“I would like to live in a world where love wins.” Getting to know Brazilian singer Nonô

Hey dear Nonô :) Your debut single “Bite” has just been released together with a video shot by creative duo Temptress. It has this great positive vibe and dance-able sound. What is it about and who did the video?

Thank you very much! Bite is about embracing some wrongs you do in life. When I wrote it, I had the Adam and Eve story in my head and therefore in the song I wanted it to be kinda like from the snake’s point of view telling that “it’s alright, take a bite”.

I also love your style in that video – how important is fashion to you?

Thank you very much. I love fashion! I love finding, mixing and playing around with different styles, I also love wearing a lot of colours. I think fashion helps me build my own identity and it’s also a way I can express my personality or how I’m feeling – that’s why for me I think fashion is very important.

“I love fashion. It helps me build my own identity and it’s also a way I can express my personality or how I’m feeling.”

I just listened to a song by you, Nossa História and saw that you took part in a musical talent show before, right? Are you planning to still sing more Portuguese songs despite your relocation to London?

Oh no you discovered my real identity!! laughs. The funny thing is that when I was in Brasil I found it really hard to sing in Portuguese (even though it is my first language) because I was still trying to figure out my singing voice in the language and I felt like it wasn’t the same as me singing in English. However, now that I have been living in London for two years, I want to add Portuguese more and more into my songs, mixing both languages and make it more unique.

Your musical style also has changed into something a lot more youthful – how do you feel you changed as a person in the past years and what are the things and people that have influenced you the most?

I have matured so much over these 2, 3 years. I moved out of Brasil when I was 18 and went straight to London to focus in music. I became so independent and so much stronger, it’s unbelievable how much you can grow from living abroad or just by moving out. However, I am very blessed that I am able to still live with family. I live with my uncle, my aunt and my two cousins and I believe they – alongside with my Mom and my stepdad, were the biggest influences that I had! They are the one’s that never let me quit, even when it get’s really hard, they always motivate me.

How was your move to London two years ago – was it harder than you
expected? And what do you love about your new home and what don’t you
like?

It was very hard, much harder than what I expected. Leaving my whole Brazilian family behind, my friends and everything that I have been used to seeing my whole life was very scary. The first six months in London felt pretty lonely AND COLD (I moved in January, right when winter hits you with everything). I love that I can be so independent in London and that I can meet people from all around the world.

“I think that there’s a lot of selfishness in the world today and I would love to change that – one of my future plans is to help communities in Brasil focusing on their music education.”

 
What are the things you miss about Brazil?

THE FOOD, the weather and my family and friends.

What does Nonô mean?

It’s a nickname, my name is actually Noêmia which was my great grandmother’s name.

You also recently did a cover of the song “Blind to you” Collie Buddz. I adore the lyrics out of it. ” Let´s give love to the youth then” and talks about how the world is being run etc. What things would you change in the world today if you could? And in what sort of future do you want to live as a young person today?

I think that there’s a lot of selfishness in the world today and I would love to change that – one of my future plans is to help communities in Brasil focusing on their music education. And for the future: I want to live in a world where I can feel safe walking down the streets at anytime, a world where I can wear whatever I want to wear, say whatever I want to say. A world where people do not judge you by your race, gender, nationality or who you choose to love. I would like to live in a world where love wins.

Where do you usually hang out on a Friday night?

Usually my house is the place to be because I love binge watching movies and series with the family but sometimes I hang out in the pub with my friends.