header photography by Anika Zachow and René Lohse
“Learning, unlearning and teaching you can only experience in collaboration. We believe in the power and transformative magic of music. As this art form has helped us personally through the darkest times.”
Everyone has a story to tell. Stories that may have remained hidden, covered by the dust of the past. Singer, songwriter, producer and artist Novaa teamed up with Berlin based artist Lie Ning for the first time to create “Story Untold,” – a track that tells us a story in wonderful warm tones that merge into a hypnotic soundscape. We had a chat with both talented artists to talk about their new song “Story Untold”, what they like about each other and the beauty of creating.
How did it come about that you create a song together?
Timing. We’ve been introduced to each other already years ago, but needed to figure ourselves out and work on some other projects first. Reeperbahnfestival 21 was the year our circumstances aligned and we got to meet in person for the first time.
Lie Ning: And can I just say, I immediately fell in love with Novaa. There is a strange, rawness, openness, trust that we are still exploring in each other.
Novaa: Meeting Lie Ning was one of my favorite things happening in 2021. It felt very familiar and already very much like home to me even though we didn’t know each other before.
What do you like most about each other?
Lie Ning: I admire Novaa’s thoughtfulness combined with her instinctive wit. There is an intention behind everything she creates and yet nothing ever feels staged or rehearsed. I think Novaa has this rare quality of being hyper aware of the now, whilst keeping all senses open to the outer world.
Novaa: Right after I met Lie Ning I wrote a song about us meeting because of the impact it had on me. The chorus line is „Leaning onto your love so I can grow into mine“. Lie Ning has the most beautiful spirit, aura, whatever you want to call it – as a person and within their art. There is a soft, open and safe space whereever they go. That stuck with me and inspired me, it still does, as a person as well as an artist.
Do you think music always has to be introspective channel? Could you think to also produce music to only – let’s say – “have fun” with?
Oh no. Music needs to be stupid at times. We are able to feel such a variety of emotions and music mirrors that. I don’t want to promise too much, but the next idea we have in mind is completely coucou.
“Music is vibration, communication beyond words and freedom really. Singing, moving loosens up the body, rhythm flows through us as vessels for positivity.”
How important is the feedback of the listeners and your fans to you?
We are both quite connected to our listeners, in very intimate ways sometimes. It is always enriching to hear their perspectives and interpretations of our work. But ultimately what drives us is the process of creating, diving into stories, exploring these worlds and really fully transcend into the now.
Favorite book of your childhood?
Lie Ning: the orange girl by Jostein Gaarder
Novaa: Siddartha – Herman Hesse
Mountains or sea?
Mountains at the sea
Cinema or book?
Book
Train or plane?
Train for sure… tho environmentally friendly flying would be sickkkkk
Where do we meet you on a Friday evening in Berlin?
Anywhere you want… call
“We are both quite connected to our listeners, in very intimate ways sometimes. But ultimately what drives us is the process of creating…”
Last question: Our society definitely needs more “WE” and also more “happiness” – to what extent do you think music can bring people together more and give beautiful, shared and carefree moments?
Oh my, if it wasn’t for music I’m really not sure if I would have made it through these last two years. There was a moment last winter when all there was to fuel and energies me, was music. I feel so lucky to be able to call this beautiful thing my job. The community of artists in Berlin is so loving, caring and embracing as well.
Music makes you dream, escape, dive in. People can come together on the basis of music. Music is vibration, communication beyond words and freedom really. Singing, moving loosens up the body, rhythm flows through us as vessels for positivity. Tensions can be eased.
Follow Novaa and Lie Ning for more:
www.instagram.com/areyounovaa
vm.tiktok.com/ZML6NFQng
open.spotify.com/artist
www.instagram.com/lie__ning
www.facebook.com/lieningofficial
open.spotify.com/artist
