Stepping into the Australian dream-pop scene can be as overwhelming as your first trip to Costco. You are shocked by how much variety and bulk is out there, but feel at peace when you find that sweet 5kg Nutella pot. NOIRE are Sydney’s very own, musky, dark-pop version of that 5kg Nutella.
NOIRE is a baby pink love affair filled with intoxicating beats and haunting lullabies. Their latest track Just Like Honey is a delectable pop gem that makes you fall foolishly in love with their beautiful sound.
The shimmering three piece are a whirlwind of dream-pop, indie rock and shoegaze all wrapped together to create easy-going melodies. Originally from Gympie (two hours north of Brisbane), the super talented small town friends have been making sweet music together for a while and were initiated into the music scene with their debut tracks Pilgrims and Those Days back in 2014.
The songs were recorded with the help of ARIA award winning producer Wayne Connolly (Youth Group, Silverchair, The Vines and You Am I) and received lots of love from triple J Unearthed and FBi. Billy James (Guitar) and brother Chris Stewart (Bass), joined up with the sultry, breathy vocals of Jessica Mincher, creating in whole those blissfully smooth hypnotic tracks. The name NOIRE was stumbled upon as they described their sound as ‘pop noir’, and thought making it feminine would be a really cool thing to stick with.
They have mesmerised crowds at No Dice Paradise and support sets for Dappled Cities and Mosman Alder, demonstrating they are not just another indie dream-pop outfit. They take their inspiration from the classics; David Bowie, Jeff Buckley, The Beatles, Kate Bush and Air. Noire describe their sound as “Deep smoky blues and glittered pinks. The combination of a David Lynch and Sofia Coppola film.” If there was a remake of The Virgin Suicides, you could imagine the soft and spiritual vocals of Just Like Honey interlaced with the tragic and dark storyline of the movie.
A beautiful femininity echoes throughout the utterly relaxing sound of Just Like Honey, which was just released just a few weeks back. The band told Rolling Stone Australia that the song is a “Melancholic romance crossing borders or dancing alone in a candle lit ballroom.” The delicate, moody synths and sparkling guitar work compliment the lush melodies of Mincher’s angelic vocals.
The track embraces dark undertones whilst staying very pure with its enchanting lyrics and atmospheric tone. The trio have encapsulated their own emotions perfectly into the track, enough to give anyone listening goosebumps. They have mastered the craft of telling a story entirely with music and creating something picturesque with their sound.
The Just Like Honey single launch is on Thursday July 2 at Cliff Dive on Oxford St, Sydney, but you will have to wait until their EP Baby Blue comes out in September for another taste of their incredible dream-wave pop.
