ANWAR NOIRE INTERVIEW: We spoke with Anwar Noire, exploring the heart behind his sound, his inspirations and how he blends emotion with style. He also gave us a glimpse into what listeners can look forward to as his story continues to unfold.
Anwar Noire – Where did the name come from? Is there a story or meaning behind it?
It’s probably not the best story, but it’s still a funny one. So, my family’s Jamaican — I was born here, but my heritage is Jamaican. My name is traditionally an Arabic name and Noir means Black in French so the whole idea kind of came from that — and it just so happened to rhyme as well, which fit perfectly for me.
You’re a rapper from South London, how has growing up here shaped your sound, your mindset and hustle?
Gosh, in too many ways to even begin to mention! South London is like a cultural melting pot of life. I’ve only been doing this for two years, but if you listen to all of my songs, they each pull from different musical cultures, styles and genres. I feel like that’s the biggest reflection of me — my music is full of variety. Being from South London has played a massive part in shaping that, basically.
How would you describe your sound and what sets you apart from other artists in the UK rap scene?
I think it’s my ability to switch from that introspective, deep storytelling to something more vibey — sounds you can just move your body to. You don’t have to be fluent, you don’t have to be from South London to feel the energy. It’s just a vibe, you know?
What does being an independent artist in today’s scene mean to you?
It means it’s tough but it also means we’ve got freedom and that’s the beautiful part. We collaborate when we want to, make music on our own time and release it when we’re ready. That’s the power of being independent. For the most part, I do everything myself. I engineer, I produce — that’s what independence looks like in today’s world.
When you’re not recording or performing, what keeps you grounded and keeps you inspired creatively?
Oh, family! My friends too, but definitely my family. We’re strong, you know? They’ve even helped out with my music stuff. They keep me grounded, but at the same time they inspire me — both behind the scenes and right there in the music. They’re a big reason why I started making music in the first place. I want to take care of them and their personalities, their stories — I try to reflect all of that in my music. So it kind of works both ways; especially during lockdown.
Who are some of your influences? From the UK or globally?
My biggest inspiration from the UK has to be Ghetts. I just love his approach to writing and how he performs. He’s definitely at the top for me. JME too — I’ve gotta put JME in there. I used to listen to them a lot back in high school. So yeah, they’re the ones who made me want to make music — to tell my story the way they told theirs, unapologetically. Globally, I’d say artists like Bob Marley and MF DOOM have had a big impact. Even now, I’m inspired by current artists in the South American Reggaeton scene — just seeing how they’re coming up and taking over, kind of like how Jamaicans did. To me, it’s mad inspiring, especially coming from non-English-speaking countries and still making a global mark. Honestly, I listen to all genres so it’s hard to pin it down to a few artists, or even just rappers. My influences are wide.
What is one song by another artist that perfectly describes your love life right now?
Bob Marley – ‘Is This Love?’
Let’s talk about your EP, ‘Grim’. What inspired the name and the overall concept behind it?
So “Grim” is a nickname for the block I grew up in — it’s a council estate called Pilgrim Close. But especially the younger lot, we just called it “Grim.” It kind of reflects the vibe of the place… yeah, it was different. I saw some dark stuff growing up. Like when I was ten, one of my neighbours took his own life right in front of all of us kids, right there in the middle of the road. That’s just one example, you know? It’s more real to tell you that than to list the quiet days when nothing happened. But that’s just the negative side. There’s another side to “Grim,” the positive side! I like the mix of cultures and the strong sense of community. Everyone was in everyone’s business, but there was something beautiful in that. We live in a world now where people just walk past each other, heads down on their phones; no connection. But in Grim, people talked, looked out for each other and knew what was going on in each other’s lives. It’s easy to focus on the negatives because that’s what gets pushed the most, but honestly, the positives outweigh them. I feel grateful I grew up somewhere like that.
You paint vivid stories throughout the EP — how important is storytelling in your music, especially with a project like this?
The first two singles I dropped before this project had storytelling at the core. It’s always been really important in my music. Whether I’m telling my own story, my family’s, or my peers’, storytelling is key because it’s how you draw people in. Sonically, it’s important to make people move and feel something, but the biggest part of the DNA of my writing is definitely storytelling.
Out of all the tracks on your EP, is there one that stands out as most personal or meaningful to you?
Oh man, this is a tough one! It’s a toss-up. I’d say the first one is ‘Shop’. That was the track that really got people listening and paying attention to what I had to say. It’s also quintessentially Black South London. I know a lot of people can relate to it. Even when we didn’t have many opportunities, we made the best out of each other’s company and that’s what the song is really about. The second one would be ‘Thank You Truly’ which is the outro on the EP. That’s the most vulnerable I’ve ever been in my writing. I know I’ve still got room to open up more, and I’m working on that, but that song was a big step. I touched on mental health and things we don’t always talk about. That’s what makes it special to me and how real and honest I was.
You’re in the studio with a blank canvas, who’s your dream collaboration?
Ghetts, Ghetts, Ghetts! And Wretch 32 as well. If I could just magically get someone in the room to create with, it’d definitely be one of those two, or both! Hands down.
What’s your “studio essentials” checklist, what do you need for the vibe to be right?
My notepad firstly, I’m old school with it. I know a lot of people write on their phones, but I’ve always stuck with pen and paper. That’s essential, number one. And then coffee because I work late, like through the night, so that’s a must. Those two are top tier for me. Everything else like the mic, keyboard, speakers etc — obviously you need them, but they can be replaced. A notepad and a coffee though? That’s what really gets me through a session.
Where do you see yourself as an artist a year from now—and what’s one thing you’re manifesting?
I’m making better music than I ever have, outperforming all my top tracks. Just getting better every day. I’m already grateful for what’s happening right now, but yeah, it’s all about getting better at my craft. Better than yesterday, always.
Photo by @_philippatton_.
Interview by Nickeeba Archer
