. It was a pleasure. I wish you all the best and continued success.
Noémie: Thank you very much for your interview, and let the HART Rocks!

Check out Hartlight at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hartlightband/

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, show host, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.