Noah Dillon's lyric-driven music is a melting pot of honest stories and emotional tales, seamlessly colliding mundane existence with the darkest depths of life.
Onstage the band blends elements of indie rock and alternative folk in a cathartic concoction that looks to juxtapose the mundanities of life with some of its deepest questions. Known for raw emotion and euphoric soundscapes expect to dance, laugh and cry all at the same time.Noah is set to release his new EP 'Soft' tomorrow (30 August); it's his third EP, following 2019's 'Everything Melts' and his 2021 breakthrough 'Don't Change for the World (Like It's Changing Me)'.
'Soft' is a straightforward and succinct title, especially in contrast to the woven metaphor of his two previous titles. The beauty lies in the simplicity, which, in turn, reveals a deeper and darker complexity.
"There's strength in softness. . . the strongest thing you could ever do is be as vulnerable and as soft as you can," Noah shares. "It's not hard to be mean. It's not hard to be jealous. . . It's hard to be peaceful, calm and compassionate. It's hard to be soft."
His most recent EP single, 'He's A Lad' is going strong across streaming platforms with 50k streams on Spotify. It's the highest performing single in the first 28 days across his catalogue.
"I wrote it after a night at the pub where this guy wouldn't shut his mouth about himself, a desperate alpha male," Noah says about 'He's A Lad', a song about toxic masculinity.
"I got home and felt both disgust and empathy for him. There's no excuse for being a tosser, but I could see his fragile inner child putting on a man suit. What are you hiding from? Being soft? Being sad?
"So scared to not be the centre of it that he never listens and in turn is the epitome of what he doesn't want to be. . . a boring, lonely person. It was written in reference to this one person, but is really a glance at my thoughts of the toxic parts of all masculinity. You only end up fighting yourself when you try fit into a box."
Next week Noah and his band will journey to Brisbane to showcase at BIGSOUND, before embarking on a six-date national tour in October. Here, Noah gets deep with his favourite methods to stare at the sun. . . 'cause, why not.
1: The Eye Burner
The first option is the strongest move of all the options. The onlooker needs to be willing to forego the longevity of their eyesight to witness the sheer intensity of the sun. Not for the fainthearted, this method involves standing in an erect position, feet shoulder-width apart, arms down, eyes ahead.This position should be entered about 45 minutes before the sun sets; it is critical that the sun still holds the power of the day, the first 20 minutes should be agony, a complete assault on the retina. As the sun dips the world will become a saturated picture, the eyes will no longer be able define edges, bask in this blur, feel your smallness. You are nothing compared to the sun and you know it.
The ultimate show of respect to the big burning star, remain in the erect position well past the sun going below the horizon. To show true respect, you must feel the temperature fall at least three degrees (handy to have a thermostat on hand), it is also essential to remain in position longer than the average sunset onlooker. You have given it the respect it deserves and must remind those around you by remaining engaged well after sunset.
2: Too Cool For The Sun
This option is the near opposite approach to number one; it treats the sunset not as an event to bow down to but instead one to compete with. For this method to have the desired effect you must see the sunset as a mere employee, a desperate apprentice that would run coffees for years just to hear you say thanks. It's your movie and the sun is an extra.Firstly, you'll need either a button down or simply no shirt at all, large to extra large glasses and either a stubby of beer or a chardonnay so sharp on the taste buds that it could cut glass.
It is crucial you are consistently in motion for this method, but never walking directly into the sun, always perpendicular, diagonal or with a slight angle away. Remember, you are there to let the sun work for you, not to witness the sun. Involve yourself in personal conversation and talk loudly, nearly shout, even if the content is clearly private; it's essential to not show any consideration, it's your movie after all.
3: The Moon Gazer
This method may seem disrespectful, but is actually based in a complete awe for the life cycle and astrology. The onlooker should position themselves with their back to the sunset on a camping chair (preferably one that is so old enough that it's lost the ability to support your body weight and thus your bum lightly grazes the ground).As the sun sets the onlooker is still and obedient to the changing gradient of the night sky, this act is a homage to the necessity for darkness and rest, for there is no light without the darkness, no balance without sorrow, no life without death. This method is often acquired by the wise, those that have moved through grief and hold a reverence for the inescapable truths of life.
4: The Naked Cowboy
This method needs almost no explaining. Just get naked, put a cowboy hat on, hop on a horse and ride into the sunset. It's critical to go bareback and to show no pain.5: The Never Ending Sunset – A Day In The Life Of A Sunset
Have you ever wanted to freeze time in those peachy moments before the sun goes down? Then this method is for you. For this you will need access to a very fast boat and very fast car or a plane.Basically about an hour before the sun sets you will need to take off at about 650km/hr (assuming you are going along the Arctic Circle), as you move around the world with the sun it should stay in the exact same position in the sky. As you move closer to the equator, travelling along lines of latitude, your speed would need to increase – up to about 1,670km/hr at the equator.
For this method to be complete you must travel the world for one whole day ending up in the same spot you left with the sun in the same position. You will literally walk a day in the sunsets shoes, so to speak. Bring snacks, a UE boom and sunglasses.
Noah Dillon showcases BIGSOUND (Brisbane) at The Outpost on 5 September. His new EP 'Soft' drops tomorrow, 30 August.
Noah Dillon 2024 Tour Dates
Fri 18 Oct - Jive (Adelaide)Sat 19 Oct - Republic Bar (Hobart)
Thu 24 Oct - Black Bear Lodge (Brisbane)
Fri 25 Oct - The Nightcat (Melbourne)
Sat 26 Oct - The Lansdowne (Sydney)
Fri 22 Nov - Noah Dillon (Fremantle)
