The Other Side Reviews

Nolo Grace – Alone In My Dreams (2024)

First reaching our eyes and ears as part of the duo Grace & Moji, Grace Hong is a kaleidoscopic artist performing under the moniker Nolo Hong. Making her debut with the well-received single ‘Wake Up’, featuring Sean Kingston, Nolo Grace travels through pop, RnB, hip hop and experimental genres proving herself a pioneer in alternative music. Yet, it is not only her music that makes Nolo Grace kaleidoscopic but her beginnings, her experiences and her roles in different fields. Pulling herself from a violent childhood, the singer-songwriter embodies resilience and strength moving from a difficult background to a career on Wall Street. Her social entrepreneurship, life in private equity, and life as a nomadic backpacker all led to a shining, inspirational and intriguing musical career.

Joined by her husband Martin Wave as Grace & Moji, she explored realms of folk; however, her individual style is far more experimental and eclectic. Entering 2024 with the single ‘Alone In My Dreams’, Nolo Grace returns after a two-year break following the well-received 2022 song ‘Winter Blue’. While ‘Winter Blue’ offered an atmospheric dream-pop vibe with soothing vocals, Nolo Grace shifts to a bold electropop flavour in ‘Alone In My Dreams’.

While ‘Along In My Dreams’ is driven by synths and electronic beats, Nolo Grace slips a breath of organic freshness in the pulsating electronica. Lulling in the middle, interspersed strings run with a moving twinkle before descending into the hard-hitting electronic machine. I find this intriguing as it perfectly captures the emotionality behind the “Alice In Wonderland” theme taking us through feelings of vulnerability, fragility and self-discovery. Nolo Grace explains:

“This song was inspired by the feeling of running and being chased, both literally and metaphorically. I used to have recurring nightmares of being chased through large complexes only to find myself returning back in a loop to the same spot. This song is about identity and finding your way, drawing on my spiritual and philosophical influences and references to more mythological tropes.”


In addition to the single, Nolo Grace released an official music video for ‘Alone In My Dreams’. You can view the video below or via her YouTube channel. Please note this video uses lighting effects that can trigger seizures in people with photosensitive epilepsy. Viewer discretion is advised.


THIS VIDEO USES LIGHTING EFFECTS THAT CAN TRIGGER SEIZURES IN PEOPLE WITH PHOTOSENSITIVE EPILEPSY
VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED

Find out more about Nolo Grace on her official website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Spotify.

This artist was discovered via Musosoup #sustainablecurator


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