IN CONVERSATION WITH NOHA SARÉ

interview NATALIE GAL

Noha Saré is one of the most exciting young voices on the Dutch music scene, blending neo-soul and alternative R&B into something otherworldly, serene, and dreamlike. Her work revolves around explorations of the soul. Following a sold-out show at Melkweg, she continues to grow in both energy and style, which is why we were thrilled to welcome her for a live performance at our Fugazzi x Numéro Netherlands collaboration launch. In our interview, we spoke about making music with her brother, carving out a space in the competitive market as a young artist, and the ways her creativity shapes and shines through her work.

blouse, trousers and corset JOHNNY BLOOD
shoes PAULINE BLIND

Your sound leans into neo-soul and alternative R&B. Are there particular artists in that space who have deeply shaped or inspired your work?

I grew up listening to lots of different music. Right now I notice that I’m really inspired by artists who push the boundaries of what music can be. Artists like 070Shake, James Blake, FKA Twigs show me the power and beauty of not being afraid to break free from the norm.

I think my music does always have a somewhat dark and melancholic vibe, but I genuinely enjoy playing with different elements and genres, and looking for ways to surprise myself. For instance someone like James Blake showed me how you can bend those worlds into something electronic and unexpected. I like that tension, between softness and edge. Also with my visuals. For me it’s really about creating something that sparks curiosity. I guess I don’t want to limit myself too much by putting my music in a certain box..

What’s your earliest memory of music being a part of your life, was it always present, or did it arrive in a defining moment?

Our dad used to take us to ballet performances, and when we came home, we’d recreate the whole thing in our living room. We’d stack chairs and tables to make this little obstacle course, put the music from the show back on, and dance our way through it like it was the stage. Another clear memory is being five years old and going through the whole Survivor album by Destiny’s Child for the first time. I really felt like I was invincible.

You often create alongside your brother. How does your bond translate into the art you make together?

I think I can say that he’s my safe space. With him, there’s no ego, no pressure to be cool.. We can throw ideas around, laugh or fight when something sounds ridiculous, and celebrate when something clicks. For me it’s being free to explore my creativity to the fullest. I think what is very special about working together as siblings, is that there is this unconditional bond you can’t compare with something else.. We've been making music together since we were children, so a simple glance or a few words are often all it takes to understand. That’s also why I enjoy playing live together so much.

balaclava and skirt PAULINE BLIND
bracelet LARUICCI by SPRMRKT

Regarding your editorial shoot "What We Show / What We Hide": what inspired you to explore this idea? How did your personal narrative intertwine with this creative concept?

The different worlds in the photos explore a theme I’ve been really drawn to in my music lately: what we show to the world, and what lies beneath those layers. Especially in a time dominated by social media, where everyone seems to be serving only their “perfect versions,” it’s so easy to forget that underneath, there’s always something more complicated, messy, and human going on.

For me personally, I struggle a lot with my mental and physical health.. things you wouldn’t immediately notice by looking at me. My darker thoughts, my insecurities, my struggles... I don’t shout them from the rooftops. And yet they shape the way I move, create, and connect. That tension, between showing the polished, controlled self and acknowledging what’s raw and hidden, is something I’m exploring a lot in my new project. These photos, and the worlds we built with this amazing team, were a way to step into that tension visually. The light world feels composed, curated, clean... like, everything’s in place.

Then there’s an in-between world, a kind of transition.. where the edges blur, masks peek out, and you start to feel the push and pull of what’s hidden and what’s shown. And finally, the darker world sneaks in, revealing what’s underneath: the fears, the messy parts you don’t even admit to yourself. I love that push and pull, that weird, beautiful, sometimes awkward honesty. It’s the part of us that’s alive, that makes things, that actually connects with people.

Performing live, whether at Melkweg or Juicebox Festival, seems like a big part of your journey. How do those moments on stage feel for you?

It’s both terrifying and addictive.. Right before I walk on stage, my adrenaline is through the roof... but the moment I start singing, it’s like jumping into cold water, shocking at first, then suddenly freeing, and I can finally breathe again. What I love most is seeing how people connect to a song in real time. It’s fascinating.. sometimes a track that hasn’t really taken off on Spotify suddenly hits so hard live: people sing along, cry, move with it... and other times it’s the opposite. Experiencing that difference makes performing feel so alive, like every show has its own secret and its own way of working.

What was it like to bring your music to life at the Fugazzi opening party we curated? Was there a particular highlight of the evening that stood out to you?

The “Angel Dust” launch was magical. I was in this huge black dress, feeling like some kind of angel in black, just singing right in the middle of the streets of Amsterdam. The real highlight for me was random strangers walking or cycling past.. some clapping, some yelling, some taking photos like, “what is happening here?”. I’d never sung in the middle of the street before, so I felt like stepping into my own little movie scene for a moment and I loved it.

When you’re in the studio, what’s your favorite part of the process: the experimentation, the technical process or the moment a song finally locks into place and feels finished?

Honestly, just building something out of nothing blows my mind every time. You walk into the studio with literally nothing, and by the end of the day you’re sitting there with goosebumps over something that didn’t exist that morning?! That still feels crazy to me. And the best bits are also the accidents. Me, my brother Marius and Tom (producer) will just be messing around, and suddenly then we all just stop like, “wait, this works... huh did we just do that?” Those little chaotic moments are the best.

Your visuals are striking and always seem to expand on the themes of your songs. Can you walk us through how that visual world comes together, and what the creative process behind it looks like?

For me, it usually starts with a feeling, a mood, something I can’t put into words yet. And then I’d like to see how to create tension, contrast, something that feels a little uncomfortable or strange, or feels a bit off.. cause I think that’s where the emotion hides. Visuals are part of the story, part of the music, part of the emotion itself. And I love when the music lifts the visuals, and the visuals lift the music.. when they start talking to each other, that’s when you know it really works.

Beyond soul and R&B, is there another style or genre you’re curious to step into?

For the future I want to explore and dive into the electronic sound we’ve been able to demonstrate thus far and challenge myself to push my own boundaries even more. To challenge myself to experiment with more extreme sounds..

Music often becomes a way of processing the world. For you, are your songs drawn from personal experiences, or also from external sources, like stories, art, or literature?

It really depends on the day, but my next project is mostly personal. A lot comes from my own experiences, and I’ve been diving into old diary fragments from the past. But I’ve always been a sponge for other people’s stories too. As a little girl, I could watch people for hours and invent whole worlds around them in my head. And sometimes it’s even simpler than that; a friend or a stranger says one little thing, it sticks with me, and eventually I find a way to turn it into a song.

Looking forward, what’s next? Is there an upcoming show, or a song that’s taking up all the thoughts in your head right now?

Mid-October we’re dropping something super exciting with this incredible UK artist! Then we’ll be playing at Juicebox Festival in Tivoli Vredenburg on October 25, which I’m really looking forward to. And on top of that, I’ve been selected for “Echt Amsterdams Talent” (Real Amsterdam Talent), which is a huge honor! Production house Rubenpaulruben and photographer Jurre Rompa have been following me around the past few months, studio sessions, shows, little everyday moments, and we’ve put together something that gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what we’re creating and who I am as an artist. More coming in October!

dress MAX ZARA STERCK

dress PAULINE BLIND
bracelet TWEEK EEK

coat MASNADA by SPRMRKT
shield BATUHAN DEMIR

coat MASNADA by SPRMRKT

coat MASNADA by SPRMRKT
shield BATUHAN DEMIR

TEAM CREDITS:

talent NOHA SARÉ
photography MEREL DAANTJE
styling LIDEWIJ MERCKX
makeup NOAH INDIE
hair IRAJ RAGHOSHING
set design LINDA SCHREITER and BATUHAN DEMIR
light assistant IÑIGO VIU and LUKA GVINIASHVILI