Interview: Behind Rayhan Noor's Lika-Liku Window

Rayhan Noor (Instagram @rayhannoor)

JAKARTA - Rayhan Noor is not a guitarist who has a big name in the national music scene. However, he is arguably a vital figure behind various major projects such as the Indies, Agatha Piricilla, Magic Contest, and many others.

In addition, this Glaskaca guitarist also has solo works such as Colors (2020), House of Cards (2019), from Behind the Window (2023), and many others.

From Behind the Window will be included in his first album released in May. This album has a series of personal messages, if you look at the main theme, namely about twists and turns at the age of 20 until now.

For this reason, VOI is interested in discussing more about the album, which is titled Ahead of the Third. Check out the full interview below.

Through Instagram, you said that this album is about twists and turns living at the age of 20 until now, can you explain in more detail?

Everything that has happened in the last 10 years has changed my perspective a lot on many things. For better or worse, my life has also changed. And like my previous works, what I wrote on this upcoming album helps me to be able to understand everything better.

There will be two songs on this album that will be released soon, does that mean all the songs on this album have been completed?

Already, several songs are in the finalization stage only.

Since when has the process of writing this album been?

From 2020.

Who are the people who helped with this album?

Enrico Octaviano, Natasha Udu, Tradeto, Agatha Piricilla, Rishanda Singgih, Yessi Kristianto, Dennis Ferdinand, Kamga Mohamed, Dimas Pradipta.

From the music side, what do you want to highlight on this album?

Obviously still the guitar, the instrument that I control the most. However, the influence of the game is expanded, because I want the music to support the stories discussed, not the other way around. I try to bring the influence of country music, MOtown to 70"s rock.

In terms of guitar fillings, is there the main difference between this album and your other albums? Like Magic or Glaskaca Contests for example?

Guitarwise, this album is calmer intensity, not exploding like in other projects.

You always echo the 24-7 Pop on personal Instagram. Can you explain what the 24-7 Pop is?

The term that I often use to describe about Rayhan Noor's pop music; can be heard anytime and anywhere, 24/7.

Why are you just thinking now to make a solo album?

If you think about it for a long time, yes. It took a lot of time to actually round up the mind about what to write. I'm a person who has difficulty being honest about my own feelings clearly, so because I wrote this solo project myself, it took me a long time to be completely honest with myself.

Why do people have to listen to this album?

I'm just an ordinary person among the millions of people out there. I feel this is not special and exclusive, it could be that all this anxiety is the anxiety of many people. This album represents many of my feelings and because I'm only one of millions of people. It could be that this album will talk about my feelings too.