Q&A: Nolo Grace goes From Wall Street to Dreamy Electronic Alt-Pop
NOLO GRACE ISN’T YOUR TYPICAL POP STAR. A former corporate executive with a fascinating backstory, Grace has traded in spreadsheets for synthesizers, crafting a unique brand of "dreamy electronic alt-pop." Her upcoming album, Eyes of the Dragon, delves into themes of self-discovery and transformation, drawing inspiration from her own experiences overcoming a challenging childhood and a demanding career path.
In this interview, Nolo Grace sheds light on the inspiration behind the stunning visuals for her new single, "Alone In My Dreams," and how it connects to the album's overarching concept. She discusses her diverse background as a Korean-American artist and how it informs her music, while also revealing the personal struggles that fuel her creative fire.
LUNA: Your new video for "Alone In My Dreams" features stunning visuals and explores themes of self-discovery and multiple versions of the self. Can you elaborate on the concept behind the video and how it connects to the overall theme of your upcoming album, ‘Eyes of the Dragon’?
NOLO GRACE: It’s funny because the concept is both so literal and metaphorical at the same time. It was initially inspired by a recurring nightmare I used to have about being chased around large, abandoned structures like malls, labs, parking garages, and supermarkets, only to find myself back in a loop in the same place unable to escape.
The actual substance of the song is about the search for self, a motif that comes up throughout the course of the album. I reference Alice in Wonderland, mythological themes from books like Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero with a Thousand Faces,” and the idea that in each moment, there is the co-existence of multiple timelines and versions of self. With each choice we make, we have the ability to heal our karma, escape the cycles and conditions that trap us, and change the narrative.
LUNA: The video features a 3D printed outfit and makeup representing your "higher self." How did you develop this visual representation, and how does it inform the listener’s experience of the song?
NOLO GRACE: The higher self and spirit self is a recurring figure, whether explicitly or not, through this body of work. I see her as a spiritual being, one that is wise and fearless. Visually, she is avant-garde, otherworldly, and powerful. For the music video, I took inspiration from Bjork and Iris van Herpen who designs many of her costumes. In this song, there’s a part, “Oh something people say, it’s a lonely existence how we live to break… Oh something you should know, karma makes it possible to escape the fold.” The message sung in a more operatic tone represents the voice of my higher self in this song.
LUNA: You mentioned "Alone In My Dreams" explores the feeling of "running from ourselves only to end up at the same place." Can you share your personal experiences or inspirations that led to exploring this theme in your music?
NOLO GRACE: Oh, there are so many…I think it’s really a feeling. This idea of trying so hard only to see your patterns and cycles repeating. It sort of reminds me of a session I had back in NYC with my therapist. She stopped me while I was talking and asked me in all seriousness if I thought I might be dying. I was operating at such an intense speed that it seemed like I was racing against the clock, that I was acting like my time on earth was about to run out.
There are many ways we run away from and avoid our problems. It can show up as drinking, overwork, overstimulation, and never slowing down. I found myself in that trap and found myself on a hamster wheel of work and achieving. In 2016, I found myself leaving my career in the corporate world behind and found myself on a nomadic journey around the world. That was another instance of running and searching to find answers. What I found was that I couldn’t outrun my problems, but I could gain perspective. I also learned that true progress happens when you slow down, regulate your nervous system, and make deliberate choices from a place of calm and purpose rather than from a place of frenetic grasping. In my love life and in relationships with people, I found myself in common patterns as well that left me in a place where I felt depleted. The way I escaped these cycles was through deep inner work, reprogramming my psyche and healing the core wounds that kept me running around in loops.
LUNA: You’ve worn many hats throughout your career, from corporate executive to musician. How has your diverse background influenced your music and artistic expression?
NOLO GRACE: Coming to music in the way that I did has given me a unique perspective. When I think of the “why” around what I’m currently working on, whether it’s music, consulting, building my business, or coaching – it’s all about healing and transformation. I hope everything I share helps in the process of people waking up to themselves and their greater purpose and understanding the ways in which we’re all interconnected and have a responsibility to make the world a better place.
LUNA: You’ve collaborated with John Frost on multiple projects, including "Alone In My Dreams" and "Sad Times" with Grace & Moji. What makes your creative partnership with him so successful?
NOLO GRACE: John is truly so brilliant as a director, DP, storyteller, etc., and I’m so in awe of how his brain works. I think it’s been successful partially because of his vision and technical skills but also because he’s been on his own path of transformation and healing, which he channeled into these projects as well. I feel so grateful and fortunate to have worked with some incredible visual artists that have helped to bring a whole other dimension to the music.
LUNA: Your music blends various genres, creating a unique "dreamy electronic alt-pop" sound. How did you find your signature style, and what artists or experiences have played a role in shaping your musical identity?
NOLO GRACE: Through experimentation mostly and informed by the types of sounds and moods I gravitate towards. I love cinematic sounds, hip hop, electronic music, and a lot of reverb, delay, and other dreamy effects. My lyrics tend to be whimsical, spiritual, and eclectic. When I first started making music, I used to wake up at 6am to make beats, and I’d usually make a song in about 30-60 minutes before I started my day. At the time, I was really influenced by Kenny Beats who was all about not overthinking things. There’s a balance to be struck between being free and loose and also being intentional, and that’s something I’m working on. I’m inspired by so many artists, but a few that feel top of mind are Grimes, Willow, Bjork, Santigold, and others who weave multiple genres to create their own sound and are strong, free-spirited, and independent who go against the grain in the way their represent and make decisions around their artistry.
LUNA: As a Korean-American artist, how do you incorporate your heritage and cultural background into your music, while also connecting with a broader audience?
NOLO GRACE: Most of the music I make doesn’t explicitly touch on that aspect of my identity, and yet, I think it’s part of everything I do. As a Korean-American woman, I’ve spent most of my life occupying spaces that are unconventional for someone of my background, appearance, and profile. That has given me a unique perspective and angle to process a range of experiences and, not to sound overly dramatic, reflect on the human condition. That’s where the search for self and the theme of transformation, which is the core theme of my album, comes from.
Since I was a kid, I’ve been obsessed with the construct and fluidity of “identity” in society. I never felt like I quite belonged anywhere. In college, my senior thesis was on transgendered memoirs in the colonial era and how medical developments and evolving conceptions of the body influenced gender, identity, and self-concept during that period and how that was also mirrored in the ways different countries approached their role as colonialists in the New World. In grad school, that showed up in my studies in international development and how identity was mobilized in ethnically-based conflicts that were really rooted in other issues like resource competition. In my corporate consulting work, I’ve spent some time helping companies with their DEI strategies. And now, in music, it shows up in the exploration of identity in my music as well as touching on themes like mental health and achievement-orientation in the Asian community. I think the bigger thing is that I refuse to be put in a box, and everyone wants to be able to label you, so they can create their own sense of meaning about who you are and what you can do. Refusing that kind of categorization is a bit of my own form of activism.
LUNA: You draw inspiration from personal experiences like your difficult childhood and corporate career. How do you approach processing these experiences through music and sharing them with your listeners?
NOLO GRACE: It naturally flows through what I’m processing in the music. A few of the songs on the album explicitly deal with this. The song “Mother,” which will be out in May, is about me letting go of the grip that my mother—who was schizophrenic, abusive, and eventually left the family—continued to have on me throughout the course of my life. I also write openly about my experiences with addiction and loss.
I hope that by being authentic and transparent in my experiences, people who may be going through something similar, or have it in their history, can feel less stigmatized and alone. I also hope that it will inspire people to feel like they can share and heal those past experiences and move beyond them. The past is the past, and when we don’t process these experiences, they continue to have a grip on us and have power over our lives. We all have the choice—even a responsibility—to work through our issues and elevate past them. When we have those breakthroughs, it not only impacts our lives but those of everyone in our orbit, which has a ripple effect.
LUNA: You co-founded PARASOL, a creative community focused on raising consciousness and nurturing the creative spirit. How does your involvement in this community influence your artistic journey and the message you want to convey through your music?
NOLO GRACE: As I shared earlier, everything I do is motivated by this quest of healing and transformation. I believe that the creative spirit is the purest force we have within ourselves. It’s where ideas, energy, and inspiration stem from, and it is the force of life. We all get shut down by negative experiences, traumas, and social disconnection, and with PARASOL, I wanted to create a safe and supportive container for personal and collective growth. I also believe that solutions to the world’s biggest issues are interdisciplinary. By bringing people together across diverse spheres with a shared intention of personal and collective development, we will have breakthroughs.
I started hosting micro-festivals in my backyard with incredible facilitators leading somatic and mindful workshops, speakers ranging from executives and shamans to artists, and experiences elevating consciousness and connection. It’s been transformative and healing for me and many others in the community. In January 2024, we launched our music label and creative agency, which is grounded in community, education, and creating opportunities by connecting musicmakers with opportunities in film, TV, gaming, and with brands.
I’m excited about the prospect of growing the community and business, and my vision is to one day have a network of physical spaces and properties to serve as a hub.
