Hatis Noit.
Notes From The Underground.
Currently residing in East London and signed to Erased Tapes, 31-year-old musician Hatis Noit fuses her Japanese roots with sounds of nature in order to create bodily sensations in those who listen to her ethereal, experimental work. At the age of 16, Hatis discovered her calling while staying at a temple in Lumbini, Nepal. By chance, she stumbled upon a female monk singing and was entirely captivated. Since then, this sensation of ‘embodiment’ has been a salient element within her music: ‘Feeling the space, the environment, including any people in there, through my body and translating its organic energy into sound,’ she explains. From sold-out performances with the London Contemporary Orchestra in late 2019 to recording ‘Imperfect Nocturne’ with Gucci’s music director for the Perfect flexi-disc, her distinctive sound has made her a creative force to be reckoned with.
Clothing, like music, can provide an artistic outlet for Noit – ‘I love to extend my musical expressions with the clothes I wear’ – and this was something she paid particular attention to for her recording ‘Imperfect Nocturne’: ‘For this session, I think the variety of textures and colours nicely reflect the random and colourful rhythms in the piece.’ Everything in the studio was ‘free and improvised’, she says. ‘Having a shared experience with the lovely crew was such a thrill and pleasure.’ Within her work, Noit is known to take unexpected sounds and transform them into music, and this session was no different: ‘I included some of the sounds they made — their voices, the take clap and other background noises — into the piece as a document of our sweet little memory.’
Throughout the London lockdowns, there have been many adjustments made and lessons learnt by creatives, bound by the four walls of their home. ‘When I can, I go on walks,’ says Noit. ‘I discover something new every time. It helps me get inspired, helps my senses remain open to the world around me.’ She finds it a useful counterpoint to the ‘endless research and experimentation’ she puts into her work. Even if restrictions have made gigs impossible for the time being, like other musicians Noit can at least live and create at a peaceful pace and perfect her craft as she works to complete her forthcoming album.
