Noumenah is the electronica project of Los Angeles-based composer/producer Andrew John Napier. Drawing from an eclectic pool of influences, napier creates music displaying a vibrant timbral facade undergirded by more traditional tonal and rhythmic structures. His debut album seer, is a collection of immersive tracks that are as much soundscape as they are dramatic narrative.
Is Noumenah your solo project?
In essence, yes, but I also have frequent collaborators whether it be instrumentalists, singers, artists, photographers etc. Put simply, Noumenah is a domain where I can explore the sounds I want to explore.
Where did you meet Allie Armstrong, the singer on your latest single, Focus?
One of the benefits of being a Berklee College of Music alumnus is being able to tap into the school’s network of amazing musicians—Allie responded to one of my posts there expressing interest in possibly singing on my upcoming single. Her distinctive vocal style caught my ear immediately and the rest is history.
What’s the origin of that name?
My artist name comes from a concept integral to Immanual Kant’s philosophy (though I spell it differently).I was reading a lot of Kant at the time and liked how the word looked/sounded as well as what the word meant. Noumena is the plural form of noumenon, which is an object that exists independently from human sense perception.
My music really has nothing to do with Kant’s idea other than the fact that I sometimes seek to induce a sense of transcendence in a lot of my music (a sort of mystic interpretation of Kant’s transcendental idealism you could say.)
What artists are currently inspiring the music that you’re making?
Lately I’ve been listening to a lot of ambient/noise/minimalist composers such as Ben Frost and Kali Malone as well as artists such as Tennyson and Baths.
What is your creative process typically like?
At this point it is usually non-conceptual and process-oriented. What I mean by that is that it revolves around exploring sounds and sound combinations that I am simply attracted to or really invigorate the reward pathways in my brain and creating longer narratives with these sound combinations.
Any plans for future Noumenah releases?
I would love to do more remixes and possibly an ambient EP—we shall see!